By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Ratepayers will be voting on funding a permanent PFAS treatment system at the Lynnfield Center Water District’s Annual Meeting on Monday, May 8, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Al Merritt Media and Cultural Center.

LCWD Superintendent John Scenna said during a “Town Talk” episode that AVANTech vessels have begun treating PFAS at Station 2 on Main Street. He said the interim system has brought PFAS to “non-detect levels” under the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s regulations.

MassDEP’s drinking water standard mandates that the minimum PFAS level needs to be equal to or less than 20 parts per trillion (PPT), which equals one drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. Scenna said the interim PFAS system is a two-year pilot program.

Scenna has proposed treating PFAS permanently at the new Glen Drive greensand filter water treatment plant that is currently being designed.

“The treatment plant was passed and funded to treat iron and manganese in 2021,” said Scenna. “We are proposing to treat PFAS there as well.”

LCWD officials have attributed iron and manganese to the discolored water issues that have impacted a number of residents.

Scenna said the cost to incorporate PFAS treatment at the Glen Drive station will increase the LCWD’s capital program cost from $9.8 million to $15 million. However, he said the project’s cost will end up cheaper in the long-term.

“We are proposing to fund the project through a State Revolving Fund program that is issued by the federal government,” said Scenna. “It’s a $15 million borrowing at zero percent interest. From an economic perspective, borrowing $15 million at zero percent in today’s world is actually about the same as borrowing the $9.8 million that we got authorization for two years ago. The increase is extremely minimal and we may end up saving money. We are asking district voters to support the SRF program at our Annual Meeting on May 8.”

Scenna said an informational meeting about the LCWD’s permanent PFAS treatment plan will take place on Wednesday, April 26 at the Al Merritt Media and Cultural Center, beginning at 6 p.m.

Interconnection project

In addition to the Glen Drive project, the first phase of the Lynnfield Center Water District’s capital improvement program is set to begin in the next few weeks.

The Select Board approved an inter-municipal agreement with the Lynnfield Center Water District and the town of Wakefield during last week’s meeting.

Scenna recalled that the LCWD’s capital improvement program includes the $3.5 million interconnection and Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) supplemental water project. The LCWD’s interconnection project will allow the district to get supplemental water from the MWRA via Wakefield.

“Wakefield is extending its water system into Lynnfield so that we can connect,” said Scenna. “Connecting the two systems is the responsibility of the Lynnfield Center Water District. Wakefield’s system will remain its responsibility for years to come.”

Scenna said the Wakefield DPW will be in charge of constructing new pipe and maintaining the system that will be installed under Bay State Road and a portion of Main Street by Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate, 26 Main St. According to the inter-municipal agreement, 1,430 feet of new pipe will be installed under Bay State Road from the existing Wakefield system to a water main on Main Street.

“Bay State Road will be repaved from curb to curb,” said Scenna.

Scenna said the LCWD will be getting the supplemental MWRA water by installing an interconnection vault under a grass parcel located by the Route 95/128 ramps adjacent to the Main Street and Bay State Road intersection.

“We are working with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to get an easement,” said Scenna. “That will be the second phase, and we are hoping that will go out to bid soon. We are looking to build the vault from late summer into early fall.”

In order for the LCWD to receive supplemental water from the MWRA, Scenna recalled that the Water Resources Commission (WRC) will be reviewing the project as required by the Interbasin Transfer Act (ITA). After the WRC signs off on the interconnection project, the MWRA Board of Commissioners, the State Legislature and the governor will need to approve it as well.

“They will make sure everything is ready to go before the vault is turned on,” said Scenna. “We are hopeful the process runs efficiently. Our goal is to have the permits in place this time next year.”

Scenna said the Wakefield DPW hired Waltham-based A. Cardillo & Sons, Inc. to undertake the project. He said the project will begin soon.

“We are going to hold preconstruction meetings in the next couple of weeks with Wakefield DPW, Lynnfield DPW and Lynnfield Police to work on traffic mitigation and detours,” said Scenna. “We look forward to completing this first phase of what will be an interconnection of the LCWD with the Wakefield system that will supplement our system with MWRA water.”

Scenna thanked Town Counsel Tom Mullen for crafting the inter-municipal agreement with the assistance of Town Administrator Rob Dolan, DPW Director John Tomasz and Town Engineer Lisa DeMeo.

“This is an intricate inter-municipal agreement not only between the town of Wakefield and the Lynnfield Center Water District, but also the town of Lynnfield,” said Scenna.

Scenna said the LCWD Board of Water Commissioners and the Wakefield Town Council have also approved the inter-municipal agreement.

Then-Select Board Chairman Phil Crawford thanked Scenna, Mullen, Dolan, Tomasz and DeMeo for working on the inter-municipal agreement.

“I think all of you did a great job with this agreement,” said Crawford.

Crawford inquired if the LCWD will be able to receive supplemental water this year.

“Once the system is interconnected, it is referred to as an emergency connection,” said Scenna. “We could yield water through it in the event of an emergency. But that is not what we want to do ideally. We ideally want the permit in place and everyone to sign off on it.”

After the discussion, the Select Board unanimously approved the inter-municipal agreement.