Wayland water board seeks $1.23M design vote at April 7 town meeting

WAYLAND — March 25, 2025 — Wayland's Public Works board makes final pitch for $1.23 million water design vote before April 7 town meeting. At a hybrid forum Tuesday, DPW Director Tom Holder told residents the dual-source plan — keeping the Happy Hollow wellfield and adding an MWRA connection through Shaft L in Framingham — would cost $35 million to construct versus $22 million for full MWRA service, but is cheaper over 25 years and is the only path that satisfies the state's Interbasin Transfer Act. Holder warned a failed vote would imperil a $7 million MWRA entrance fee waiver expiring in December 2027 and the April 2029 federal PFAS limit of four parts per trillion. Former board member Bob Goldsmith pushed an alternative Veolia resin system, saying "I don't think there's a chance in hell of meeting 2029" under the current carbon design. About 1,200 of 5,000-plus accounts now have new AMI meters, and the board approved Feb. 12 minutes.