Southborough considers construction of water tank
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Southborough - Water storage and pressure issues could be alleviated by the building of a water tank in town, but it will be a costly endeavor.

That was the news delivered to the town's Advisory Committee recently by Karen Galligan, the town's Public Works superintendent.

The least costly site to put the tank would be on Tara Road, according to a report by Pare Corp. of Lincoln, R.I., an engineering consultant hired by the town to look into the problem, but even there it would cost about $1.2 million.

Putting a tank in the Fairview Hill area would cost about $1.5 million, while locating a water tank near Interstate 495 would incur a cost of about $1.6 million.

The study looked at 25 potential sites and also weighed alternatives to the tank installation option, including employing pumps to increase water pressure.

Another option to solve the pressure problem would be to increase the capacity of the town's pumping station, but that wouldn't address the water storage needs and would require the replacement of several pipes.

Deciding on a spot for the additional water tank has been discussed by town boards and departments for about two years, but in every instance has met with resistance from residents living near the proposed site.

In an attempt to avoid resident fallout this year, Galligan said approximately 1,600 letters were went to residents living near any of the proposed 25 sites on the list. As of Feb. 4, Galligan had received four replies.

Galligan said she plans to present to Town Meeting in spring an article or multiple articles to address the water tank issue.

The matter will be revisited Wednesday Feb. 27 at Cordaville Hall as part of the Public Works Planning Board's next meeting, and the matter is also expected to be taken up by the Board of Selectmen at its meeting Tuesday March 4.