Northfield Selectboard provides update on water services transition

NORTHFIELD — After the state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) waived its requirement that the East Northfield Water Co. invest in a new filtration system in October, creation of the Grandin Water District continues to move forward.

The Selectboard created an ad hoc committee in 2019 to explore possible solutions to rising water rates proposed by the East Northfield Water Co., a private entity that had petitioned for an approximately 150% rate increase at the time to cover $900,000 in losses. An Annual Town Meeting vote in May 2022 subsequently approved the creation of the Grandin Water District in an effort to transition water services to a nonprofit that would have better access to low-cost grants and loans.

“The challenge, because this has been going on for a while, is really helping people understand that it’s no longer normal nor advantageous to have a private water company,” Selectboard Chair Barbara “Bee” Jacque told her fellow board members at last week’s meeting. “We want to move to a public water district, because then that frees us up for grants and it frees us up for [U.S. Department of Agriculture] Rural Development loans.”

Although MassDEP was initially requiring the East Northfield Water Co. to invest in a new filtration system, the cost of which could exceed $10 million, to make the transition to the Grandin Water District, MassDEP reinstated the filtration waiver last fall. Having the waiver back in place would allow licenses and assets to be transferred to the district, Town Administrator Andrea Llamas previously explained.

Noting that the filtration requirement was the most significant financial barrier to the district’s ability to go public, Jacque announced at last week’s Selectboard meeting that the town is already eyeing two members for the Grandin Water District board — Thomas Aquinas College Vice President of Finance Dennis McCarthy and Northfield Mount Hermon School archivist Peter Weis, who currently serves as the district’s chair.

Additionally, a valve that is located along Mill Brook in the vicinity of the Post Office at 136 Main St. was opened to connect the two water districts, Jacque explained. The Northfield Water District has traditionally served the southern part of town while the East Northfield Water Co. has served the northern part.

In response to Selectboard member David McCarthy’s question about whether linking the two water districts would make a difference in water testing requirements, Llamas explained that the valve’s opening would not affect testing, as any water district or company, per MassDEP, must meet the same water quality standards.

Llamas added that she has seen a general level of support and “motivation” for connecting the two water bodies.

“The East Northfield Water Co. is doing a lot of support work. They’re working closely with the hiring process to get somebody on board to help with the transition,” Llamas said. “We’re not expecting them to come in and basically run a water company. You don’t have to have expertise in this area, but certainly an interest in it and an interest in digging in and doing the work. At the same time, there’s a fair amount of support right now because there’s a lot of motivation to make this move.”