Water Panel Weighs Sewer Plant Upgrade Options
Water · Meeting of September 16, 2026
Somerset Water and Sewer Commission maps three legal paths for a sewer plant upgrade tied to federal discharge limits. Outside counsel, identified only as Matt, outlined traditional design-bid-build and construction-manager-at-risk procurement under Chapter 149, plus a special act of the Legislature that would allow a more flexible bidding process but carries an uncertain timeline he put at "four or five months" to "a year or more." The commission agreed to contact the office of the town's state senator before scheduling a joint session with the Board of Selectmen. Separately, the board voted unanimously to abate $401.47 in sewer charges for resident George Ackley of 185 Cherry Street after a dispute over 43,000 gallons of unexplained water use, with Ackley arguing the data showed a contractor crew was responsible: "Even based on the evidence that I supplied all of you with." Staff also reported a storm pushed treatment plant flow from 2 million to 14 million gallons a day and that ongoing smoke testing has turned up leaking toilet seals and a dried sink trap that let sewer gas into a building.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,158 words
Source: the Water meeting of September 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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