HANOVER - January 12, 2026 - Hanover residents may soon face a 35% increase in water rates as the town prepares to ask voters for a $25-27 million bond to construct new treatment facilities aimed at removing PFAS “forever chemicals” from the municipal water supply.
The Full Story
The sticker shock of environmental compliance took center stage Monday night as Town Manager Joe Colangelo and Budget Director Jim Hoyes laid out the financial reality of combatting PFAS contamination.
The town is preparing a warrant article for the Annual Town Meeting to fund upgrades for all three of Hanover’s water treatment plants. While exact figures are being finalized by consultants, officials estimate the debt service for the project will hover between $25 million and $27 million.
On top of the construction debt, running the new filtration systems will cost an estimated $500,000 annually in new operating expenses.
“This is a big number. I get that. Everyone is going to feel that,” Town Manager Joe Colangelo told the Board. “Unfortunately, I don’t see any way around this. The rules are the regulations. Either we can do this willingly, or at some point... we will be doing this because we’re being penalized not to.”
According to Colangelo, the combined debt service and operating costs would require roughly $2 million in additional revenue for the water enterprise fund annually, necessitating a water rate hike of approximately 35%.
The Board discussed a phased approach—upgrading one plant at a time—but officials advised against it. Bidding the entire project at once offers “economies of scale,” Colangelo noted, and avoids future competition for contractors as other municipalities scramble to meet the same state mandates.
“We wouldn’t vote on this in the first year... but [over a 4-5 year timeline] you’d end up with the water rate increase of the order of magnitude that Joe mentioned.” — Jim Hoyes, Budget Director
Select Board member Vanessa O’Connor pressed for a commitment to continue seeking state and federal grants to offset the burden on taxpayers, even if current prospects for full funding look slim.
Pesticide Ban vs. Budget Reality In a separate environmental debate, the Board wrestled with a proposal to eliminate synthetic pesticides on town fields in favor of organic alternatives.
DPW Director Kurt Kelley explained that switching to organics would increase annual material costs from $20,000 to approximately $100,000. He also warned that organic treatments take longer to work, potentially leading to a “deterioration in our fields” during a 5-to-7-year transition period.
“I think the health and environment benefits far outweigh the added expense,” said Select Board member Greg Satterwhite, who advocated for the town to be a “trailblazer.”
However, faced with the steep price tag, the Board leaned toward a compromise: a pilot program targeting school fields—specifically Cedar or Center School—where children are most active. This pilot would likely be funded via a standalone warrant article for $20,000 to $40,000 from free cash, allowing voters to decide directly if they want to pay for the eco-friendly switch.
Modernizing the Budget The town has officially purchased budgeting software through ClearGov, for an $18,000 annual fee. This move aims to replace the current “clunky” system of disparate Excel spreadsheets with a streamlined, digital budget book.
Hoyes described the tool as a way to produce a “user-friendly” narrative for residents while reducing manual errors for staff. If the software subscription is not approved at Town Meeting, the contract includes a clause to void the agreement, protecting the town from long-term liability.
Why It Matters
For the average Hanover household, the PFAS project represents a significant, long-term increase in utility costs. A 35% jump in water rates will impact every quarterly bill for decades. While the project ensures safer drinking water and compliance with state laws, it is a non-negotiable expense that will compete with other town priorities.
Simultaneously, the pesticide pilot offers residents a direct choice: are they willing to pay a premium—roughly 4x the cost of standard treatments—to remove chemicals from the fields their children play on? This vote will test the town’s financial appetite for environmental initiatives.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the letter to the Plymouth County Retirement Association requesting alternative assessment schedules and a template letter for other communities.
Vote: 5-0 (O’Connor, Hughes, Louko, Nyman, Satterwhite) [[0:53:41]]
Motion: To update Select Board Policy 7-2 (Procurement Card) to increase credit card limits for specific school department positions to $5,000 and add a card for the FACE director.
Vote: 5-0 (O’Connor, Hughes, Louko, Nyman, Satterwhite) [[1:00:33]]
Public Comment
0:01:03: No members of the public (in-person or online) offered comment during the open forum.
What’s Next
PFAS Funding: A debt exclusion warrant article for ~$27M will be prepared for the Annual Town Meeting.
Pesticide Pilot: DPW will refine a proposal for a “school fields only” organic pilot program (~$20k-$40k) to be presented as a standalone warrant article.
Next Meeting: January 20, 2026 (Tuesday), featuring the 2nd Quarter Budget Report.