Design Archives - Tata & Howard

Iron and Manganese Removal in West Brookfield, MA

The West Brookfield Water Department (WBWD) is taking an important step toward improving drinking water quality and protecting public health with planned upgrades to the Leland Road Pump Station. The project will introduce new treatment to remove iron and manganese from the town’s groundwater supply, helping ensure compliance with regulatory standards while improving the overall quality and reliability of drinking water for the community.

Tata & Howard has been contracted to provide design, permitting, and bidding services for the project, which will add a new filtration facility at the Leland Road well site.

Addressing Iron and Manganese

WBWD’s water system relies on five groundwater wells that serve approximately 2,555 residents. Well 01G supplies the Ware Point Road Treatment Facility, while Wells 03G through 06G feed the Leland Road Pump Station before entering the town’s distribution system. Currently, the Leland Road Pump Station provides chemical treatment using potassium hydroxide for pH adjustment and calcium hypochlorite tablets for oxidation and disinfection. However, the facility does not include filtration treatment.

Recent water quality monitoring has shown increasing levels of iron and manganese in several of the wells serving the Leland Road facility. Iron concentrations have exceeded the Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 0.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L), while manganese concentrations have consistently exceeded the SMCL of 0.05 mg/L.

Additionally, manganese has exceeded the health advisory of 0.3 mg/L. As a result, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is requiring the Town to install a treatment system to address iron and manganese levels.

Why Manganese Removal Is Important

Iron and manganese are naturally occurring elements often found in groundwater. While they are traditionally classified as secondary contaminants, manganese is increasingly recognized as an emerging contaminant with potential health implications.

Research has shown that prolonged exposure to elevated manganese levels may impact neurological development, particularly in infants and young children. For this reason, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established a lifetime health advisory of 0.3 mg/L for manganese.

Addressing these contaminants will not only improve the appearance and taste of the town’s drinking water but also ensure compliance with evolving health guidance and regulatory requirements.

A Treatment Solution for the Future

To address these water quality challenges, WBWD plans to install a GreensandPlus™ pressure filtration system at the Leland Road Pump Station. This technology is widely used for removing iron and manganese from groundwater supplies.

The new treatment facility will be housed in a separate building constructed adjacent to the existing pump station. The building will include three 7-foot diameter GreensandPlus™ filter vessels designed to treat water from Wells 03G through 06G.

Additional upgrades will include improvements to chemical feed systems, well pump upgrades, and enhancements to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for improved monitoring and operational control.

Pilot testing previously conducted for the site demonstrated that GreensandPlus™ filtration can reliably reduce iron and manganese concentrations to below treatment goals of 0.1 mg/L for iron and 0.025 mg/L for manganese, providing a long-term solution for maintaining water quality.

Funding Support Makes the Project Possible

For a small community like West Brookfield, major infrastructure investments can be difficult to fund through local water rates alone. The Leland Road Pump Station upgrade is estimated to cost approximately $6.24 million, a significant investment for a system with only about 1,000 water customers.

The Town is receiving important financial assistance to help make the project possible. The project will receive funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, which provides low-interest loans to communities for critical water infrastructure projects. The loan is expected to carry a two percent interest rate with potential principal forgiveness, reducing the financial burden on the community.

In addition, the project has secured $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funding, as well as a $500,000 Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant to support the treatment improvements.

Financial assistance of this kind is essential for small water systems. As noted by the Town, without additional funding beyond the basic SRF loan, the cost of constructing the treatment facility would place a significant strain on the water department’s budget and could require major water rate increases.

Protecting West Brookfield’s Water Supply

Once completed, the Leland Road Pump Station upgrade will significantly improve drinking water quality for West Brookfield residents by removing iron and manganese and ensuring compliance with state guidelines. More importantly, the project will provide the community with a long-term solution that strengthens the reliability and safety of its drinking water system for years to come.

Water Treatment Plant, Amherst, MA

amherst-wtp-exterior Tata & Howard contracted with the Town of Amherst for design, permitting, bidding, and construction administration of the 1.5 million gallon per day (MGD) Centennial Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to treat surface water from the Pelham Reservoir System. The existing Centennial WTP, located in the Town of Pelham but supplying the Amherst Public Water System, has a history of issues with turbidity, color, and disinfection byproducts in the form of total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5) because of high levels of organics in the Pelham Reservoir System. Due to the age and condition of the existing WTP, the filters which were the primary treatment process at the existing WTP were no longer effective at removing organics, leading to a decrease in finished water quality and total WTP capacity. The existing Centennial WTP has been offline since 2018 due to water quality, as well as infrastructure concerns related to a lightning strike which impacted pumping equipment and communications at the Centennial Water Treatment Plant’s raw water pump station.

Based on the results of the pilot study performed by the Town of Amherst, Tata & Howard completed design of the new Centennial Water Treatment Plant including dissolved air flotation (DAF) clarifiers and granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration for treatment of organics, color, turbidity, and low levels of iron and manganese. The DAF system includes polyaluminum chloride for coagulation, two rapid mix chambers, and three package DAF units which each include two high rate flocculation chambers, two low-rate flocculation chambers, a saturation tank, effluent collection system, discharge weir, mechanical skimmers and beach, and associated appurtenances and controls. Three dual media filter chambers with a silica sand/course garnet base layer and GAC above are located downstream of the DAF units, prior to final chemical addition.

Additional chemical feed includes a gaseous chlorine system for disinfection, gaseous ammonia for chloramine formation, sodium fluoride for dental health, and sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment and corrosion control. The new facility also includes an advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for automated control of the water treatment plant. Operators for the Town of Amherst will be able to remotely monitor and control operation of the Centennial WTP, through a recently extended town fiber optic cable network.

The design of the Centennial WTP included provisions to maintain the Amherst water distribution system, as even with the Centennial WTP offline, the clearwell of the existing facility also serves to maintain pressure in a small portion of the water distribution system between the Centennial WTP and a booster pump station. The Centennial WTP feeds the majority of the water system (excluding the portion between the WTP and the booster pump station) by gravity. Since the existing WTP including the clearwell was demolished prior to construction of the new WTP, design and construction of the new WTP included temporary water storage tanks to maintain pressure and keep all connections active in the high service area of the Amherst Public Water System.

Permitting for this project included a BRP WS 24 New Treatment Plant application with MassDEP, Site Plan Review with the Pelham Zoning Board of Appeals, and a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) with Pelham Conservation Commission.

The Centennial Water Treatment Plant was bid and awarded to R.H. White Construction Co. of Auburn, MA for a contract amount of $18,876,000, and the project received funding though the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. Construction was completed and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in October 2025.

Well Field PFAS and PCE/TCE Removal, Danbury, CT

Tata & Howard is providing design and bidding of a treatment system for PFAS and PCE/TCE removal from three groundwater wells at the Kenosia Well Field.

PCE/TCE treatment includes using two 37 ‘H air stripping tower which will discharge into the new aerator wet well. Water will then be conveyed from the wet well to the four 12’W granular activated carbon vessels for PFAS treatment. Treated water will be pumped to the West Lake Reservoir for additional treatment.

The project also includes site work, electrical, HVAC and rehabilitation of the three existing groundwater wells.

Leverett, MA Water Mains

Tata & Howard was retained by the Town of Leverett for design and permitting engineering services to expand the Amherst water distribution system into the Town of Leverett. The project involved the extension of the existing 8-inch water main in East Leverett Road, approximately 1.8 miles, to provide service to homes at the intersection of Cushman Road and Teawaddle Hill Road in Leverett with wells that have been contaminated by the Town of Leverett Landfill.

Tata & Howard reviewed available data with the Town for use in this project including existing GIS mapping, existing utilities, Town specification standards for materials and products, and boiler plate specification sections. Base plans for the project were developed utilizing the Town’s GIS data.

Borings were completed along the project route to determine existing soil conditions and the extent of rock/ledge, if any. In addition, soil borings assisted in determining the amount of needed polyethylene wrapping of the new ductile iron water main due to corrosive soils.

The design included the installation of water service connections to existing homes within the project area from the water main up to and including the curb stop at the property line. New hydrants were spaced every 500 feet and in-line gate valves were spaced no more than 1,000 feet apart. Surface preparation included temporary trench pavement and permanent trench pavement in accordance with the Town of Amherst and Town of Leverett standards. The draft design plans and specifications underwent a series of internal reviews for quality control. Tata & Howard provided the Amherst Public Works with a 50% and 90% draft for review prior to finalizing the project documents.

Sewer Feasibility Study and Sewer System Design — New Fairfield, CT

Tata & Howard completed a Sewer Feasibility Study for the Town of New Fairfield, CT to determine the feasibility of developing a sewer service area for the Town of New Fairfield town center/business district, municipal town buildings and schools, and other properties within the proposed sewer service area as well as transporting the wastewater to the City of Danbury’s Wastewater Treatment Facility. The assessment included an estimate of projected flows for all properties within the planned service area and a comparison of total estimated flows to available capacity at the Danbury Wastewater Treatment facility. Design concept plans for the planned sewer service area included determination of collection system sewers and pump station locations. Part of the study included an evaluation of potential routes for transporting flows from the Fairfield Town Center service area to the City of Danbury collection system for treatment.

Estimated project budgetary costs for the sewer service area collection system, pump stations, and transport to the City of Danbury along with a phasing and implementation plan were included in the final draft report to the Town of New Fairfield.

Throughout the course of the project, a number of meetings with the Town were held to obtain Town input and comments including one meeting at the completion of the initial assessment phase, one meeting at the completion of the concept design phase, and a series of meetings and presentations at Town Selectboard meetings to obtain public input during the roll out of the final report.

Tata & Howard provided preliminary and final design of 2.7 miles of gravity sewers, one main pump station, four remote, submersible pump stations, 2.3 miles of force mains, , and 4,000 linear feet of low pressure sewer. The project also includes identifying easements, land acquisition plans, preparation of permitting, and bidding assistance.

Preliminary design included survey, soil borings, preparation of base mapping, identification of utility requirements, a radio path survey and an opinion of probable cost.

Final design development includes final design of the main pump station, remote pump stations, gravity sewers, force main, and low-pressure sewers for connection to the City of Danbury collection system including site plans, profiles of force main and gravity sewers, pump station structures and chambers, electrical and controls, emergency generators, odor control, erosion and control plans, etc. Also includes design of the main pump station building designed to match the local aesthetic and mask it as a non-utility structure.

Construction Documents will be prepared by phasing construction under four contracts:

Year 1 – Phase 1: Main Pump Station and force main for connection to the Danbury System and Collection System for the Town Center and commercial district (Sewer Sheds 2 [commercial],
4, 5 and 8);
Year 2 – Phase 2: Collection System connecting schools, police, and fire facilities (Sewer Sheds 1 and 2 [residential]);
Year 3 – Phase 3: Additional Collection System connecting additional commercial properties, The Birches 55+ community, The Woods at Dunham Pond 55+ community, The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and potential future land development along Route 37 (Sewer Sheds 3, 6, and 7).

Barnstable, MA Maher WTP Upgrades

Photo courtesy of Waterline Industries Corporation

Tata & Howard provided engineering services for a completion of a pilot test proposal, pilot testing, and pilot test report to evaluate the use of granular activated carbon (GAC) to treat PFOS/PFOA, advanced oxidation to treat 1,4 dioxane, and LayneOx and greensand pressure filtration to remove iron and manganese from the source waters (Well No. 1, Well No. 2, and Well No. 3) at the existing Maher Water Treatment Plant. Pilot testing was performed, submitted, and approved by MassDEP in July 2017. The pilot test report was prepared and submitted in January 2018 to MassDEP.

Tata & Howard also provided engineering design, permitting, bidding, and construction services for the expansion of the existing Maher Water Treatment Plant. Upgrades include a new 90’ x 90’ pre-engineered metal building, GAC treatment, chemical feed upgrades, electrical upgrades at the existing plant including a new stand-by generator, and miscellaneous piping and site work. The new carbon filtration building include granular activated carbon (GAC) filters designed to remove PFAS. In addition to PFAS, the facility will include treatment processes to treat 1,4 dioxane and iron and manganese in the drinking water.

This project involved Massachusetts public construction laws and procedures.

Paxton, MA Stormwater Pipe Infrastructure

Tata & Howard provided engineering services for the design for approximately 7,000 linear feet of stormwater pipe to replace existing pipe on West Street from Pleasant Street to Mill Street in Paxton, Massachusetts.

A qualified subconsultant was retained by Tata & Howard for a topographical and planimetric survey including 2-foot contours, existing structures and utilities, existing utility easements, limits of right of ways, and other features of the work area. Tata & Howard prepared the design plan with profile views and technical specifications for construction of the project in three separate phases, as follows:

Approximately 2,300 linear feet of stormwater drain on West Street from Pleasant Street to Shanandoah Drive;
Approximately 1,700 linear feet of stormwater drain from Shanandoah Drive to Holbrook Lane; and
Approximately 3,000 linear feet of stormwater drain from Holbrook Lane to Mill Street.

Three separate bid documents were prepared to bid the project in the three separate phases.

The proposed stormwater drain pipe and mitigation measures were incorporated into the Notice of Intent that was completed for the concurrent water main replacement on West Street. The proposed stormwater drain pipe was incorporated into the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) permit for work within the state highway layout that was completed concurrently for the water main replacement on West Street.

Tata & Howard prepared and submitted an estimate of probable construction cost for the stormwater drain pipe at the 75% and final stage of completion to assist the Owner in obtaining Town funding.

Everett, MA Lead Service Line Replacement

Tata & Howard assisted the City of Everett, MA with their Lead Service Replacement Project from 2018-2024. Phases 1 and 2 included replacement or material confirmation of approximately 580 services between spring 2019 and fall 2022. Phase 3 of the project addressed an additional 300 services. Tata & Howard provided design, construction administration, and resident project representative services for all three phases of the project.

Design services included attending the kickoff meeting with City and reviewing existing information including tie-cards, the City’s existing GIS database that includes service material, and the City’s master list of services with service material. Each service was field verified to confirm exterior conditions. Each design phase included completion of 50% and 95% design documents, preparation of probable cost estimates, preparation of bid documents and coordination with purchasing agent, attending meetings with City, and providing recommendation to award contract to the lowest qualified bidder.

Construction Administration services for each phase included attendance at progress meetings and site visits, review of submittals, request for information, and purchasing change orders and payment applications. As-built record tie-cards were completed for each address and the master inventory of service material was updated as construction on each phase progressed.

Resident Project Representation services included full time on-site observation during construction, reviewing schedules, serving as Engineers’ liaison with Contractor, completing reports, reviewing pay apps, and issuing certification of substantial completion.

HVWP Water Distribution and Storage Improvement Project

Background

Hooksett Village Water Precinct (HVWP) Phase I Water Distribution and Storage Improvement Project is the first of three major drinking water components of the RTIA Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District economic development initiative sponsored by the Town of Hooksett. The project consisted of the construction of 1,800 linear feet of distribution system improvements in the Vista Drive area, a new 0.40 million gallon capacity glass-fused-to-steel tank, and 350 linear feet of associated transmission main from Daniel Webster Highway to Main Street.

The Precinct has been partnering with the Town, Sewer Commission, local businesses, committees, residents and area developers to encourage TIF-based infrastructure projects. TIF can be used to fund improvements that benefit the whole community by attracting new development, revitalizing blight, and/or enacting quality of life projects. This can significantly expand the tax base and provide more or easier access to services for residents with less financial impact.

Project Details

Hydraulic modeling studies completed in 2020 as part of the Precinct’s asset management program showed that distribution improvements were needed in the Vista Drive area to relieve a bottleneck that was critically restricting flow from the existing Quarry Tank and nearby wells. The Vista Drive area water main replacement/extension was listed as a Top Priority in the Precinct’s March 2021 Asset Management Plan Update. This area is the closest and primary source of water and fire protection for the TIF District, and a direct connection to the area is imperative to efficiently transmit water to the TIF District.

The Thompson Comer Tank is critical to water system hydraulics, not only for fire flow purposes but also for redundancy, emergency resiliency, and operational flexibility. It is inextricably linked to the operation of the Quarry Tank and the TIF District. Unfortunately, it had deteriorated to the point where it needed replacement. The new, slightly larger capacity replacement tank allowed the Quarry Tank to be taken offline as needed for O&M or emergencies; provide backup storage for the TIF district; allow the Quarry Tank to operate at 100% capacity; and improve overall energy efficiency by increasing off-peak operations.

Replacement of the existing Thompson Corner Tank also served as the permanent action plan to address a Significant Deficiency outlined by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) in October 2020. The deficiency identified was severe deterioration of the coating on the inside and outside of the tank. NHDES required that funding be authorized by March 2022 and a tank construction contract be awarded by October 2022.

The cost to replace the Thompson Corner tank and install the Vista Drive area water main and associated transmission main was $2,464,000 and was funded by 2021-22 NH Drinking Water & Groundwater Trust Fund (DWGTF) and NHDES American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds.

And the Winner Is…

Each fall, the Granite State Rural Water Association holds a drinking water taste test at its Annual Operator Field Day and Exhibit. In fall 2024, just after the completion of the project, HVWP had the honor of winning the contest!

Since Hooksett Village Water Precinct won the water taste test contest at Granite State Rural Water Association Operator Field Day this fall, they were able to represent New Hampshire in the National Rural Water Association’s The Great American Water Taste Test, where they won second place out of 43 systems in the National Rural Water Association’s “The Great American Water Taste Test” in Washington D. C. in February 2025. Mike Heidorn, P.G., Superintendent, represented HVWP and accepted the award.

We are very proud of the collaboration and efforts of both HVWP and the Tata & Howard team for the incredible success of our partnership.

Grafton Water District, Trinity Avenue Well Site and Pump Station

Tata & Howard provided engineering services for permitting, design, and bidding of the Trinity Avenue Pump Station at the Trinity Avenue Wellfield (new source) and provided assistance with permitting, design, and reporting to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for the proposed Trinity Avenue Well site.

The property was owned by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW), and the Grafton Water District swapped land with the DFW to obtain ownership and control of the Trinity Avenue site. Test wells were installed and short-term pump tests were completed on each of the wells. Based on the results of the tests, it was recommended to install a three well configuration of 18-inch x 12-inch gravel packed wells resulting in approximately 840 gallons per minute (gpm). The work under this contract included the completion of the Request for Site Exam and Pump Test Proposal for submission to MassDEP, installation and development of three (3) 18” x 12” gravel packed wells and pitless adapters, installation and development of approximately five 2-1/2” diameter observation wells, installation of two staff gages and piezometers, performing a five-day pump test, and collection and analysis of water quality.

The project also included an evaluation of alternatives for the access road including installation of a bridge or an open bottomed culvert, and Tata & Howard assisted with the preparation of permanent easements for the installation of utilities and roadway to the well site. In addition, Tata & Howard prepared and submitted an NOI to the Grafon Conservation Commission.

Design included double wythe block and interior concrete painted block with wood truss roof and asphaltic shingles. Security included chain link fence, gates, locks, intrusion alarms, and lighting. Tata & Howard also assisted with the coordination of the installation of three-phase power to site. Chemical feed at the station includes KOH for pH adjustment and chlorine gas for disinfection. Standby power was included in an outdoor enclosure. The design also included 900 feet of new 12-inch water main for 4-log removal.

Tata & Howard also provided construction administration and resident observation services.

Services: Design