Sewer Rate Increase and DEP Compliance
Summary
The Charlton Water and Sewer Commission is working to catch up on 11 quarters of DEP permit violations while raising rates to fund needed capital work and stabilization. Related workstreams include a renewed sewer moratorium preserving capacity allocation, a possible 5-year extension to Veolia's contract-operations agreement, hiring an owner's-representative/engineering consultant, and infrastructure work (I&I on City Depot Road, Route 20 sewer line cleaning, Griffin Road waterline extension).
Status
As of September 2, 2026 the commission voted a ~20% sewer rate increase for residential and commercial customers effective October 2026 (billed January 2027), raised the sewer privilege/tie-in fee to $12,000/EDU, renewed the sewer moratorium through August 3, 2028 (preserving 100,000 gal/day capacity allocation), and moved to transfer $1M and $400K from retained earnings into stabilization funds. Hiring of an owner's rep (McClure/Chris) and a 5-year Veolia extension are still under discussion.
October 7, 2026: DEP enforcement follow-up continues with $20K in new consultant spending approved. Related pages: Water and Sewer Plant Operations Contract Selection, Griffin Road Waterline Extension.
Log
2026-10-07 — 2026-10-07 - Water and Sewer Commission Meeting
Veolia's August operating report: E. coli/pH fixed, sludge hauling nearly caught up (incinerator outage set it back), loadings above design, and the CoMag system needing valve/actuator repair (on hold pending the operations-contract decision); phosphorus limit rises to 1.0 mg/L on November 1. Commission unanimously approved a $5,000 MassDOT traffic management plan and a $15,000 proposal from Chris McClure for the formal MassDEP enforcement-meeting response (O&M, IPP, collection mapping; a CWMP could cost much more, prior cost ~$600K). Route 20 sewer line cleaning/camera work still awaits a MassDOT access permit. New administrator Jennifer Cournoyer introduced.
2026-09-02 — 2026-09-02 - Water and Sewer Commission Meeting
Veolia's monthly operating report showed improving compliance but flagged I&I/manhole defects on City Depot Road and a ~$38K Route 20 sewer line cleaning proposal. Jennifer Cournoyer was appointed water/sewer administrative coordinator. Sewer moratorium renewed through August 3, 2028, preserving 100,000 gal/day capacity. Water bill abatement approved for 41 Lake View Drive (faulty meter). Commission discussed transferring $1M and $400K from retained earnings into stabilization funds and hiring an owner's rep (McClure/Chris) to catch up on 11 quarters of DEP permit violations. Discussed a possible 5-year Veolia contract-operations extension and a ~$25K capital article for office renovations at the October special town meeting. Voted a ~20% sewer rate increase (residential and commercial), effective October 2026, first billing January 2027; sewer privilege/tie-in fee raised to $12,000/EDU. Griffin Road waterline extension approved; superintendent candidates discussed.
2026-08-05 — 2026-08-05 - Water and Sewer Commission Meeting
Veolia flagged a serious contamination problem at the Route 20 pump station (~2 feet of nip bottles) traced to Amazon, the Mass Turnpike, and Treehouse Brewery; the commission directed a warning letter with the threat of camera investigation and cost recovery. UV disinfection is underperforming; DEP approved supplemental chlorination while Trojan Technologies evaluates an upgrade. A badly deteriorated ductile iron pipe section was found on Route 31, needing possible emergency relining. The board voted to waive Griffin Road water main extension tie-in fees (privately funded pipe) and approved a hiring recommendation for the admin position plus reclassifying the vacant foreman role to a water/sewer superintendent position. Rate consultant Matt Abraham presented a deficit projection ($326K next year growing to $800K by 2029); a proposed ~15% rate increase was tabled pending confirmation of the board's rate-setting authority, to be revisited next month. Vinnie reported an upcoming MassDEP fact-finding meeting on August 12, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. regarding non-compliance issues and staffing, with both Veolia and the town bringing attorneys.