Douglas Water Commission Moves to Replace Synagro Before July Sludge Contract Expires

DOUGLAS -- March 12, 2026, Douglas Water Commission doubles sludge disposal budget and eyes million-dollar thickening system. With contractor Synagro exiting its agreement on July 1, 2026, the commission voted 3-0 (Commissioner Kyle Hoos abstaining on unrelated February minutes) and spent most of its March 12 meeting planning a response to a regional biosolids crisis. Hoos reported that a February 24 visit to the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District found the facility unwilling to accept Douglas's sludge due to elevated alum levels and solids content of roughly 2 percent, well below Upper Blackstone's required 4.5 to 9 percent range. Regional broker Jim Bird of Wastewater Massachusetts confirmed alum removal is the essential first step regardless of disposal route. The commission agreed to invite a local representative of BDP Industries to demonstrate gravity belt thickening equipment estimated at $750,000 to over $1 million all-in, with Chair Bob Sullivan cautioning the true cost could reach $2 million to $3 million once tanks and a heated building are included. The Synagro line in the sewer operating budget has already been doubled to approximately $320,000, driving an overall sewer budget increase of roughly $95,000 for FY2027.