10.14.2026 "Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong" screening and Discussion

On October 14, 2026, the City of Fall River hosted a public screening and panel discussion of the documentary 'Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong' at Morton Middle School in recognition of 'Imagine a Day Without Water.' Administrator of Community Utilities Paul Furlan and Mayor Paul E. Coogan opened the event by emphasizing the vital importance of municipal water and wastewater systems, aging infrastructure challenges, and the dedicated personnel who keep public utilities operating around the clock.

Following the documentary screening about Portland's wastewater treatment facility, Furlan moderated an expert panel featuring John Monge, project manager for Inframark at the Fall River Wastewater Treatment Plant; Alex Miranda, a Grade 7 licensed operator with Inframark; and Janine Burke-Wells, Executive Director of the Northeast Biosolids and Residuals Association. The panelists discussed regional biosolids disposal crises, noting that Fall River currently spends approximately $2.3 million annually to transport sludge via rail to an Ohio landfill. They detailed a nation-first pilot program using specialized microbes in aeration tanks to reduce sludge volume, as well as the emerging challenges of PFAS contamination and regulatory restrictions on land application.

The discussion also covered the mechanics of Fall River's combined sewer overflow (CSO) system, which averages 21 to 24 million gallons per day (MGD) and can surge to a plant capacity of 106 MGD during major storms. Furlan explained the rationale behind the city's $50 quarterly stormwater fee based on equivalent residential units (ERUs) of 2,800 square feet of impervious surface. Panelists and audience members highlighted the demands of preventative maintenance, operational workforce succession, and training programs at Bristol Community College, concluding with praise for utility operators as essential community heroes.

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