Littleton Sewer System Expansion Project
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Construction Updates
Updated January 14th, 2025
Littleton Common Sewer Expansion and Water Main Replacement
Installation of sewer and water mains has halted for the winter months. Crews are pressure testing pipes and manholes for leaks. In addition, crews will perform clean up, remove equipment, and paint lines on the municipal lot at Stevens Street. Work on the sewer lines will resume in the spring with a section remaining on King Street approaching the Westford town line.
At the new wastewater recovery facility at 242 King Street, the steel framing is completed and wall and roof panels will be installed later in December. With the building enclosed, interior work will continue through the winter months. At the sewer discharge site adjacent to the Littleton High School, testing is underway to confirm the leach field has the capacity for the permitted effluent levels.
This schedule is subject to change without advance notice due to weather conditions or the contractor’s discretion.
Take Precautions
- Please avoid the work zones and expect detours during the overnight hours.
- Please drive carefully in the work zones. The work will result in temporarily uneven surfaces and plates in the roadway during daytime hours. Trenches will be paved weekly once work is completed in an area. Heavy equipment may be parked near the road in the day time.
- Properties located along the construction route will be notified directly by LELWD. Please anticipate overnight noise and the potential for disruption to water service as crews transfer water service lines to the new water main.
- We anticipate work in the area of the Common will take the longest to complete for two factors. First, the trench will be as deep as 25 feet in this area. Second, the presence of multiple buried utilities in this area will require additional time.
- Please check this page for weekly updates and for the latest construction schedules which will show the dates and approximate locations of work crews.
Completed Work
- New sewer and water mains have been installed from the Common, down Great Road, to the end of the system, near the auto dealership. All sewer mains for the expanded system are installed with the exception of about 800 feet at the end of King Street toward the Westford town line.
- The sidewalk on King Street from Murray Park to the I-495 bridge has been repaired.
- The access road to the Reuben Hoar Library has been paved (pictured).
- Crews have repaired and seeded areas disturbed last fall, including the war memorial at King and Shattuck Streets. Please keep people, pets and vehicles off the newly seeded areas.
- On the King Street bridge, work has been completed on installing new sewer pipe under the bridge across I-495.
- Installation of lateral service lines on King Street, between Shattuck and Stevens, has wrapped up. Lateral lines run from the main sewer line to the property line for later connection to the building.
242 King Street-Â Water Resource Recovery Facility.
- Installation of an equalization tank is ongoing (pictured). It will be backfilled and buried when completed.
- Site work continues, and construction on the building should begin at the end of August or early September.
LELWD understands sewer construction is disruptive to traffic and causes noise. Crews are working as efficiently as possible while minimizing disturbance. Trenches in the roadway are scheduled for weekly paving when the work is completed.
(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.)
Project Plans
Littleton Sewer Public Forums
If you missed our public forum on Town Meeting Articles 22 and 23, you can watch the replay here.Â
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.
