Town in talks with Methuen for water contract
DRACUT >> The town’s contract with the city of Methuen for water to supply parts of East Dracut expired at the end of October and has yet to be renewed.
Methuen charges Dracut a metered rate for the water it pipes to East Dracut, and Town Manager Ann Vandal would like to change that with a new 10year contract.
In September there appeared to be a stalemate between the neighboring communities. The sticking point in renewing the contract was the rate that Methuen has been charging Dracut for water.
Now, Vandal reports there is movement.
“Yes, we are still in discussions. We hope to wrap it up over the next few weeks,” Vandal said. “The current contract is valid until a new agreement is reached; I do not expect any issues with renewing.”
In September, she shared with the Board of Selectmen that Methuen officials had declined to talk about the contract.
The delays in talks between Vandal’s administration and Methuen Mayor Neil Perry were, at least in part, due to the proposed Murphy’s Farm development of 300 four-bedroom apartment units just off Wheeler Street.
Vandal previously said that, “They (Methuen) would only discuss it when Dracut solves Murphy’s Farm and (Wheeler Street) truck traffic concerns.” Perry rejected that description. The mayor said he wanted to wait until nearer the end of the contract before negotiating.
Wheeler Street traffic is a concern in both communities. The area is home to many farms in Dracut and some recent residential developments in each. In addition, Brox Industries operates a large granite quarry on Methuen Street in Dracut.
Truck traffic on that street has been a flash point between East Dracut and their neighbors on the opposite side of the street.
Methuen Street intersects Wheeler Street, so Methuen two years ago posted signs banning traffic of more than 2.5 tons.
East Dracut depends on its neighboring cities for drinking water. Lowell supplies about 85% of East Dracut’s water and, unlike Methuen, charges the town a flat rate. Both cities use the Merrimack River as their source of water.
Dracut is divided into two water districts. Most residents and businesses in town belong to the Dracut Water Supply District, which takes water from Lowell and its own well fields in Tyngsboro and are unaffected by the contract with Methuen. DWSD bills its customers directly.
In contrast, much of East Dracut is in the Kenwood Water District, where the eastern and northern sections are supplied by Methuen. The southern and western parts of the district take water from Lowell.
East Dracut residents receive their metered water bills from the town and the cost of water from Methuen is borne by the entire district.