Representatives from Walmart Tuesday addressed the Board of Selectmen, acting in their role as Sewer Commissioners, about whether the retailer would be able to tie into existing town sewer at the site it hopes to relocate to in West Wareham. Though given the OK by Sewer Department head Guy Campinha, the Selectmen ultimately decided to delay voting on the issue until more information about the plant's capacity is known.

Tara Calabrese and Steve Decoursey of Bohler Engineering, which represents Walmart, inquired as to what the next steps are for implementing a sewage plan for the site. Depending on the capacity of the town's sewer plant, the company would either tie into town sewer or construct its own on-site sewer system.

In a letter addressed to the Selectmen in September, the company noted the plant would need to withstand 9,635 gallons to function effectively. The current East Wareham Walmart location uses about 6,000 gallons.

“I have no problem with them tying in,” Sewer Department director Guy Campinha explained to the board. “We have it available.”

Campinha noted that if the new Walmart did use the town facilities, it would need a "vented equalizer" to lessen the impact on the town and a grease trap that could support 5,000 gallons. He also advised that a Wareham sewer official closely monitor the facility.

At issue in determining whether the town has available sewer capacity to accommodate Walmart is an earlier agreement the town has with A.D. Makepeace, promising to make town sewage available for a currently unspecified development on land near the currently-under -construction Rosebrook business park. Without knowing how much sewer capacity the Makepeace agreement will require, Selectmen do not know what remains available for Walmart.

“I strongly suggest you get a number for that,” Selectmen Brenda Eckstrom told Campinha.

Her concern was felt by the rest of the selectmen, who decided to delay a decision until the board and Town Administrator Mark Andrews can meet with A.D. Makepeace, despite Calabrese's statement that the project has had difficulty moving forward at joint zoning and planning board meetings without the approval of a sewage plan.

A sewer capacity discussion will be added to the Sewer Commissioners' agenda later this month once the information is known.

Walmart, which currently operates in East Wareham, has proposed a plan to construct and move to a 152,124-square-foot building at the corner of Tobey Road and Cranberry Highway in West Wareham. In addition to Walmart’s current inventory, the new store would offer a full line of groceries. In its current location, the store is prohibited from expanding its grocery business  by a deed restriction connected to its participation in a shopping center with Stop & Shop.

In addition to the sewer, the controversial proposal has been met with a number of concerns about traffic, the environmental impact, and safety concerns for the children attending John W. Decas Elementary School, who would be walking through the area.

Prior to its construction, the project will need to be approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and Mass Highway.