Sewer board tables disputed Bourne billing charge
The Wareham Board of Sewer Commissioners approved billing the town of Bourne more than $500,000 for shared treatment costs and reviewed a plan to rebase sewer rates on bedroom counts.
Water · Meeting of October 8, 2026
WAREHAM — The Wareham Board of Sewer Commissioners approved billing the town of Bourne more than $500,000 for shared treatment costs and reviewed a plan to rebase sewer rates on bedroom counts. Commissioners voted to bill Bourne $30,536.55 for its equalization basin share and $475,474.30 for fiscal 2027 plant usage, but tabled a separate $97,305 charge after staff could not document what project it funded. The board also ratified an amended sludge-removal contract with Synagro through July 30, 2029 at $1,199 per liquid ton.
Commissioner Bob Scanlon presented an analysis showing one- and two-bedroom homes, 43 percent of sewer customers, have long subsidized four-bedroom-and-up homes, 17 percent of customers, under flat billing, and proposed adding 0.2 EDU per bedroom. "Don't let perfect stand in the way of good," Scanlon said. The board agreed to ask Woodard & Curran to independently review the model before any vote.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,867 words
Source: the Water meeting of October 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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