Politics & Government

Wrentham May Sell Water to Norfolk

Town may sell water to Norfolk to ease shortage.

The town of Wrentham may sell some water to Norfolk for use at the prison in that town.

The matter was raised at Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting.

Wrentham Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Jack Manchester said Norfolk had expressed interest in building 100,000 gallons a day from the town.

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"That really would not affect us at all — our storage capacity is 2.5 million gallons a day, and our pumping capacity is 3.9 million," he said. "It brought up the question of what we should charge them."

Town Administrator William Ketcham said Norfolk had apparently lost the use of a well, and was thus facing a shortage. He said talks between the two towns had just begun, and were still in the preliminary stages.

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"The prison uses 400,000 gallons a day," he said. "There's a municipal connection between Norfolk and Wrentham that would be used."

Ketcham said he was recommending the town charge more than its residential rate, and use the additional money to ease the cost of improvements to the system.

Board Chairman Joseph Botaish noted a sizable difference in the water rates of Wrentham and Norfolk.

"If they're selling water at $12, and we're selling it at $5, why would they even bother to pump their own water?" he said. "I think, if they're making a $7 profit, we should be entitled to half that profit."

Ketcham did suggest, though, that the prison might be getting a reduced rate from Norfolk.

Botaish proposed, and the board accepted, the town seek 50 percent of Norfolk's profit on the deal.


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