City Plans ‘End-to-End’ Water Treatment Plant Upgrades

Haverhill water treatment plant.

The city of Haverhill prepares to make the case for a proposed $37,484,000 “end-to-end” upgrade, including expanded capacity, at the 37-year-old drinking water treatment plant near Kenoza Lake.

A proposed loan order, through the Massachusetts Clean Water Fund, would be used for “an entire upgrade” of the drinking water plant, which first went online in 1979, according to Deputy Public Works Director Robert E. Ward, also water division superintendent. The proposed loan, to be repaid over 20 years at a two percent, “low interest” rate, beginning in July, 2018, will be placed on file by the Haverhill City Council during tonight’s regular meeting. Ward is scheduled to address the council about the upgrade plans, in two weeks. Physical upgrades, including new and larger filtration, would also help expand the plant’s capacity.

“The plant went online in 1979 and it’s getting up there. It’s about 40 years old,” Ward told WHAV.

The mayor’s budget for the year beginning July 1 calls for no rate increases for water ratepayers. However, Ward said, while financial forecast models are being prepared, a rate increase toward loan payments could begin the following fiscal year.

Ward added loan funds would not be applied toward either wastewater facility upgrades or Merrimack River bank remediation under a consent decree with the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

As WHAV reported in August, 2014, the former Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust was rebranded as the “Clean Water Trust” (CWT) when legislation, signed into law by former Gov. Deval Patrick, set forth criteria that the CWT can use to forgive principal or to issue water infrastructure loans at a rate lower than the previous floor of two percent. Criteria that may be considered include:

  • Whether the project is part of a regional wastewater management plan;
  • Whether the project includes green infrastructure;
  • Whether the project is a direct result of a disaster; and
  • Whether the project will provide water to consumers who have private wells that are contaminated.

The Haverhill City Council meets at 7 p.m., tonight, in Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. Council Chambers at Haverhill City Hall.

3 thoughts on “City Plans ‘End-to-End’ Water Treatment Plant Upgrades

  1. “However, Ward said, while financial forecast models are being prepared, a rate increase toward loan payments could begin the following fiscal year.” –

    I would love to see these models and the financial/math engineering used because what Citizens of Haverhill have seen over the years hasn’t exactly been accurate or lived up to projections. I would also like to see alternate models used in the event of negative interest rates, more QE, or “helicopter money” which is now being openly discussed by The Federal Reserve and it’s IMPACT upon THE PEOPLE. Just more of the same wealth transfer/robbery imo.

    Hopefully these models include crashing incomes in light of massive taxation. The taking of the fruits of other people’s labor only works until everyone is broke:

    https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=4y1l
    https://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/historical/household/

    The model will also hopefully include the cessation of artificially inflating home price assessments with plummeting home ownership and possible property tax revenue reductions. I’m positive all the section 8 housing being approved in the city will do wonders, especially in our already overburdened school system and social welfare agencies:

    https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=4y1s

    For a city already reliant on over 1/3 of state aid, massive bond issuance, including deficit financing, and a matured pension system, the fingers will be sure to be double-crossed for any future hiccup in the economy. Given the amount of leverage and DEBT in our economy, the only question is: When?

    https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=4y1R

    Eating cake in a neo-feudalistic society is great…but not really.

    • I am confused by this ” Ward added loan funds would not be applied toward either wastewater facility upgrades or Merrimack River bank remediation under a consent decree with the federal Environmental Protection Agency.” WHAT does this mean ?? If you interpret it as written, then you can;t use the funds for the very reason you borrowed them for ????

      • Agreed Jack – makes no sense. Of course, to the liars in government in makes perfect sense somehow.

        Bottom line here is simple to the average Haverhill tax payer – watch your wallet – its coming.

        But then Lying Jimmy will tell us he didn’t raise taxes again (just every fee he can find – like a typical liberal)