City Taps $6.7M to Replace Aging Water Mains

After nearly a century of service, Malden's water mains are in need of replacement. The city will use a combination of state funding and borrowing to complete the work.

The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to allow Mayor Richard Howard to seek up to $6.75 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the purpose of replacing Malden’s water mains. 

Last year, Malden was award $6.6 million by the state fund and is in the process of replacing six miles of water mains. An additional $6.7 million would allow Malden to replace approximately six to seven more miles. 

Approximately 40 miles of Malden’s water mains were installed between 1900-1930, and some date as far back as 1890.

Department of Engineering, Planning, and Waterworks Director John Russell presented a section of a recently removed water main to the finance subcommittee. The pipe’s six-inch diameter had narrowed to approximately two inches due to rust, metal and detritus build-up that has accumulated over time.

The condition of the city’s water mains has caused some residents to experience inadequate water pressure, and insufficient water volume is a concern for the Malden Fire Department. Fire hydrants fed by problematic water mains are marked with black caps. 

The state program receives funding from the federal government and distributes it to Massachusetts’ municipalities as loans with a 2 percent interest rate.

Depending on the number of municipalities that apply for loans by the deadline, up to 20 percent of the principal amount could be forgiven.

Robert Button, an engineering consultant to the city, said that Malden officials expect 6 percent to be forgiven, but that number could be higher. He added that, due to lack of demand, construction companies are submitting bids that are up to 15 percent lower than they had been in the recent past.  

Howard, Russell, and Fire Department Chief Michael Murphy were in attendance to support the plan.

Murphy said that the old water mains presented a public safety risk and that “this is a good plan for the city and I endorse it.”

Mayor Howard said that areas with black-capped fire hydrants would be prioritized, but that water main replacement would be conducted throughout each of the city’s eight wards.  

The subcommittee members and the complete city council seemed eager to take advantage of the fund's low rates and principal forgiveness plan in order to reduce public safety risks to the city.

“We’re going to do this at one point or another,” Councilor Paul Condon said, and “I don’t think you can get a bigger bang for the buck.”