WILBRAHAM — The Board of Water Commissioners met on July 18 to discuss a potential water rate increase to pay for a major infrastructure project that is expected to cost $2 million.
Wilbraham is one of three communities in the area that draw water from the Quabbin Reservoir through the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct.
The water from the reservoir flows to a station on Miller Street in Ludlow and into Wilbraham. The 10-inch cast-iron transmission main that connects Wilbraham to the Miller Street station is more than a century old and is deteriorating.
This spring, voters at Town Meeting approved the borrowing of up to $4 million for water projects. A $1.3 million bond with an attractive 0% interest rate was available through the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, but was “sunsetting,” and the opportunity was due to expire if not acted on, DPW Director Tonya Caparello said. The funding will allow the town to contract with a firm to design the infrastructure project. Caparello said the entire project is expected to cost about $2 million, and the town will borrow the remaining funds when the exact cost is known.
Caparello is publicly seeking bids and a committee that includes Caparello, Water Superintendent Vincent Pafumi and at least two of the water commissioners will vet the proposals. Work on the water main is expected to take place between April and September of 2026.
To pay the $130,000 debt service on the MWRA loan, the DPW has recommended rate increases. About 3,300 of the town’s roughly 5,345 households use town water, and Caparello said that the town uses a tiered system to deter people from excess lawn irrigation in the summer months, which puts added wear and tear on the system.
The rate for commercial users and residential customers who use fewer than 10,000 cubic feet of water would see rates rise from $4.12 per unit, which equates to 100 cubic feet, to $4.80 per unit. This accounts for most water users. Customers using between 10,000 and 20,000 cubic feet of water would see their rate increase from $4.32 per unit to $5.25 per unit. Those using the highest volume of water, over 20,000 cubic feet, would pay $5.50 per unit, up from $4.82 per unit.
Resident Mark Hebert, who attended the public hearing, asked if the rate for the lowest users could be held steady. Caparello said that the other ratepayers would have to make up the difference, because that same amount of money would be needed to balance the budget.
Caparello pointed out that the last water rate increase was in 2014. In the years since then, a portion of the water retained earnings has been used to subsidize the water rate and prevent the need for rate hikes. In the fall of 2024, the retained earnings account was certified at $744,000 and $374,000 of that was used to keep the water rates steady. After crunching the numbers, Commissioner John Caltabiano said that water users would have experienced a yearly increase of between 2.3% and 2.5% without the use of retained earnings. He said there is always a question of whether to raise rates incrementally every year or “keep [money] in the pocket of ratepayers,” which means larger increases when needed.
Caparello confirmed that the rates will not decrease after the debt service is paid. The revenue from one year of the higher rates will generate $342,000, she said. She said the rates will help pay for other, smaller capital projects and help cover the costs of running the water department. She said the rates may remain stable for another five years without another increase.
“These infrastructure improvements benefit everyone, not just today,” but in the future, Commissioner Rik Alvarez said. Overall, he said, “Our infrastructure is very well prepared. We are lucky to have Tonya and Vinnie.”
A 30-day public comment period is open for residents to give feedback on the proposed rate increases. The Water Division can be reached at DPW@wilbraham-ma.gov. The Board of Water Commissioners will vote on the matter at its meeting on Sept. 22 at 8:45 a.m.
