The Water-Sewer Advisory Board on Wednesday reviewed its progress over the past year and drafted its goals for 2026 as it prepares its annual report for the Select Board.

Chair Paul Gallagher took the board through what it had focused on during its first year of operation. This included: advising the Select Board on the connection to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) and annual water/sewer rate testing, learning from water and wastewater treatment facilities in Hopkinton and other towns with similar water quality issues, and hearing from both community members and consultants on a number of water quality topics.

From those points, Gallagher recommended the WSAB keep its list of priorities for next year relatively short. “Realistically, we’re not going to make massive progress on a long menu of goals,” he said.

Member Donald Sutherland floated the idea of water conservation as a focus for the board in 2026, calling it a “hot topic.” He said that lawn watering can compose up to 30% of the town’s water use.

“I think I would be a little uneasy about having a singular focus on lawn waterers,” Gallagher said following a discussion on enforcement during periods of water restriction. However, he was open to the idea of adding a goal that focused on water conservation.

Vice chair Rob Scott brought up the issue of brown water, noting that it impacts his home as well as other parts of town. “Every time you get a large quantity of water flow, it stirs everything up inside of [the water mains] and that’s why I get sludge in my water,” said Scott. 

He added that in previous discussions with recently retired Water-Sewer Manager Eric Carty and his replacement, Jed Fenneuff, the problem appeared to stem from old cast iron water mains.

Gallagher responded that many residents have spoken to him about the brown water issue. 

“It’s a reasonable expectation that water … at the main is of good quality and it meets all the regulations,” he added.

Gallagher wondered what options were available to mitigate the issue apart from replacing the mains. “If the supply was MWRA water with maybe some Ashland water, then you’d imagine it would be better,” he said.

Department of Public Works Director Kerry Reed stated that her department was working with a consultant on a unidirectional flushing (UDF) plan. It is a sequential technique for scouring pipe surfaces and removing loose sediment, biofilm and scale. Reed noted that the UDF plan was about 60% complete.

“Our challenge is coming up with the resources to actually implement the plan,” said Reed.

The conversation shifted over to PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a topic the board has discussed in previous meetings. Higher than allowable concentrations of PFAS were identified at a well on Fruit Street in 2022, prompting the installment of a well filtration system.

Members discussed the public perception of PFAS and how the WSAB could address it in its goals for 2026. Sutherland spoke about public fear of the chemicals and the need for more education around them.

“Part of the reason for that anxiety is that the risk hasn’t been dialogued,” said Sutherland. “It’s got this floating risk personality.”

Gallagher stressed as well that town water currently is compliant with what he described as a “very conservatively set” contamination limit. “The last thing people should worry about is PFAS in the public water supply in Hopkinton.”

Following the discussion, Gallagher identified four broad goals for the WSAB to work on in the coming year. First, it would continue to advise the Select Board on the ongoing MWRA connection project. It also would keep providing input regarding water/sewer rates. Brown water, PFAS and issues with manganese will be grouped into a goal on water quality, and on Sutherland’s suggestion the WSAB will develop a goal around water conservation.

“I’ll put together goals that are reasonably posed,” said Gallagher.

The board agreed to meet before the January deadline for the annual report to review the identified goals.