News & Events

Littleton Groundbreaking

On June 16th, a groundbreaking was held by the Littleton Water Department for the future Whitcomb Avenue Water Treatment Plant. The new, 10,500 square-foot water treatment plant will utilize biological filtration to remove iron and manganese ahead of granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration for the removal of PFAS from three of the water department’s groundwater sources.

Littleton, Massachusetts’ water department leaders, the Town Select Board, and the Board of Water Commissioners were in attendance.

Additionally, remarks were made about the impact of the project by many State and national representatives, including Governor Charlie Baker and U.S. Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “PFAS chemicals can pose serious health threats, especially to those drinking contaminated water. I’m grateful to the leaders in Littleton who are addressing this issue with urgency and utilizing partnerships with the state and federal government to clean up their drinking water as soon as possible,” said Congresswoman Trahan.

The project will include the construction of a 3.5-mile-long raw water transmission main to connect a well at Spectacle Pond to the new treatment plant and upgrades to the existing well pump station. The finished treatment plant will have a total processing capacity of 1.8 million gallons per day.

The cost of the project will be funded through the State Revolving Fund Loan Program which includes a 0% interest loan. The Water Department also received a $200,000 grant from MassDEP for assistance with PFAS treatment pilot testing and design.

Engineers from Tighe & Bond designed the biological and GAC treatment plant and are working with a contractor (Winston Builders Corporation) to implement the design. A second contractor (Albanese D&S) will oversee the installation of the water main. Construction is expected to be completed in Spring 2023.

For more information, view Littleton’s press release.

Photo of the Littleton Groundbreaking