Wayland Public Works grants $17,099 water abatement for leaky toilet

WAYLAND — December 19, 2023 — Wayland Board of Public Works abates $17,099 water bill, blaming a six-month toilet leak. The board voted 5-0 Tuesday to grant homeowner Mike McClain's abatement request for 14 Gleason Lane, crediting $17,099.20 against an original bill of about $17,868. Members pressed McClain and DPW staff on whether 110,000 cubic feet — roughly 600 cubic feet per day — could plausibly come from a faulty flapper valve, but staff said two site visits confirmed no ongoing leak. "I begrudgingly — I'm really tired of these abatements," member Ed Greenbaum said before voting yes. The board also approved FY25 operating budgets for highway, parks, engineering, transfer station and water enterprise, and accepted the capital plan "with reservations" over cut administrative-vehicle replacements. The MWRA emergency connection pump station was set in place Dec. 14 and is targeted to enter service in late January.