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Building the Future of Water: Our Summer Internship Pipeline Program
This summer, the Commission kept busy—not just building a new water plant, but also laying the foundation for the next generation of...
Aug 29, 20252 min read


Construction Update: July 2025
It was another hot, muggy, stormy month in Westfield with crews working towards demolition of the slow sand filters and complete critical infrastructure to keep the plant running during demolition. Some of this summer’s progress is obvious in the landscape, other developments are hidden underground. Above, crews are removing soil from the top of slow sand filter #18. Tie-in #4, part 1 is complete! Tie-ins are allowing existing treatment to continue during construction by re-r
Aug 22, 20251 min read


Construction Update: June 2025
June was another busy month of construction at the West Parish Filters plant, this time with less rain, but higher temperatures. Our hardworking construction team made steady progress establishing critical tie-ins to keep the water treatment process flowing during demolition of the old slow sand filters. Here’s a look at what it takes to build, connect, these massive pipes. At the beginning of the month, crews fabricated the pipe for tie-in #3. This involved pipe-fitting at a
Aug 22, 20252 min read


Construction Update: May 2025 Recap
If this landscape looks lush and green, that’s because it seemed to rain constantly in May in Westfield. We’re working through it, pushing to complete tie-ins before the summer heat arrives. May was a month of painstaking progress, focused on tie-ins. These critical connections are what will keep drinking water flowing during the next couple of years of construction. Once these lines are in service, we will be one step further towards demolishing the old slow sand filters and
Jun 4, 20252 min read


Construction Update: April 2025
Construction activities started to pick up even further in April. Here’s some highlights from the field… Crews relocated the process...
May 1, 20252 min read


Staff Spotlight: Mike Popko, Superintendent of Water Facilities
This December marks an epic milestone for Superintendent of Water Facilities Mike Popko, who will celebrate twenty years with the...
May 1, 20252 min read


New West Parish WTP Featured at NEWWA Spring Conference
Earlier this month the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant was presented to water professionals from all over New England at the New...
Apr 18, 20251 min read


A Few Farewell Tours
Two groups of visitors recently became part of history as some as the last tour groups to ever see the West Parish slow sand filters...
Apr 4, 20252 min read


Follow the Path of the Springfield Region's Water
Check out our new story map , which traces the flow of your water through the Commission's drinking water and wastewater systems, from...
Mar 20, 20251 min read


Chlorinators and Valves and Nozzles, Oh My!: Planned Maintenance and Upgrades at West Parish Filters, March 2025
While we prepare for the construction of the New West Parish Water Treatment Plant, the show must go on at the existing West Parish...
Mar 13, 20252 min read


Freezing Temps and Tie-ins: Construction Update From February 2025
Spring may be in the air now, but bitter cold temperatures and icy conditions in February created a formidable working climate at the...
Mar 13, 20252 min read


Living at West Parish
With long hours going into getting the West Parish site ready for construction – such as setting up berms to protect streams and ensuring...
Feb 6, 20252 min read


A Small Bridge and a Big Milestone: Construction Update January 2025
When building a new water treatment plant adjacent to a century-old facility that’s still in operation, a solid Maintenance of Plant...
Jan 30, 20252 min read


Staff Spotlight: Elise Tarnauskas, Process Control Manager
December can be a quiet month when it comes to work outside, but inside Commission staff are busy gearing up for the new plant. Elise...
Dec 23, 20242 min read


Commission Receives Loan Forgiveness for New West Parish WTP
Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission is pleased to announce it has received $4.47 million...
Dec 19, 20242 min read


The Quiet Before Construction
Snow falls on West Parish Filters in December 2024 (view from Granville Road) Don’t let these scenes of snowy stillness from earlier in...
Dec 19, 20242 min read


Feeling Thankful for New Filters and the Future
To say we are grateful for the year we’ve had at the Commission would be an understatement. After years of hard work and planning, we...
Nov 26, 20242 min read


Playing in the "Dirt"
Notice anything special about these perfectly formed flying shovelfuls of “dirt” at our groundbreaking celebration on October 16? That’s...
Nov 14, 20241 min read


Celebrating Progress & Legacy: Highlights from the New West Parish WTP Groundbreaking
After 10 years of planning & design, the Commission celebrated breaking ground on the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant.
Nov 5, 20242 min read


Breaking Ground on the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant
On October 16, 2024 the Commission formally breaks ground on the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant. To celebrate the milestone the...
Oct 11, 20241 min read
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