Great Barrington — As part of a $3.76 billion economic development package that was signed by Gov. Charlie Baker on Nov. 10, $100,000 has been earmarked to the town to provide financial relief to Housatonic Water Works customers dealing with water quality issues.
The funds were announced on Thursday, Nov. 17 in a press release from the office of State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli (D).
In the press release, Rep. Pignatelli’s Chief of Staff Julia Murphy wrote that the town is developing a plan for the best uses of the funds to directly assist HWW customers.
Murphy wrote that the funds were previously filed and secured by former state Sen. Adam Hinds when he was still in office.
“Our residents deserve access to safe and clean drinking water,” Rep. Pignatelli is quoted as saying in the press release. “While the complexity of this problem warrants greater resources, time, and effort, I’m proud that this earmark will provide direct help to consumers. My office continues to work closely with town officials and the Department of Environmental Protection to explore all possible avenues for long-term solutions.”
Town Manager Mark Pruhenski is quoted in the press release as saying “This seed money will allow us to get to work on short-term solutions while we continue to explore options for permanent improvements to this privately owned water utility that serves over 800 homes and businesses in town.”
However, Town Manager Pruhenski did not give details about what the possible short-term solutions might be.
The Selectboard may discuss the funds during its next regular meeting which is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.
At the Nov. 21 meeting, the Selectboard is expected to discuss with members of the Great Barrington Fire District a potential merger with the HWW system.
In a previous interview with The Berkshire Edge in October, Rep. Pignatelli spoke about the issues concerning HWW.
“I think customers need to understand that it could be years before they ever see a quality water system,” Rep. Pignatelli said in the interview. “Personally, from the outside looking in, I think the town needs to be a little more aggressive. It’s a very difficult situation because it’s a private water company. The state just can’t come in and make the company do this or that, but I think it’s really important to carry on this conversation. We’re all entitled to safe and clean water. The company has major infrastructure issues to deal with. They could get involved with the state’s Revolving fund, which is a two-percent loan that the state could help with. But they have yet to do that and they don’t appear to be interested in the loan. But it could help accelerate the repairs to their infrastructure. If the town could take the water system over, it could be eligible for a lot of state and federal money, but the repairs could still take years.”
