THE LYNNFIELD CENTER WATER DISTRICT held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new $17 million Glen Drive water treatment plant on Sept. 13. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — After years in the making, the Lynnfield Center Water District (LCWD) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new $17 million Glen Drive water treatment plant on Sept. 13.
A large number of LCWD employees, local officials, the project team and the town’s Beacon Hill delegation attended the groundbreaking ceremony. LCWD Director John Scenna recalled that the new plant will treat iron and manganese, which has caused discolored water problems for a number of years. The new plant will also be treating PFAS.
“This is a very historic moment for the Lynnfield Center Water District,” said Scenna. “Not only is this the largest capital project the district has ever endured, it is something that the community has really asked for. It has been a long time in the making.”
Scenna said LCWD officials and the district’s engineering firm, CDM Smith, had to “pivot” repeatedly while designing the water treatment plant the last several years.
“‘Pivot’ became the common word for this project because as we solved a problem, the federal government gave us another,” said Scenna about new PFAS regulations from the Department of Environmental Protection. “It took everyone to deliver this project. It took our state senator, our representative, our Select Board, our town administrator and, most importantly, it took our design team and our operators to have lots of patience to try and deliver what we feel is a project that will give the district the infrastructure it needs for decades to deliver safe water to our customers.”
Scenna also thanked LCWD employees for their hard work on the project.
“Houses are built on foundations and all of you are the foundation of this district,” said Scenna.
Scenna thanked owner’s project manager Weston & Sampson, general contractor Daniel O’Connell & Sons and engineering firm CDM Smith for their work on the project. He personally thanked CDM Smith Project Manager and Lynnfield resident Anne Malenfant for the work she has done.
“I have to thank Anne for not only educating me, but also putting the brakes on me when I wanted to sprint and I had to jog,” said Scenna. “She has been a guiding force to me.”
LCWD Board of Water Commissioners Chair Steve Walsh thanked Scenna for his work on the $17 million Glen Drive treatment plant project.
“John does a tremendous job each and every day,” said Walsh. “He does it without accolades and without fanfare. He is a tremendous public servant.”
Walsh acknowledged that water projects such as the Glen Drive treatment plant are “not the most exciting projects.”
“It doesn’t get the front page news, but it’s something we need every day,” said Walsh. “Fire prevention and clean and accessible running water are important to families. Projects like this make a difference in the lives of people. It took a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of hard work in order to get where we are today. We have a lot more work to do.”
Walsh thanked the Select Board for supporting the LCWD’s capital improvement program. Select Board Chair Dick Dalton, Select Board member Alexis Leahy and Town Administrator Rob Dolan attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Select Board member Phil Crawford was unable to attend.
“Thank you for all that you do for us and the town,” said Walsh. “I want to give a special thank you to Town Administrator Rob Dolan. We are fortunate to have the best town administrator in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The elected officials that we have work so incredibly well together. They work for the common good.”
Walsh thanked his colleagues, Water Commissioners Andy Youngren and Jack Dahlstedt, along with former Water Commissioners Joe Maney and Jack Adelson for their work on the project. He said contractor Daniel O’Connell & Sons will be working to clear and grade the site, mobilize equipment and will be installing temporary modulars over the next few weeks.
“We have been able to create a very established and experienced construction team that will be working on this project for the balance of the year and all of next year building infrastructure that will service the district for decades to come,” said Walsh. “The work is being completed in accordance with all Massachusetts DEP, local building permitting and Zoning Board of Appeals review conditions. Thanks to the DEP permitting team, our local building inspector, and the Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and health director for their oversight, partnership and collaboration with permitting. Lastly, I want to thank the DEP’s State Revolving Fund program for financing the project at an incredible zero percent interest rate. Without that, we wouldn’t be able to do this project.”
Walsh said the groundbreaking ceremony “represents years of hard work and dedication from our commissioners, staff and team.”
“We are excited to finally see the realization of all the hard work,” said Walsh. “Lynnfield residents, especially those in the Glen Drive area, deserve clean water. The new state-of-the-art facility will treat iron, manganese and PFAS. It will position the district with a stronger and more sustainable foundation for the district’s infrastructure. The start of construction of this project and the interconnection project with the MWRA through Wakefield going out to bid are two monumental steps for our town and the Lynnfield Center Water District. It took a great team effort.”
Walsh thanked LCWD ratepayers for their “patience” as the Glen Drive treatment plant project has been developed over the last several years. The former Lynn state representative also thanked House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) and State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) for advocating for the project.
“Nearly $700,000 in Ipswich River Watershed grant funds were made available for the design of this project,” said Walsh. “A $100,000 state earmark was used for some additional PFAS design and pilot testing, and the opportunity to finance this construction at zero percent interest was awarded to the district through the DEP. All of this would not have been possible without the work of our delegation. They work hard every single day on behalf of this town. They are accessible, they are active and they listen. When they disagree with us on a position, they are not disagreeable. They are compassionate and are dedicated public servants. They put dignity into public service every day. We are lucky to have them.”
Crighton recalled that he and Walsh are friends, and that Walsh mentored him when he started worked for former State Sen. Tom McGee in the mid 2000s. He also thanked LCWD officials for working on the project and town officials for supporting it.
“Leader Jones and I, along with the Healey-Driscoll administration, played a role in this and we are certainly proud of that role, but the work is getting done at the ground level,” said Crighton. “I can’t imagine how hard that work was, but you rolled up your sleeves and got it done. Water is not the most exciting issue to talk about, but when you think of government, the most important thing government can do is make sure every resident has access to clean and safe water.”
Jones, who is also friends with Walsh, agreed.
“This is a team effort,” said Jones. “I wanted to come up with Brendan to show that the House and Senate can work together sometimes. Water is an issue that is not sexy until it is not working right. Water is foundation and fundamental, and having an adequate and portable supply is critical. You have been working on this project for years in a changing regulatory environment. It is a testament to you for sticking with it. Lynnfield’s ratepayers stepped up, and we are happy to partner with the town. We are happy to accommodate and happy to help. Congratulations, and we are looking forward to coming back and turning on the faucet so to speak.”
