Charlton Water Commission Orders Engineering Study on Sewer Capacity, Moratorium Lift

CHARLTON — August 6, 2025 — Charlton Water and Sewer Commission votes to seek engineering cost estimates as a 168-unit development tests sewer capacity limits. The commission voted 5-0 Wednesday to direct Veolia operator Vinny Gager to obtain budgetary pricing from McClure Engineering and Wright Pierce for a formal written report on the plant's treatment capacity, the wastewater impact of McDonald's departure from the Route 20 Turnpike rest stop, and what improvements would be required to lift the town's moratorium on large sewer connections. The request came from Rockaway Realty, represented by engineer Michael Lasala of Topper Land Survey, whose proposed 40B residential project at City Depot and J. Davis roads would generate an estimated 37,000 gallons per day — well above the moratorium's 10,000-gallon review threshold. Veolia's Michael Williams told the board that Wright Pierce's recent plant assessment put necessary upgrades at roughly $14 million and flagged a MassDOT announcement of a $750 million statewide rest-stop overhaul program beginning construction in 2026. The commission also opened a contract dispute with Veolia over whether a new DEP staffing assessment requiring 3.6 operators — up from the 2.6 specified when the contract was signed — obligates Veolia to add a fourth employee, with both parties agreeing to review the contract language before the next meeting.