ESS Group, Inc. is currently assisting the Town of Sharon, through the Department of Public Works, with the evaluation of potential in-town sources to provide additional water supply capacity and source redundancy. The objective of the work is to establish comparable datasets for all sites to allow for an evaluation and ranking of the sites by the Town and to support an alternatives analysis for use in future permitting.

The initial task completed by ESS consisted of the evaluation of five candidate sites using the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) site screening policy "Site Screening for Siting a New or Expanding Source of Public Water Supply". The findings of this initial evaluation, and other existing information, were used to recommend sites for further evaluation.

Based on the findings of the Site Screening Evaluation and recommendations from the Water Management Advisory Committee, ESS performed initial activities including site reconnaissance, review of existing data, and exploratory test drilling. The drilling included short-term yield testing and water quality analysis to establish baseline hydrogeologic and water quality data at six potential sites.

Based on the results of the exploratory test drilling programs and evaluation of existing data, two sites were selected by ESS and the Town of Sharon for the performance of 48-hour aquifer pumping tests to evaluate potential yield and aquifer drawdown, including the installation of test well(s). Further testing of one of these sites has been delayed based on the results of a wetland sediment boring program and local concerns about potential impacts to a Cedar Swamp.

ESS is currently developing a methodology for ranking the potential water supply sites based on various criteria including potential yield, water quality, potential environmental impact, and other factors.