After years of disruption, Hatfield eyes repairs to Routes 5 & 10 sewer line

HATFIELD — The Select Board is considering options for fixing problems with the Routes 5 & 10 sewer and water extension project, ranging from digging up and reinstalling pipes to using more high-tech solutions that wouldn’t require the state highway to be torn apart.

In a post-construction findings and recommendations report brought to the board earlier this month, Mike Ohl, an engineer from Comprehensive Environmental Inc., said there are several ideas for resolving problems identified in the pipeline that was installed over the past five years as part of a $5.4 million project.

The issues include gaskets that didn’t fit correctly, incorrect slopes in the pipeline and lack of manhole rungs being installed.

To resolve this, one idea is to reinstall the pipe in the southernmost portion of the gravity feed sewer system. About 1,900 feet of the 3,650 feet of pipe would have to be relaid and the road would be dug up.

Another possibility is less disruptive, to do so-called pipe bursting, which installs new pipe by breaking the old pipe in places.

Finally, a contractor could insert in the pipe epoxy, which would protect the pipes but would necessitate regular flushing.

The two proposals that don’t require cutting open pavement are specialized work, Ohl said, and would have to be subcontracted out by Geeleher Enterprises Inc. of Southampton, the general contractor.

Select Board Chairman Ed Jaworski said he is shocked at the extent of repairs likely necessary to get to a functioning system. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to bring it to correctness,” Jaworski said.

Board member Luke Longstreeth said the repairs will not be covered by Hatfield tax dollars. The work, he added, is now well beyond the scope of when it should have been finished.

“The town is protected in terms of moneys not being paid and potentially the bond if the contractor doesn’t take care of this,” Ohl said.

Department of Public Works Director Marlo Warner said repairs should be done. “We paid for a product that we don’t have and I think it should be put back to a standard of
what was requested,” Warner said.

The work, using a state MassWorks Infrastructure Grant, began in 2021 on the stretch of road zoned industrial and light industrial, in a main commercial section of the town, though there are also a number of residences there expected to be able to tie in and get off their septic systems.

The sewer service is being extended along the state highway from Linseed Road to Rocks Road, and the water service is continued for 1,200 feet along the same road, south of Rocks Road.

Before any work resumes this spring, town officials anticipate having a community meeting. Residents who live along the road remain frustrated.

“Everything has to be long and drawn out. It’s traumatic,” said Virginia Canton, of West Street. “This has affected everything in our life.”

One of the first concerns was a gas leak in October 2021.

“None of us have any faith in this at all,” she said. “It’s been really, really disheartening. There’s even talk about legal options.”

Dave Canton observed one hole dug down 18 feet that encountered water. This led to the dewatering plan, with drilling wells and a large pump that sat on his front lawn for months.

The Select Board needs to notify residents, in writing, when a meeting is ready to be held. “We’d like direct communication, with a letter,” he said.

Town Administrator Andrew Levine said the forum will come as a plan from the contractor on moving forward is received, and officials are available to answer questions from residents about the engineers’ report and listen to possible solutions.

“We plan to have updates for residents in the next week, and should have a forum scheduled shortly after,” Levine said.

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