Town receives $1 million in federal funds for sewer project

Wareham has received a little over $1 million in federal funding  for sewer department projects, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan told the Select Board Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Crediting congressman Bill Keating with securing the money, Sullivan explained that, approximately 18 months ago, the town reached out to Keating’s office seeking financial help for its massive sewer expansion project. The funding secured by Keating will go toward “Phase two” of the project.

“It is fantastic and could not thank Congressman Keating and his staff enough for getting this to our community,” Sullivan said at the meeting.

The sewer project is based on a long-term Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan and a goal to reduce nitrogen levels in the Wareham River by 79% by 2045, thus reducing the flow of nitrogen into Buzzards Bay. The project determined that 43% of the excess nitrogen is due to private septic systems and 16% from the town's wastewater treatment facility.

Phase two is a $36 million project that started in 2024. The project needs funding for new equipment and buildings, among other expenses. The grant is paying for the installation of a centrifuge, which will make waste sludge less expensive to dispose of for the sewer department.

The grant funds the project almost completely, Sewer Department Director Scott Kraihanzel said. “Now we can use that money that would have been put toward this project to paying down the debt that was created by the $36 million project,” Kraihanzel said.