Pittsfield Council OKs $15M Borrowing for Drinking Water System
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council last week approved borrowing $15 million for drinking water system upgrades, and heard a commitment from the Department of Public Works to consider solutions for the intersection of Onota and Linden Streets.
Last month, the council supported the borrowing for the city's two drinking water plants during its regular meeting.
Commissioner of Public Services Ricardo Morales explained that the decades-old filtration units need to be babysat "much more" than usual, and the city is due for new technology.
Pittsfield's two Krofta water treatment plants were installed in the 1980s and are said to be beyond anticipated useful service and at risk for catastrophic failure that could result in a shortage of potable water. Krofta is a compact filtration system that Pittsfield will continue to use, with four new units at the Cleveland WTP and two at the Ashley WTP.
"When the Krofta was built in 1980, I was there on the council, and here we are looking to repair or replace certain parts," Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren said.
"So 40 years later, I think we need to do that."
The full drinking water project is expected to cost $165 million over the next eight years, with $150 million for long-term construction and $15 million for near-term needs. The initial ask would fund the final design and permitting for Phases 1-3 and Phase 1 of interim updates.
The $15 million borrowing breaks down into $9.2 million for the design and permitting, $2.4 million for the construction of Phase 1, and $1.4 million in city allowances, including owner's project manager services, land acquisition, legal fees, and contingency.
Pittsfield's water system includes six surface water reservoirs, five high-hazard dams, one low-hazard dam, two water treatment plants, two chlorinator stations, and gravity flow from the plants to the city. It serves Pittsfield, Dalton, Lenox, and the Berkshire Mall property.
The Finance subcommittee was given a tour of the facility before supporting the ask last month, and councilors confirmed it's in poor structural conditions. Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey pointed out that a wall is caving in at one of the water treatment plant buildings.
"We have the walls caving in, the roof leaking. We have fixed the roof at the Ashley treatment plant and the walls. That is what we would like to do at Cleveland as well," Morales said.
Some councilors spoke to the importance of investing in clean water, and not continuing to defer maintenance.
During this meeting, Morales also agreed to work with Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi and Ward 7 Councilor Kathy Moody on the intersection of Linden and Onota Streets.
Last year, flashing stop signs were added to the problematic intersection. A couple of years prior, former councilor Karen Kalinowsky petitioned to install a blinking red light or other traffic light configuration at the intersection, but it was tabled because the city already had plans to address the area.
In January, they requested that the Department of Public Works submit a report detailing all complaints received, accident reports from the Pittsfield Police Department, any safety studies or engineering reviews, and any community feedback or community engagement related to the infrastructure change at the northeast corner curb extension ("bump-out") at the intersection.
In a response to the councilors, City Engineer Tyler Shedd said phone complaints peaked during and immediately after construction. According to crash data, nearly two-thirds of all crashes since 2019 involved a westbound vehicle on Linden Street, the only leg of the intersection without a stop sign.
Moody said her next action is to request that the bump-out be reduced by two feet.
"We will work with the petitioners and the councilors to fix this intersection," Morales said.
Tags: drinking water, municipal borrowing,
