Wayland commission pushes Oxbow toward grease pretreatment at pump station

WAYLAND — April 13, 2026 — Wayland tells Oxbow apartments that more cleanouts won't solve a two-year grease problem. The Wastewater Management District Commission, chaired by Mike Gitten, pressed ComRef Oxbow LLC representatives on April 13 over fats, oils and grease exceeding district limits at the Oxbow pump station, which went online in June 2023. Plant Operator Jared Cotton described a "solid mat" causing "premature deterioration" of floats and grinders; Public Works Director Tom Holder said the town is not interested in an operations-and-maintenance-only fix. Consultant Ray Willis of Fuss & O'Neill argued grab samples skewed high and that combined gray and black water would require a 30,000-gallon pretreatment tank. Consultant Matt Abrahams separately projected a $679,000 FY26 surplus, with $334,000 in privilege fees already collected, and floated a 9 percent rate increase under Option 3.