Water tank replacement project progressing

To keep things running smoothly and safely, Weston is proactively replacing its aging water tanks.

Wright-Pierce, an environmental engineering firm, is working on designs to replace the storage tanks, which are nearing the end of their useful life. Of the three tanks in Weston, the Paines Hill tank is the newest at 67 years old, while the Doublet Hill tank, built in 1931, is the oldest. The tank at Cat Rock was built in 1946. The new tanks will be built near the existing ones so that water flow never has to shut down.

Richard Sullivan, the director of operations for the Department of Public Works, said the water system is not at immediate risk of failure, but improvements need to be made to keep the system working and prevent breakdowns or other problems in the future.

“You want to be pre-emptive to make sure you’re not on the 6 o’clock news,” he said.

The new tanks will have more storage capacity and will be elevated to increase the water pressure. In addition to replacing the tanks, the project includes pump station improvements and other system upgrades throughout the town to manage water pressure.

The town has been working to address the water system for several years.

How Weston got here

In 2019, Wright-Pierce created a master plan addressing the water system at the Select Board’s request. In the plan, the company emphasized the need to increase the storage volume of the water tanks. More storage increases water pressure, which helps meet demands during peak usage and for firefighting.

Fire Chief Justin Woodside said that the increased storage will help ensure that the fire department will have enough water to use in case of an emergency.

“In the event of a dry summer day under our current tank setup, there’s little to no emergency capacity,” he said. “This project will ensure that we have enough storage capacity and water in the tanks.”

In 2023, Town Meeting approved an initial $1 million to further analyze the project. Later funding was voted down at a 2024 Special Town Meeting after voters raised concerns about the cost-effectiveness of the project.

At the 2025 March Special Town Meeting, a majority of residents voted to authorize borrowing up to $37.15 million and transferring an additional $4.5 million from free cash for design and construction.

Looking forward

Town Manager Leon Gaumond said designs have yet to be finalized, but he expects the project cost will remain similar.

“That’s probably still in the ballpark,” he said. “There are still a lot of things that need to be refined … for the time being, that’s the number we’re working with.”

As Wright-Pierce works on the designs, the firm has presented options to the town. At the Water Tank Working Group meeting Sept. 25, Amy Coppers, an engineer with Wright-Pierce, suggested a new plan for the Cat Rock tank that would require less maintenance and address issues of water pressure.

Wright-Pierce will present additional plans to the Planning Board for final review in mid-November. Construction is expected to begin next September.

“It’s heading in the right direction,” Sullivan said. “We’re getting a lot of traction and a lot of momentum with the process now.”