Senator Eldridge and Representative Arciero Announce Two Littleton Home Rule Petitions Become Law Addressing Water Infrastructure and Open Space
Legislation supports the Littleton Electric Light and Water Departments plans to build a new water treatment facility and create a Littleton Smart Sewer District
Littleton, MA - Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) and Representative James Arciero (D-Littleton) are proud to announce the passing of two home rule petitions, authorizing construction of a water treatment plant and establishing a municipal sewer utility in the town of Littleton (the Smart Sewer District).
“It was terrific to work with Rep. Arciero to guide these two bills through the legislative process, before the end of the 2019-2020 legislative session,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge. “I appreciate the dedication, hard work, and commitment of Nick Lawler, general manager of LELWD, and the persistence of the Board of Commissioners, to ensure the delivery of safe, clean drinking water to Littleton residents, and embrace innovation in not only embracing powering sewers through alternative energy, but encouraging smart growth development. I was also pleased to ensure that these pieces of legislation protected open space in Littleton, given the Littleton Water District’s decision to build new water infrastructure.”
“It is gratifying to have worked with the Littleton Select Board and the Littleton Electric Light and Water Department on these two important local initiatives. These bills will allow Littleton to develop the necessary infrastructure to provide the citizens of Littleton with the clean water they deserve, and to do so in an environmentally friendly way. I applaud the town for their foresight in these changes and look forward to the results of these two new laws being implemented in the town,” said Representative Arciero who filed both bills in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
H.4866 - An Act authorizing the town of Littleton to use certain land for construction of a water treatment facility without article 97 restrictions on such use authorizes the Littleton Electric Light and Water Department to construct a new water treatment facility and install necessary associated infrastructure in an area formerly identified as conservation land. To mitigate the change of use and to ensure a no-net-loss of lands protected for conservation purpose the town of Littleton establishes a new parcel of conservation land, located at 74 Whitcomb Avenue.
H.4865 - An Act establishing the Littleton Common Smart Sewer District in the town of Littleton was signed granting the town of Littleton the right to create its own municipal sewer utility for the first time. Littleton, which currently relies on septic systems, expects many positive environmental outcomes from this passage, including improved ground water quality. Indirect environmental benefits include utilizing recycled water from the sewer system for irrigation, cooling water, and processing water through the sewer for energy, heat, and fertilizer. This smart sewer project is planned to include an anaerobic digester which will break down biodegradable materials to generate energy and reuse quality water from the waste treated.
Additionally, the introduction of a sewer district introduced the possibility to bring increased economic prosperity to the town by servicing existing properties and commercial business areas that cannot thrive on septic systems.
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