Submtitted by Rick Trapilo, Fairhaven Planning Board, SRPEDD, & New Bedford/Fairhaven Plan Committee
When I sought your vote to serve as a member of the Planning Board, I pledged to prioritize the health, safety, and prosperity of our beloved town of Fairhaven. Among my key commitments is ensuring that our neighboring City of New Bedford halts the practice of dumping hundreds of millions of gallons of raw wastewater into our waters. Equally important, I am focused on confirming that Fairhaven is in full compliance with protecting and preserving Buzzards Bay.
On Thursday, November 14, I had the privilege of meeting with Mr. Vinnie Furtado, a skilled biochemist and manager of Fairhaven’s Public Works Department to discuss our wastewater treatment processes and the safety of our drinking water.
Fairhaven’s wastewater treatment facility is a remarkable example of scientific excellence, serving both Fairhaven and Mattapoisett. Impressively, the plant has the capacity to support an additional 20,000 residents. To further enhance its capabilities, a major upgrade is underway to reduce nitrogen — a harmful byproduct of wastewater that currently isn’t effectively treated. This state-of-the-art nitrogen reduction facility, when completed, will position Fairhaven as a benchmark community in wastewater management.
In stark contrast, the City of New Bedford lacks comparable plans for nitrogen removal or holding tanks to mitigate raw sewage discharges during rainstorms caused by their combined sewer overflow system.
Note: As we celebrate these advancements in Fairhaven, we must remain vigilant about the financial implications, particularly the repayment and interest on the $40 plus million investment in the nitrogen plant.
Our drinking water is another shared and precious resource, relied upon by the towns of Marion, Rochester, Mattapoisett, and Fairhaven. The treatment plant, located in Mattapoisett, has faced challenges, including the cause of “brown water.” Simply put, past elected leadership did not prioritize funding for upgrading the plant’s 288 filters as there was no need until there was a need.
Thanks to the efforts of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District, which Mr. Furtado currently chairs, funding has been secured, and new filters will soon be installed. Additionally, the plant will implement advanced “ultraviolet disinfection” technology, further safeguarding our drinking water.
Maintaining and upgrading our drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is a fundamental responsibility for our town’s leadership. To address the significant costs of clean water and wastewater management, I’ve proposed that Fairhaven, as part of my role with SRPEDD, work towards establishing a South Coast Water and Wastewater Commission. Such a body would enable cost-sharing among neighboring towns for these critical services.
On Monday, November 18, I’ll be visiting the Narragansett Bay Commission to learn firsthand how they’ve restored Narragansett Bay to its cleanest state in 150 years. I’m eager to bring back insights that could benefit our community.
Stay tuned for updates!
You can reach Mr. Trapillo at rftrapilo@yahoo.com
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