Pembroke Unveils $75 Million Plan to Combat Brown Water Issues
Town aims for significant improvements within three years, replaces aging infrastructure
PEMBROKE - December 18 - Pembroke's Water Department presented a comprehensive plan Dec. 18 to address persistent brown water problems plaguing residents, with officials estimating $75 million in infrastructure improvements over the next several years.
Water Superintendent Dan Sullivan outlined the strategy during a town meeting, focusing on replacing aging pipes, upgrading treatment facilities, and developing new water sources to meet growing demand.
"We know what the issue is. It's the manganese that's pumped," Sullivan said, referring to a mineral causing water discoloration. "Like that picture I showed you, that was by my house that settled up."
The plan targets the replacement of approximately 11 miles of unlined cast iron pipes, identified as a primary source of water quality issues. Sullivan emphasized the department's goal to complete most of these replacements within the next three years.
A major component of the improvement plan is the construction of a new treatment plant for Stations 2 and 3, estimated to cost $19 million. The facility aims to remove excess iron and manganese from the water supply.
"Station 2 can pump a million gallons a day. Right now, it's greatly underutilized because of the dirty water," Sullivan explained.
The town is also developing a new water source at the Swanberg property, expected to be operational within 18 months. This addition will allow the department to reduce reliance on problematic wells during non-peak months.
Town officials acknowledged the inconvenience and urged residents to report incidents through an online form or by calling the water department directly. Town Manager Bill Chenard emphasized the importance of data collection for targeted improvements.
"If I download the data and just do a cross tab in Excel, it's going to tell me very quickly how many times this hit," Chenard said, explaining how the town will analyze reported incidents.
The water department plans to implement more proactive measures, including flushing individual service lines when residents report persistent issues. Sullivan assured residents that the department would respond promptly to complaints.
"If you call and you want us out there, we will come out there," Sullivan said.
Funding for the improvements will come from the water enterprise fund, which is separate from general tax revenues. Chenard noted that despite the significant investment, Pembroke's water rates for residential customers remain the lowest among comparable communities in the region.
The town is developing a new water master plan, expected to be completed in October 2025. This plan will outline capital improvement needs for the next 20 years, including water storage, main replacements, and future treatment requirements.
Sullivan, who has been in his position for nearly two years, emphasized the department's commitment to transparency and community engagement. The water department plans to provide regular updates on projects and improvements through the town's website and other communication channels.
Officials stressed the critical nature of the proposed improvements, warning of potential catastrophic consequences if the aging infrastructure is not addressed.
"If we don't continue... It's going to be catastrophic. We're going to see these mains... I've seen mains in my career that are 12-inch mains that are now 2-inch mains," Chenard said, highlighting the urgency of the situation.