Oversized Plant Foreshadows Scary Sewer Costs in Canton

CANTON — For the first time, Canton leaders publicly addressed one of the pressing issues keeping them up at night – the looming costs of providing sewer services to town residents. The monthly bill may come due in March 2025, marking the end of the 60-year agreement with Pactiv Evergreen to treat the town’s sewage almost for free. Even if Pactiv does not charge, the town must find ways to cover these costs, given the imminent closure of the company’s paper mill.

Cost Considerations

Canton’s recovery and resiliency manager, Nick Scheuer, revealed that the monthly cost of operating the existing wastewater treatment facility stands at a staggering $424,000. This figure is exceptionally high for a town of Canton’s size, largely due to the facility being built on a large scale to handle the paper mill’s wastewater, resulting in disproportionately high operating costs. In response to this financial burden, the town has proposed transferring $3.5 million from the fund balance in the upcoming budget to cover the costs of operating the wastewater treatment plant for a year.

Challenges Ahead

Mayor Zeb Smathers expressed concerns over the town’s inability to sustain the current costs, stating that paying $5 million annually to operate the treatment plant would be financially crippling. With the mill closure imminent, the town is faced with the pressing need to address these challenges before the 2025 deadline. Discussions are ongoing to explore alternative solutions to mitigate the financial strain on the town’s budget.

Historical Context

Canton’s longstanding agreement with Pactiv Evergreen originated in 1964 when the town’s sewage treatment facility was first established with the support of Champion Paper. Over the years, the mill has financially supported the treatment of the town’s sewage, with Canton making minimal contributions towards chemical costs. As the town now grapples with the impending closure of the mill and the associated financial implications, a new era of financial responsibility looms.

Proposed Solutions

The proposed budget aims to address the immediate financial challenges by covering the costs of operating the wastewater treatment plant for a year. With ongoing discussions with stakeholders and the potential utilization of state funds, a temporary fix to the financial burden is being explored. The town remains hopeful that a viable solution will be reached to address the imminent costs and ensure the continued operation of the treatment facility.

Overall, Canton faces a critical juncture in its efforts to address the financial challenges posed by the impending closure of the paper mill and the associated costs of providing sewer services to its residents. The town’s leaders are actively engaged in navigating these challenges and are working towards finding solutions that will ensure the sustainability of the wastewater treatment system in Canton.