MONSON – Residents authorized the Monson Utilities District in a 12-2 referendum vote Monday to borrow up to $148,000 for water system improvements.

The town has about 400 registered voters but only 14 turned out to approve the upgrade on the more than 60-year-old water system that serves about 120 customers.

“I want to thank everyone who supported the project,” Monson Town Manager Julie Anderson said Tuesday.

The town learned earlier this year that it had been approved for a $422,000 grant and a low-interest loan of $148,000 through the USDA Rural Development program to help fund the improvements. To get the grant, the town had to approve the loan.

The funds will be used to secure the district’s three wells, and for construction of a new distribution building and booster station to help improve water pressure, according to Anderson.

Work will begin as soon as possible this year on the two wells on North Guilford Road, Anderson said. The wells need to be sealed properly to protect the water quality. A third well on Homer Hill that also needs sealing will be done after the North Guilford Road well work, she said.

Anderson said she hoped to have the new booster station constructed this year as well.

An increase in water rates went into effect on July 1 to augment the grant and loan for the work. The minimum increase went from $40 to $51.66 for up to 900 cubic feet of water, according to Anderson.

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