SOMERSET — The Water and Sewer Department is looking for voter approval on Aug 22 for a long-term solution to the town water’s contamination problem. 

Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Paul Sylvia told the Select Board recently that special Town Meeting voters at the Aug. 22 meeting will be asked to approve $5,885,000 for a loan to fight trihalomethanes, a carcinogen, as well as for other related water quality issues. 

Sylvia said that his department has applied for a $4 million state grant and if the town secures the grant, it would use the grant to pay for most of the $5,885,000 loan. 

“But nothing is iron clad,” Sylvia said, adding that the state Department of Environmental Protection has given the town a March 31 deadline to resolve the TTHM issue. 

“We are under the gun. We’ve run the string as long as we can. The board has looked at several other options to deal with the TTHM problem,” Sylvia told selectmen. 

Sylvia explained that town water officials mostly keep TTHMs at reasonable levels, but the levels “creep above” the state-approved threshold at times – especially during periods of low water flow. 

Another app:Jasiel Correia II's SnoOwl app led to him going to prison. Now his wife has started one.

Sylvia said there are two water tanks at Hot and Cold Lane. He says when the water becomes old and stagnant, the TTHM levels will spike. Sylvia said that officials will only use one tank and keep it at a lower level. The  $5.8 million will go toward construction of a new pumping station. He said this station will keep the water fresh and reduce aging, a measure that will also prevent TTHM buildup. 

Sylvia said the pumping station will also improve water pressure for those who live near the area and for fire fighting. 

Sylvia said the money will also go toward water main cleaning and relining. 

Local eats:From dinners-to-go to coffee with a view: Here's what Charlotte's in Westport offers

According to web reports, long-term exposure to trihalomethanes has been linked to various cancers, including bladder and colon cancer; pregnancy problems and birth defects in infant children; and damage to the heart, lungs, kidney, liver and central nervous system.

Town Meeting will be held at the Somerset-Berkley Regional High School at 6 p.m. 

The special Town Meeting will also ask voters to approve  $9.9 million toward construction of a new middle school building.