Sewer board: about 1,060 homes could be added under permit; Kennedy Pump Station bypass considered for resilience

The Board of Sewer Commissioners on June 25 received a hookups update and a system capacity estimate that could shape near‑term sewer extensions and priority projects.

Chair (S1) noted one new hookup at 48 Barlow's Avenue. During discussion, Staff member (S4) provided a planning estimate that, assuming Title 5 occupancy assumptions and three bedrooms per house, approximately 1,060 additional houses could be accommodated under the system’s 1,560,000 gallons‑per‑day permit. Staff cautioned the estimate depends on pump‑station and line capacities and that many practical questions remain — notably who will pay for lateral and line extensions and whether pump stations can physically handle additional flow.

Separately, commissioners placed the Kennedy Pump Station on their priority list as a candidate for a bypass connection directly to the Sandwich force main to reduce flows through the Narrows Pump Station. Engineers noted that running a force main from Kennedy to tie into the larger outgoing force main could cut roughly 45% of the flow currently routed to Narrows, improving resilience against flooding and generator failure, though it would require further engineering study and likely grant funding to proceed.

Commissioners asked staff to invite engineering consultants (Russ Kleekamp, John Potts and others) to a workshop to weigh pros and cons, evaluate pump‑station and pipe sizing, and review potential funding sources. Members emphasized private financing or betterment assessments as a strategy to extend localized lines without immediately increasing town capital outlays.