Bridgewater Finance Committee Backs $8.5 Million Water Infrastructure Loan Authorization

BRIDGEWATER — June 1, 2026 — Bridgewater Finance Committee unanimously approves $8.5 million water infrastructure loan and new utility rates for fiscal year 2027. The committee voted Monday to rescind a prior $7.4 million loan authorization tied to a scrapped plan to pipe water from Wells 10A and 10B to the Plymouth Street plant, replacing it with an $8.5 million authorization for a permanent on-site treatment facility capable of addressing iron, manganese, and PFAS contamination — a $1.1 million net increase that, combined with a $2 million DEP emerging contaminants grant already in hand, brings total anticipated project investment to roughly $10.5 million. Town Manager Justin Pereira said the capital plan currently schedules Main Street water main replacement for 2030, but three breaks this year have made that timeline untenable: "I can't wait to 2030. I don't have the funds for the roads, but that can't wait." The committee also endorsed fiscal year 2027 water and sewer rates developed by third-party consultant Raftelis, noting that FY2026 water revenue is on track to hit 102.4 percent of its target under a rate structure that places 70 percent of revenues on volumetric charges — a design intended to give average users roughly 7 percent in bill relief compared to the prior schedule. Pereira announced a public water forum is tentatively planned for June 23.