New Filtration System Ordered for COA

A new water filtration system has been ordered for the Rehoboth Council on Aging at Francis Farm.

A state testing process and certification is required for all facilities which supply public drinking water.

Selectmen Chairman Skip Vadnais said it was a “huge water system” designed to accommodate the Francis Farm business, which could host events for as many as 1800 people.

Vadnais said the filtration system needs to be updated.

“Because this is such a large system, the filtering systems we need to address, you can’t get the parts right off the shelf,” Vadnais explained.”They got to be special ordered and the system had to be designed by an engineer.”

The materials were ordered several weeks ago and are being installed as they arrive, Vadnais noted.

The water at the COA is being used for hand-washing and the toilets. Francis Farms’ previous owner did not maintain the certification, which caused headaches for the Board of Selectmen.

“Because the certification fell to the side, we came under the new rules,” Vadnais added.
“So we had to start from the beginning. We just couldn’t transfer the certification because (the owner) didn’t have one. We had to start at square one which is a long process. We’re almost there.”

Francis Farm hosted clambakes, weddings, and social functions until its closure a few years ago.

Voters at the 2021 town meeting approved the purchase of the 47 acre property at a cost of $2.8 million. Francis Hall is the new home for the COA.