DES grant helps Belmont head off potential water issues

BELMONT — The Town of Belmont was recently awarded a Water System Leak Detection Grant by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau, and testing took place in the last few weeks.

“Leak detection is a process of physically listening throughout the system for non-visible leaks with specialized equipment,” said Craig Clairmont, director of public works, in a prepared statement. “This equipment is able to detect even minor leaks throughout the system, which over time can amount to significant loss.”

This week, the town surveyed water mains, service lines, hydrants and valves, using specialized tools to take readings. “The intention,” as stated in the July 2025 Town Newsletter, “is to follow any sign of a leak to the source so a repair can be scheduled before it turns into an emergency with potential service interruptions.”

“We are grateful for having received this opportunity and look forward to and addressing any current issues within the system,” Clairmont wrote. Alongside members of the town’s highway department, American Leak Detection specialists aided in the surveying.

Luckily, the results of the tests are in, and Belmont's water infrastructure remains leak free.

"American Leak Detection has completed their survey and found zero leaks in the town of Belmont’s water system," wrote Brian Jackes, assistant public works director, in an email to The Laconia Daily Sun. 

The grant helped mitigate the costs associated with metered water usage versus any and all unaccounted for or unmetered water usage. Leaks are bad, and they aren’t cheap.

“These grants are provided to communities to help in an effort for conservation,” Clairmont said. “Each and every gallon of water we process through our system has a cost associated with it."