Akwa Marina’s beach being washed away by city stormwater

By RICK GREEN, Laconia Daily Sun

LACONIA — Richard Mailloux isn't having much luck with his request that the city fix a stormwater pipe that is washing away the beach at a resort he owns in The Weirs.

The pipe is supposed to carry storm runoff to an area beyond the small beach at Akwa Marina. His shorefront complex includes boat docks, lodging, a bar and restaurant, along with a swimming pool, hot tub, fire pits and cabanas. Future plans call for a five-story extended-stay hotel.

Instead of carrying the water beyond the sand, the pipe has apparently broken behind a rock wall above the sand. Water oozes onto the beach, slowly carrying the sand into the water and leaving a dirty mess after storms. State regulation limits his ability to bring in sufficient replacement sand.

“I have a sandy beach that I'm quite proud of and it's being destroyed,” Mailloux said. “It's being destroyed because the city of Laconia's drainage system has failed, and it's been going on since 2013.”

The city contends he is responsible for fixing the problem.

Mailloux put in an extensive drainage system that protects his land and nearby railroad tracks that were being washed out by runoff. He wants the city to tie in to that system and bypass the damaged pipe, a solution he contends could be done for a few thousand dollars.

He said he could bear the expense, but feels he shouldn't have to.

“I didn't create the problem and it's not my system,” he said. “I don't feel I should be repairing the city's drainage system.

“It's short money. It's goodwill, and it's something that I shouldn't have to do. We're good people. My children like living here. Enough is enough. My beach is being destroyed.”

Mailloux has voiced his concerns to the city Public Works Department and appeared before the City Council last week to ask for action.

City workers have told him he is responsible for fixing the stormwater system that is damaging his beach.

Public Works Director Wes Anderson said that, when Mailloux submitted plans for the resort more than a dozen years ago, he was to construct a building in the area where the city's stormwater system is located. Those plans called for him to move the system to make way for the building.

“When the planning board approved it, part of that board action was the requirement for him to install replacement pipe that goes a different route, and do away with that pipe going onto his beach,” Anderson said.

However, Mailloux's plans changed. He never constructed that building, so there was no reason to reroute the city's system.

“If I don't ever have to build the building, why do I have to do new drainage?” he asked. “They need to repair it.

“I don't want a fight with the town. I want to get along with them, but certain things are right and certain things are wrong. They should repair their drainage line.”

Richard Mailloux stands above a beach at his Akwa Marina. He says a broken city stormwater pipe is eroding his beach. (Rick Green, Laconia Daily Sun)