NORWICH – According to the City of Norwich Superintendent of Public Works Carl Ivarson, the city is going to need a new water filtration plant, and plans are going to have to be made soon.

At last week’s meeting of the Common Council, a resolution was passed authorizing the city to contract Stearns and Wheler Engineering. The company will begin to look at conceptual designs for the new water filtration plant, and will be paid $39,000.

According to Ivarson, it will take at least six to eight years before the new plant is operational. The current water filtration plant was built in 1904 and has had to be repaired several times over the years.

“We’re setting up a series of meetings with different legislators. We’re trying to make sure we’ll have the funding in place so there is no burden on the taxpayers,” said Mayor Joseph Maiurano. According to the mayor, the project could cost in excess of $5 million.