State gives town permission to borrow for water tank upgrades
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Ashburnham received approval from the state on Wednesday to take out a $4.3 million loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in 2008, if approval is granted at town meeting.

DPW Director Don Ouellette applied for the loan through the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust so that the loan to do work on the water tank on High Street can be replaced and the water tank on Route 101 can be cleaned.

The town has permission to borrow $4.314,600, according to State Treasurer Tim Cahill's office.

The project was one of 99 statewide that "will improve our drinking water quality and reduce water pollution statewide through the construction and upgrading of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, including pipes, storage and treatment facilities."

The town would only be charged a low interest rate on the loan over 20years.

"It allows you to borrow the money at 2 percent which is a incredible rate," Ouellette said.

The money if approved at town meeting would replace the water tank on High Street which is 100 years old. Ouellette said the tank is falling apart and it has "out lived its' lifespan." He added that the tank does not provide enough water for fire protection on the line and that the tank should be at the end of line instead of the beginning of the line.

The other project that would be taken care of is the cleaning and relining of the water tank on Route 101.

"It is a steel tank it does rust," Ouellette said.

He said it is expected that the tank must be cleaned every 15 years.

Ouellette said this is just the first step in the process but there are many more details to be worked out.

"We are a long way from finishing that up," he said.

The Water and

Sewer Commissioners will be discussing the issue at the next few meetings, Ouellette expects. He added that if the commissioners give it the go ahead the matter would have to be approved by the voters at a town meeting and probably at a ballot vote.

He said all of that must happen before the town hires the engineer to design the work and before construction can begin.