By Elizabeth Hacala
The Selectmen voted to approve a contract to refurbish the Town’s 17 field and lawn irrigation systems at their June 23 meeting. Roy Sorenson, DPW Director, explained the new system would bring the current irrigation plumbing up to code as well as provide remote computer control.
Currently the irrigation system needs to be turned on and off manually, which is inefficient in terms of water usage and staff time. Sorenson explained that just that evening, due to a field closure, Recreation had moved some activities to a new field which was being irrigated. After several phone calls a staff member was called in, after hours, to manually shut off the sprinklers for the new field. In future, Sorenson said, the irrigation system could be controlled by computer or smart phone application in such a situation.
The new irrigation system will provide reports on water usage and is expected to reduce overall water consumption for irrigation. Selectman Mike Rosenberg asked if the system could be expanded if needed. Sorenson said the software had the capacity to absorb future field development.
The irrigation project is funded through a combination of Community Preservation and Capital Expenditures funds. An appropriation of $130,000 was approved at the 2014 Annual Town Meeting and the prevailing bid for the irrigation work came in under that appropriation at $128,707.
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