The Winthrop Town Council approved two appropriations for water and sewer projects that will help upgrade infrastructure on Winthrop Street during last week’s regular meeting.
The first appropriation was $1.666 million for the cost of the sewer main rehabilitation project on Winthrop Street.
Public Works Director Steve Calla said the actual cost of that phase of the project will actually be less for the town, since 75 percent of the work will be paid for through a grant from the MWRA, and the remaining 25 percent is being paid through a 10-year, zero-interest loan.
“The rule is to authorize the full borrowing, the realization is that we are responsible for 25 percent, which is roughly $41,000 per year for 10 years,” said Council President Jim Letterie.
Councilor-at-Large Max Tassinari said the impact on taxpayers for the sewer main rehabilitation would be an increase of about 10 cents on the water and sewer rate.
“The importance of it is to replace cracked or otherwise aged sewer systems so we can avoid any infiltration of sewage into the ground,” he said. “My opinion is it is an important project to continue to improve the infrastructure around town and it makes the town liveable.”
The council also approved a $1.5 million appropriation for Phase I of the water main replacement project on Winthrop Street.
Calla said that project will be financed through a 10-year, zero-interest loan.
Letterie noted that the water main project would add 35 cents to the water and sewer rate, beginning in Fiscal Year 2028, but noted that the borrowing for other water and sewer projects will be coming off the books in the following year.
The project would replace the water main on Winthrop Street between McGee’s Corner and Metcalf Square.
“We’ve had numerous water main breaks in this leg of the system and we know those water main breaks add up,” said Calla. “It is money well spent, and it will certainly help the hydraulics of the system.”
Calla said depending on the bidding process, it could get underway in the late fall, and then be completed by late next fall.
“The second phase is in the capital plan, it has been listed in the capital plan for several years,” said Calla. “If we can identify funding, and (the council) approves it, we will go onto Phase II.”