In order to protect public health and our environment, Fairhaven has invested in sewers and the treatment of wastewater from residents, businesses and other users. Three major components are the Water Pollution Control Facility, the Wastewater Collection System and the West Island Treatment Plant.
BPW 24 Hour Emergency Service:
The phone number connecting all Departments is (508) 979-4030. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Should you have an emergency during either normal work hours or off work hours, please call our office at the listed number. Should you have an emergency during after hours, please be aware that all off hour and weekend calls are forwarded to an answering service. When calling, please give the following information: name, telephone number, address and the nature of the call. If the emergency that arises during off hours is not a Town issue, please be aware that the property owner will receive a service call-out fee to cover the cost of dispatching the technician.
The Fairhaven Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) is located on Arsene Street. It is a conventional activated sludge plant that is designed for 5 million gallons a day (MGD) of wastewater flow. On an average day, the facility accepts approximately 2.7 MGD with 16% of that flow coming from the neighboring town of Mattapoisett. During a heavy rain event, our flows can peak at 16 MGD. The original facility was completed in 1969 and some of the original structures still exist. It was last upgraded in 1989 and we are just beginning the process of rehabilitating the plant again. We received funding at the May 2007 Town meeting to begin a $600,000 Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWWMP), which will map out the future needs of the Town, and our plan of action for assuring the same superior level of wastewater treatment that is now provided to the residents of the Town. As a result of the CWWMP we have been able to upgrade many aspects of Fairhaven’s main WPCF between the years of 2017 and 2019. The scope of work included but was not limited to: upgrades to tanks, meters, weir gates, pumps and electrical equipment.
The plant discharges to the inner harbor thru an outfall located just west of the intersection of Church and Main Streets. Prior to discharge the flow is treated to levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) below those dictated to us thru our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit which is issued jointly by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our current permit mandates that we upgrade our treatment plant to manage nitrogen removal levels set forth by the DEP/EPA in our NPDES permit. We have entered into an agreement with the engineering firm Tighe & Bond, to have the scope of this work met by 2027 to be in permit compliance.
The collection system that conveys wastewater to the Arsene Street facility is composed of 15 pump stations located throughout town. There are approximately 75 miles of gravity and pressure sewer lines flowing to the main plant thru the two major pump stations, South Street, which handles approximately 65% of our flow, and Railroad Avenue, which handles everything east of the treatment plant, including Mattapoisett.
The town is responsible for maintaining all of the pump stations, as well as the main sewer lines in the publicly owned roadways of Fairhaven. We respond to all sewer emergencies that originate from the sidewalk area to the street and are challenged daily by the age of some of our lines, as well as by the root systems of the many trees that beautify our area, and love to infiltrate sewer lines. During a rain event, our flows to the treatment plant can rise from an average of 2.7 MGD to a high of 16 MGD. This is caused by infiltration and inflow (I/I) into the sewer system. Sources of I/I include sump pump discharge into individual sewer lines and leakage through older manholes and pipelines. The additional flow caused by I&I tend to drive up the cost of treatment due to increased detention times and retainage of solids awaiting processing at the WPCF.
The West Island Plant was built in 1998 and services the 366 homes on the Island. It is an advanced treatment plant with a design flow of 100,000 gallons per day. The average flow on the island rose from 18,000 to 25,000 GPD due to an increase in summer residents becoming permanent residents and the influx of summer tourism increasing. The discharge from this plant is to a well field in the conservation area of West Island, which is deeded to the Town. We have had challenges with this innovative system and installed two new wells in September 2006 which have been operating properly since their installation. In 2018-2019 2 new additional wells were installed to help in the process at the island and take stress off the older discharging wells, still in operation today and used on a bye-monthly rotation schedule.
Ongoing Projects (Updated 4/1/2022 – Rene Robillard, Acting Sewer Superintendent)
We have a number of projects that were funded at the May 2007 Town meeting that will be beginning very soon.
1. South Street Pump Station Rehabilitation (Updated 4/1/2002)
This $400,000 project was a complete success and completed on schedule.
This phase of work will include the following much needed improvements:
- Removal and replacement of existing influent sluice gates.
- Removal of existing bar screens and replacement with new stainless-steel bar screens.
- Removal and replacement of existing handrails and ladders in wet well.
- Removal and replacement of ductwork, motorized damper and electric unit heater in wet well.
- Installation of stainless-steel safety chains in the wet well.
- Removal and replacement of electrical conduits, wiring and lighting in wet well area.
- Removal and replacement of sump pump and controls.
- Removal and replacement of existing roof and flashing.
(Additional information: South Street Pump Station Rehab – 4/1/22)
The next step in the complete rehab of this main pump station will be the replacement of 2 shaft driven pumps installed circa 1977. The pumps continue to serve the town very well but are in dire need of retirement. The scarcity of parts and lack of energy efficiency make this an issue that will need to be address in the very near future.
2. Arsene Street Facility Condition Report and Improvement Project (Updated 4/1/22)
This $1.5 million-dollar upgrade was also a complete success. While at times we had a few hiccups trying to find compatibility between old equipment and new technology ultimately the project was complete with no process violations.
- Removal and replacement of existing influent mechanically-cleaned bar screens.
- Replacement of existing roofs at the Operations, Sludge Handling (Lime Room) and UV Buildings.
- Structural repairs to the Preliminary Treatment Building floor slab, existing Aeration Tanks walls and walkways, and leaking floor slab in basement of Sludge Handling Building.
- Removal and replacement of existing deteriorated 35-year-old aluminum slide gates at the Aeration Tanks.
- Removal and replacement of sludge valves throughout the existing treatment plant.
- Replacement of existing HVAC air handling equipment and unit heaters throughout the treatment plant.
3. Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan, still current 2022.
This $600,000 plan will serve as a road map for future wastewater management through 2030, and is required by state and federal agencies. Some of the key items that will be addressed in the CWMP include:
- Projection of wastewater flows.
- Update of Town wide Sewer Plan.
- Wastewater Treatment Alternatives Analyses to address the Town’s needs as well as the request from Mattapoisett for more capacity.
- Wastewater Treatment Facility rehabilitation, expansion and upgrade.
- Update of Town wide Infiltration/Inflow removal program.
- Upgrades and expansion of wastewater collection system and pumping stations.
- Update of the Intermunicipal Agreement with Mattapoisett.
4. Hydraulic Remediation at the Main Treatment Plant on Arsene Street (Updated 4/1/22)
We are currently still working on this project. Our most recent steps on this include evaluating our 2 biggest gravity force mains from the South and Taber St. pump stations. Along with building in manholes for access and observation purposes. They will be used to camera the lines for any structural deficiencies.:
- Evaluate alternate repair and/or replacement methods to improve flow through the pipelines and manholes.
- Evaluate flow patterns through the new ultraviolet disinfection system channels, verify proper operation of flow control gates, and identify improvements that could result in lowering of the hydraulic profile.
- Prepare design plans and specifications for the recommended improvements.
5. West Island Optimization Study (Updated 4/1/22)
$50,000 was appropriated to investigate the options available to us to optimize the treatment and disposal of wastewater at the West Island Treatment Plant.
(Additional information: West Island Optimization Study – 4/1/22)
It was determined that 2 new disposal wells needed to be installed. These wells were installed in 2 years ago and are operating within their designed flow.