KP School Committee Looking for Time to Mull Wastewater Plant Options

The King Philip School Committee is looking for additional time to decide how to alleviate odor concerns at the high school's wastewater treatment plant.

The district is currently under order to fix the system, which could cost $500,000.

The plant was originally built in 1974, and renovated in 2007. The renovations, however, changed the system so that it required more flow to work properly. The school currently does not meet that flow amount.

Town officials have expressed a desire to add flow from neighboring houses to the system, as wastewater is a problem in the area.

District Business Administrator Paul Schaefer said there had been efforts to contact the town health agent to request more time.

"Politely, we're being stonewalled," he said.

Board of Selectman Chairman Joseph Botaish, the board's liaison to the school committee, said he would raise that matter with Town Administrator William Ketcham.

"What we need to find out is where the system failed — design or implementation," he said.

Schaefer said documentation relating to the plant was lacking, as the design engineer, construction engineer, state Department of Environmental Protection and town Board of Health verbally agreed on the plans and specifications of the system.

Botaish said an effort should be made to find the fault.

"If it was brought the DEP's attention one day that [the system] would not work, we need to know this," he said. "Unfortunately, the way things are done, everybody points their finger at someone else."

He said the town had contacted State Sen. Richard Ross to seek support on the state level.