EASTHAMPTON — Over the next 20 years, much of the aging infrastructure that cleans and protects Easthampton’s water resources will be at an increased risk of failure, according to the city’s Department of Public Works.
In response, the DPW has created a plan that identifies and prioritizes cost-effective capital improvements to protect the city’s natural water resources, said director Joseph Pipczynski.
“We have pipes in the ground that are over 100 years old and facilities that were built in the ‘50s, so we know there are upgrades that need to be done,” Pipczynski said. “The whole reason for this plan is to look at the entire water system.”
There will be a public hearing at 6 p.m. June 13 in the second-floor meeting room of the Municipal Building at 50 Payson Ave. for residents to learn about the recommendations of the city’s Integrated Water Resources Management Plan.
Easthampton is home to natural water resources that include the Barnes Aquifer, the Manhan and Connecticut Rivers and Nashawannuck and Lower Mill Ponds.
“These resources are essentially being protected by aging wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater systems,” Pipczynski said in a statement. “Aging infrastructure creates an increased risk of failure to perform as intended and meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.”
At the hearing, city officials will present an integrated capital plan that examines the city’s entire water system. “What this plan is going to do is take an in-depth look at all our water resources and prioritize what needs to be done first in each of those areas: drinking water, wastewater and stormwater,” Pipczynski said.
Because there is not enough money to pay for all the infrastructure upgrades at once, Pipczynski said the plan will recommend priorities for the projects, schedules and costs for capital improvements that will be needed in the next decade or so.
He said the plan could affect Easthampton residents’ water and sewer rates, as well as a possible new stormwater fee, similar to the one in Northampton.
M.J. Tidwell can be reached at mjtidwell@gazettenet.com.