Townsend, MA Cuts Ribbon on New Treatment Plant
Yesterday, the Townsend (MA) Water Department held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new water treatment plant for PFAS filtration, designed by our engineers.
The new Harbor Trace Water Treatment Plant (WTP), now operational, can treat up to 2.5 million gallons of water per day (MGD) and includes granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration for PFAS removal, sodium hypochlorite for disinfection, and sodium hydroxide for corrosion control. In addition, the WTP incorporated office space to relocate the Water Department staff, additional indoor parking for Water Department equipment and service vehicles, and a large meeting space to benefit the Town and other regional waterworks organizations.
Senior Project Manager Lou Soracco speaks at the Harbor Trace WTP ribbon cutting. Jennifer Pederson (left), President of the MA Water Works Association, emceed the event
The Townsend Water Department was also celebrated by MassDEP’s Drinking Water Program at a May 9 ceremony for the 2025 Public Water System Awards, recognizing the exemplary efforts of the Water Department in developing a rapid and effective response to PFAS detection at Harbor Trace Well. The commendation from MassDEP notes the impact of the new treatment plant:
In the span of three years, Townsend has piloted and installed PFAS treatment for three of its groundwater sources, a raw water transmission main, and finished water main upgrades to support the new entry point to the distribution system.
Tighe & Bond employees at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Harbor Trace WTP. From L-R: Mary Danielson, Bob Belitz, Tom Mahanna, Lou Soracco.