Littleton Sewer System Expansion Project
Enter your email below to receive updates only when new content is added to this page.
Construction Updates
Updated July 10th, 2023
Construction of sewer lines began June 28th, starting in the Alumni Field parking lot on Russell Street. Construction will pause for the July 4th week. It resumes the week of July 10th as a daytime crew works along the path from the Alumni Field parking lot to the Library and Town Hall. Also starting that week, a nighttime crew will begin working on King Street, starting at the High School and working towards I-495. The nighttime hours will begin on Sunday, July 16th, and continue as Sunday through Thursday, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
(Note: Construction schedules are subject to change for reasons such as inclement weather and the progress of the work. Please check back here for updates.)
Littleton Sewer Public Forums
If you missed our public forum on Town Meeting Articles 22 and 23, you can watch the replay here.
Littleton Sewer System Expansion Project
The Littleton Sewer System Expansion Project will bring sewer to the greater Littleton Common area in a district that encompasses more than 100 properties. Sewer will support the Town’s goal of economic development and help to protect the environment and Littleton’s water resources.
Under the leadership of the Board of Water Commissioners, LELWD expects to complete design and permitting of the 243,000-gallons-per-day sewer system in the Fall of 2022, put the project out to bid in the winter months, and start construction in the Summer of 2023.
Sewer District
The sewer district initially includes 53 commercial properties and 58 residential properties. Residential properties will have an option to opt-out if their septic systems meet certain criteria. The district also includes the 40-acre parcel at 550 King Street. While not originally part of the district, the developer requested the Commissioners add the property so the mixed-use, commercial and residential development can connect to the sewer. The addition of this property to the district provided the critical mass of customers that made the project financially feasible.
Project Cost & Repayment of Loans
The actual cost of the project will be determined by competitive bidding for construction in late summer 2022. The Littleton Town Meeting authorized LELWD to borrow $28.5 million for the project in October 2021.
- The Town expects to apply for state and federal grant money that could offset the project cost by about $8.5 million.
- After receiving grants, the town would expect to borrow about $20.5 million to be repaid by means of betterment assessments and connection fees.
- The sewer loans will be repaid by the sewer system users:
- 60% from the 550 King Street proposed development.
- 20% from municipal buildings connected to the sewer.
- 20% from other commercial and residential users.
- LELWD plans to seek low-interest loans from the state’s Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund. The loans would be repaid over 30 years.
System Components
The system will comprise basically of sewer mains installed under streets to which buildings will connect. The mains will transport raw sewer to a water resource recovery facility at 242 King Street. The treated effluent will then be transported by sewer main to the recharge site (essentially a large leach field) at 56 King Street.
Water Resource Recovery Facility
- Location: 242 King Street
- Most of the facility will be located below ground with a single building visible.
- Traffic entering the facility will be from the driveway on King Street.
- The facility will be outside of the wetlands buffer zone along Beaver Brook.
- Facility will be sited along the I-495-edge of the property and as far away from Beaver Brook and the Russell Street residences as possible.
Benefits of Sewer
Lack of a sewer system in the Common is hindering economic development and contributing to groundwater pollution, which can impact our drinking water supply.
