May 2026 Construction Update

Construction at the New West Parish site reached a major milestone in May, with visible progress across several areas of the project. 

Demolition of Historic Filters

One of the biggest developments in May is the start of demolition on the old slow sand filters, which date back to 1925.

Crews worked on Filters 9 and 10, breaking down the concrete structures piece by piece. This short video shows a hydraulic hammer chipping away at a manhole and portion of the vault ceiling.

This marks a major turning point for the project. After months of preparation, demolition is now underway and expected to continue through the summer, creating space for the new plant. 

With the “overburden” (soil) removed, the historic 1925 filter structures are now exposed and ready for demolition.

Managing Demolition Safely

As demolition progresses, crews are taking important steps to maintain safe conditions on-site. Water is continuously sprayed during concrete removal to keep dust levels down. 

Water is sprayed as concrete from the former filter structures is collected in designated areas before being processed for future use.

Work is happening in coordinated phases, with multiple excavators operating simultaneously to break, move, and load material efficiently.

Sampling

At the site of the 1966 slow sand filters where PCBs were discovered last summer, EPA and MassDEP have approved a comprehensive sampling plan that is now being executed. Hundreds of samples are being collected throughout the summer, which will inform a remediation plan for that portion of the site.

Recycling Materials for Reuse

Instead of sending demolished concrete off-site, much of the material dating from 1925 will be recycled and reused as part of the project. Through a permitted process called “beneficial use determination,” materials are being stockpiled to be later crushed and repurposed as backfill on-site. This approach reduces waste, limits the need for new materials, and keeps resources working within the project.

Continued Pipe Installation and Excavation

While demolition takes center stage, work continues across the site:

• Installation of large-diameter piping, including sections up to 60 inches

• Placement of pipe sections deep below grade—some more than 20 feet down

• Ongoing excavation and rock removal to prepare for future connections 

  
  

In some areas, crews are drilling into rock as part of the excavation for laying pipe, a process that will continue for several months.

A crane lowers the next 60-inch piece of pipe into place.  

Workers guide a pipe section into place, using taglines to control movement and ensure precise alignment. The new Backwash Facility is located behind the crane. 

Construction Activity Across Campus

Additional crews and subcontractors have also mobilized, increasing the pace of work and expanding activity across different demolition, excavation, and installation sites. The sights, sounds, routes, and very topography of the usually peaceful campus are in visceral upheaval, yet amid it all the daily routine of treating drinking water carries on. West Parish staff continue to take the changes in stride, meeting with construction leaders daily to ensure first and foremost that operating infrastructure is protected – and lastly to find out where their parking space is moving to the next day!