Great Barrington — Long-troubled company Housatonic Water Works is now seeking state funds to complete the installation of a manganese filtration system.
In a press release issued on Monday, February 24, the company announced that it would actively pursue alternative funding sources to pay for the filtration project.
Through the press release, the company states that they have requested legislative support from State Rep. Leigh Davis (D – 3rd Berkshire District) and State Sen. Paul Mark (D – Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District) to secure a dedicated state budget line item or a State Revolving Fund allocation to help offset project costs.
On January 24, the company filed a letter with the state’s Department of Public Utilities that it had delayed the project.
Installation of the filtration system was part of the rate-increase plan approved by the DPU in July.
In the filing, company attorneys blamed the Great Barrington Board of Health’s Order to Correct, issued against the company on August 22, 2024, for the delay.
On February 13, however, MassDEP representative Andrew Kelly wrote to HWW stating that the company “is required to commence construction of the filtration upgrades within 90 days of the permit approval.”
MassDEP approved the company’s permit for the filtration system on December 13, 2024.
Kelly wrote that the company should have ordered the filtration equipment to begin site work by March 13.
He wrote that HWW is required to “provide written confirmation that the filtration equipment was ordered by the February 15 date included within the plan and that the construction of the filtration equipment is on schedule in accordance with the Plan and MassDEP’s October 8 Unilateral Administrative Order.”
However, it is not known if the company filed a response to MassDEP regarding Kelly’s letter.
