Lost Lake neighbors closer to new system

GROTON -- After a yearlong effort, members of the Lost Lake Sewer Committee are prepared to begin the final lap in their work to have a new wastewater system installed in the environmentally sensitive Lost Lake neighborhood.

At a meeting held last Monday night, member Tom Orcutt reported meeting with officials in Ayer updating them on the commission's progress.

Earlier in the year, Groton joined Ayer in an inter-municipal agreement regarding a proposed hook up between a planned sewer line for the Lost Lake area and wastewater facilities in the neighboring town.

In the meantime, the commission has continued to move forward with plans to install a sewer system at Lost Lake having submitted a final report on its feasibility to the Board of Selectmen last year.

The final report by the Sewer Committee estimated that to serve 390 potential households, it could cost as much as $10 million to install a sewer system in the Lost Lake area exclusive of a wastewater treatment plant.

Last Monday night, commission Chairman Carol Quinn estimated that if a plan including hook up with Ayer were followed, it would cost every person who owned land along the sewer line between $18,000 and $24,000 each in betterment fees paid over 20 or 30 years depending on the type of loan the town could secure.

Those numbers however, would also be conditioned upon whether the town could secure federal or state grant money for the project or if town residents agreed to cover

To find out what residents wanted to do in regard to a Lost Lake sewer system or covering part of its expense with taxes, the commission plans to send out a survey with late summer billing from the Groton Electric Light Department.

Questions on the survey are to include whether residents were aware of the Lost Lake sewer project; whether they supported the idea; and if they would support paying a portion of the project via taxes and if so, what percentage.

After the results have been received, the committee plans to hold a number of public hearings and informational sessions in the autumn prior to fall town meeting.

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Lost Lake neighbors closer to new system