About this Project
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s Inlet Chamber at Farm Pond in the City of Framingham was first built in 1876 to draw water from Farm Pond to supply the Sudbury Aqueduct. Following the Sudbury Aqueduct’s retirement from active service as part of the water distribution system, the inlet chamber is no longer needed. (Please note, the Sudbury Aqueduct does continue to serve as an emergency backup water transmission pipeline.) Over time, the chamber has significantly deteriorated and is unsafe to enter.
Given that the chamber no longer serves a functional purpose, the MWRA is in the process of removing the facility in two phases. The first phase (Contract OP-500) will remove the connection between Farm Pond and the Sudbury Aqueduct by filling in the subsurface inlet with concrete. In a future contract, the second phase will focus on the demolition of the building above the inlet chamber, as well as the gatehouse located further south.
The $426,000 contract was awarded to Ardent Group, Inc. of Rockland, MA. The Notice to Proceed date was March 17, 2026, the contractor has a duration of nine months to complete, and the completion date is December 17, 2026.
Summary of Scope of Work
In order to create a safe environment for work crews and the public, temporary fencing will be placed around the site, including around the Dudley Street parking lot located across from Dr Harvey L Cushing Way, along both sides of the Sudbury Aqueduct walking area, and around the Inlet Chamber building.
Members of the public will be able to access Farm Pond by utilizing parking lots located further south on Dudley Road. Informational signage is located around the border of the site to inform users of the work.
Once the site is secured and prepped, the contractor will begin cleaning the Inlet Chamber building in preparation of permanently sealing the connection between Farm Pond and the Sudbury Aqueduct. The contractor will then pour a concrete plug inside the building's subsurface inlet to hydraulically separate the Pond from the Aqueduct. After this work has been completed, the contractor will begin site restoration work and return it to previous conditions for public use.
Schedule
The first phase of work (Contract OP-500) is scheduled to commence in September 2026, and is expected to be completed before Winter 2026, barring unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather.
More information regarding the second phase of work will be provided on this project webpage once it becomes available.