Duxbury Faces Steep Water Rate Hikes to Fund PFAS Treatment
Town Considers Up to 327% Increase Over Six Years, Debates $80 Million Plan
DUXBURY - January 27 - Duxbury residents could see their water bills more than quadruple over the next six years as the town grapples with funding PFAS treatment and infrastructure improvements.
At a Selectboard meeting Monday night, consultant Toby Fedder presented projections showing water rates may need to increase by up to 327% by fiscal year 2031 to cover the estimated $80 million cost of treating PFAS contamination in the town's water supply.
"By fiscal 31, you're going to need somewhere north of $14 million in revenue in order to pay for your operational expense, debt you've already bonded out and incurred, pay go, which is cash, finance, capital, and then all of the new debt service," Fedder told the board.
The town is considering raising fixed charges and implementing steeper rate tiers to encourage conservation. Currently, only about 7% of water revenue comes from fixed charges.
"We're better off with lower fixed charges and make it more variable," Fedder said. "That is the way to actually provide that price signal to get people to actually stop consuming at the highest use periods of the year."
However, officials are divided on whether to proceed with the full PFAS treatment plan. Some argue for immediate action, while others advocate waiting to see if conservation efforts can reduce the need for expensive facilities.
"We are going to spend money on mitigating PFAS," said board member Fernando Guitart. "So we're trying to forecast six years. And maybe we're trying to, when we think about PFAS, we're thinking actually 10 years or 20 years."
DPW Director Sheila Sgarzi cautioned against rushing into major investments for wells that are currently in compliance with regulations.
"We're looking at priority projects for wells that have not gone out of compliance," Sgarzi said. "We don't know if they will go out of compliance."
The PFAS working group recommended moving forward with pilot testing and design work, requesting a $2 million warrant article for the upcoming town meeting. However, Finance Director Mary MacKinnon noted existing funding could cover initial pilot studies.
"We have sufficient funding in existing articles to undertake the projects that are being recommended," MacKinnon said.
Board members stressed the need for more public education and input on the complex issue.
"We need to have these conversations with the residents so they know everything that is in front of them and coming down the pike," said board member Amy MacNab.
In other business, the board enacted a moratorium on new earth removal permits until July 2025 to revise regulations after residents raised concerns about sand mining operations.
Sheila Lynch-Benttinen, who lives near a sand mining site on Teakettle Lane, described the impact on her neighborhood.
"For four months, my house was completely surrounded by diesel trucks exhaust over 40 hours a week, 14 trucks, 10 trips a day, 140 trips with round trips, 280 trips a day," Lynch-Benttinen said.
She criticized the lack of public input on the original permitting process.
"There was not one public hearing, zero, no abutters notification," Lynch-Benttinen said. "This is irresponsible of the Selectboard, the legal building and administration in our town that approved this regulation."
Board members acknowledged the need to revise the regulations.
"We've recognized that there were unintended consequences," MacNab said. "This board approached the sand with the best of intentions."
The board voted unanimously to enact the moratorium on new permits, though existing operations will be allowed to continue.
As the meeting stretched past 9:30 p.m., the board postponed several agenda items to future meetings. The next scheduled Select Board meetings are Jan. 28 and Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center with the Finance Committee, with another regular meeting on Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mural Room.