(WORCESTER – 1/4/2023) State government and local city leaders announced that a $1 million bond would be issued to finance renovations at the Lake Quinsigamond’s Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station. This funding will pay for upgrades to the station and equipment that will improve sewer system resiliency.

The Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station has experienced a number of problems in recent years, the most severe being a catastrophic failure during a major storm in February 2022 that resulted in an estimated 6 million gallons of wastewater being released into Lake Quinsigamond. This failure occurred due to a leak on a wastewater pipe that flooded a critical portion of the station, causing operations to stop. The affected equipment had to be drained, inspected, and partially rebuilt before pumping could resume to the treatment plant, about 36 hours later. The funded renovations will help minimize the possibility of this kind of failure in the future.

“The failures of the Lake Ave Pumping Station are unacceptable to the city of Worcester, to the local environment, and to the residents who live on and near the shores of this wonderful lake,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m pleased to have worked with local partners, the Worcester delegation on Beacon Hill, and the Baker-Polito Administration to secure this $1 million in funding to make sure our neighbors no longer have to deal with raw sewage overflows into Lake Quinsigamond. We owe it to the people of Worcester and to Central Massachusetts’ ecosystems and wildlife to do better.”

The funding was released as a result of an amendment Senator Moore passed in the Legislature’s transportation and climate bond bill earlier this year. The Baker-Polito Administration a few weeks ago approved a $1 million payment from the $5 million bond authorization passed in the bill.

Renovations on the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station are expected to begin in 2023.

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