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About this Project:
In March 2016, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority will begin construction of the Hatchery Pipeline Project, a 20-inch, water pipeline running from the MWRA’s William A. Brutsch Water Treatment Facility in Ware, across Route 9, into Belchertown, where the pipeline will parallel East Street, to the McLaughlin Fish Hatchery.
The pipeline, less than a mile in length, will convey about six million gallons a day of untreated water, first to a new hydropower generator on the MWRA’s grounds and then to the hatchery’s water distribution system.
Currently, the hatchery predominantly uses water pumped directly from the Swift River for its operations. The water from the river may be warm, particularly in the summer, and this can be detrimental to the hatchery’s operations. The water in the pipeline will replace the use of river water, and will also flow by gravity eliminating the energy used to pump water from the river. This will reduce the hatchery’s electrical demand by an estimated 588,000 kWh annually. Ultimately, after circulating through the hatchery’s raceways and treatment, the roughly six million gallons of water each day will be discharged into the Swift River.
Because of the multiple environmental and operational benefits of this project, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game have joined the MWRA in sponsoring this project. The hydropower component, which is projected to export 440,000 kWh to the grid, has attracted two separate grants, one from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and the other from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
MWRA has contracted with Waterline Industries Corporation to build the pipeline and hydroelectric project. Traffic will be directed through the work site by State and Local police. There are no detours anticipated although motorists may experience brief delays, particularly when work is being done on the bridge over the Swift River.
For more information, please contact Len Cawley at 617 305-5757 or by email at len.cawley@mwra.com.
March 6, 2018
Construction Update
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This project is substantially complete.
Progress Photos
02/15/18
Construction Update
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This project is substantially complete.
For more information, please contact Sean Navin at 617 305-5757 or len.cawley@mwra.com.
10/13/17
Construction Photos
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Testing devices inside the facility
08/08/17
Construction Update
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The Hatchery Pipeline and Hydroelectric Project continues to move swiftly toward completion. On July 26, 2017, National Grid performed their testing of the turbine generator and accepted the generator. The Contractor is in the process of completing the fire alarm, SCADA, and security systems and the permanent fencing will be installed by the end of the August.
For more information, please contact Len Cawley at 617 305-5757 or len.cawley@mwra.com.
06/12/17
Construction Update
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The Hatchery Pipeline and Hydroelectric Project is nearing completion. The Contractor has completed a check out of the hydroelectric turbine, completed all of the painting, and is finishing up the final wiring and fiber optic cable terminations. The national Grid Witness test of the turbine is scheduled for the end of the month.
06/12/17
Construction Update
The project is progressing on schedule. The building that houses the hydroelectric turbine has been completed. The contractor is in the process of installing all of the required conduit and wiring. The turbine generator has been installed in the building and final piping connections have been made. The contractor in conjunction with the MWRA and National Grid are gearing up to perform dry and wet testing of the turbine generator. It is anticipated that the turbine generator will be producing power by the end of the summer.
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For more information, please contact Len Cawley at 617 305-5757 or len.cawley@mwra.com.
12/16/2016
Pipeline Work Complete, Construction of Hydropower Generator Building Underway
The construction of the pipeline running from the William A. Brutsch Water Treatment Facility in Ware to the McLaughlin Fish Hatchery in Belchertown has been completed. The pipeline construction included approximately 4,400 linear feet of 20-inch pipe, a live tap of the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct, and a bridge crossing at the Swift River. The pipeline is scheduled to be put into service on Thursday, December 22. In addition, construction of the building for the Hydropower Generator is well underway and the Hydropower Generator has been delivered to the site. The project remains on schedule.
For further information, please contact MWRA’s Len Cawley at (617) 305-5757.
09/19/2016
Work to Begin along Route 9
Beginning Monday, September 19, contractors working for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) will begin work along Route 9 near the bridge that spans the Swift River between Belchertown and Ware. The work will last about two months and traffic will be controlled by details from the local police. Every effort will be made to maintain two way traffic over the bridge while this project is underway.
For further information, please contact MWRA’s Len Cawley at (617) 305-5757.
