Board approves FY28 rate study, two reimbursements
Water · Meeting of September 30, 2026
SOMERSET — A weekend nor'easter pushed Somerset's sewer flows to four times the treatment plant's design capacity, triggering chlorine-residual violations, the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners heard Tuesday. Flow jumped from about 4 million to 16 million gallons a day in a matter of hours, prompting staff to bring offline equipment back online; commissioners said crews should "be commended for the work that they did during this storm." The board separately approved a fiscal 2028 rate study contract with consultant Mark D. Abrams, CPA, tied partly to a new intermunicipal agreement with Swansea, and voted to sign a $20,053 state reimbursement for a completed asset management plan under grant DWA 24-87.
A collection-system smoke-testing project with engineering firm Wright-Pierce is 90 percent complete, having found leaks at 67 manholes and 19 catch basins across roughly 28 miles of pipe. Commissioners also approved electrolyte packets for crew heat safety and are pursuing a home rule petition, with a State House meeting set for October 28.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,526 words
Source: the Water meeting of September 30, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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