WHITMAN - July 14, 2026 - The Whitman Select Board received a sobering briefing from Water and Sewer Superintendent Dave Lemay, who revealed that proposed of residential development will push the town close to its strict 365-million-gallon annual sewage contract with the City of Brockton. With approximately 20 million gallons of new flow already projected from in-progress developments and un-connected properties, two major proposed projects—66 Pond Street and 185 Franklin Street—could push the town over its structural buffer and trigger financial penalties.
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Superintendent Dave Lemay presented a detailed analysis of Whitman’s 20-year sewer contract with Brockton, which runs until 2035. Under the agreement, Whitman is permitted to transmit 365 million gallons of sewage annually. While the town has averaged a relatively safe 320 million gallons over the past four years, Lemay warned that capacity is being rapidly eaten away. Daily overages beyond the contract threshold carry hefty penalties starting at $5,000 to $10,000 per day.
A running tally of standard in-progress construction—including senior housing on Harvard Street, duplexes on Auburn Street, and standard connections—totals roughly 19 million gallons of upcoming demand. When added to the 320-million-gallon baseline, Whitman is left with a narrow safety buffer. This leaves little room for massive overlay projects currently eyeing the town, such as a proposed 254-unit complex at 66 Pond Street and a 52-unit townhouse development at 185 Franklin Street, which combined represent nearly 17 million gallons of potential demand.
Past inquiries to expand the contract have been flatly rejected by Brockton, which faces its own strict Department of Environmental Protection limits. Select Board members floated potential alternatives, such as implementing localized “greywater” systems for complex developments, optimizing Title V septic compliance, or establishing residential rebate programs to incentivize lower-flow fixtures.
