Water: first come, first serve

The Board of Selectmen will weigh a "first come, first serve" policy for developers seeking to connect to the municipal water system when it begins developing a strategy to address the shortcomings of the municipal water system at a workshop this afternoon. Following the Water System Evaluation Report in 2005 and the Water System Management Plan in 2006, the water ordinance was revised to address the issue of capacity by stipulating that the new customers can be denied service if their additional demand increases total demand on the system beyond 90-percent of its total capacity.

In March Robert Hill, superintendent of the Water and Sewer Departments, listed nearly 250 residential units in various stages of the planning process, the developers of which have indicated their wish to connect to the municipal water system. The projects include 60 to 80 units on Mile Point Road, 71 units on Ladd Hill Road, 43 units between Pease Road and Livingston Road, 32 units on Boynton Road, 16 units on Mass Avenue and 5 units on Waukewan Street. Describing the system as at a "tipping point," Hill concluded that "without further expansion of ... treatment and storage capacities, it is questionable which, if any, of the above developments would be allowed to connect to the municipal water system."

The Selectboard will consider a draft prepared by Hill advising developers that approval of extensions to the municipal water system would be subject to capacity at the time projects are approved by the Planning Board, with the determination based on the full-build-out of developments. Likewise, final approval for connections would be subject to capacity at the time applications for building permits are submitted. The draft notes that "at any given time several projects may be before the Town requesting connection to the municipal water system" and that "completion of the approval process for each project ... depends on the applicant's ability to meet specific site, subdivision and zoning requirements and is beyond the full control of the Town." Consequently, the draft concludes "the Town cannot guarantee the approval of water system extensions and connections prior to the approval requirements noted above."

Robert Korver of KV Partners, LLC of Manchester, who contributed to both the earlier reports, will also offer his recommendations to the board. In 2005, he found that the treatment plant is capable of producing 900,000 gallons per day, or 30,000 gallons less than the maximum daily demand of 930,000 gallons in 2004 and 320,000 gallons less than the maximum daily demand of 1,220,000 gallons projected by 2014.

Likewise, he reported that the actual storage capacity of 250,000 gallons is insufficient. Although the town has a 1.5-million gallon storage tank on Ladd Hill, only 250,000 gallons is available for use at any given time because the remainder is required to maintain optimal water pressure throughout the system. Meredith only has the one storage facility.

Korver recommended a series of infrastructure improvements and management practices to control demand by improving the efficiency of the system and encouraging conservation by its users, which last year led to the first overhaul of the water ordinance since it was written in 1963.

The water use ordinance was revised and water rates were increased for the first time since 1991. Meanwhile, work began on the distribution system to improve fire protection, enhance water quality and promote conservation. In particular, a series of "blow offs," or dead ends which must be periodically flushed to maintain water quality, are being eliminated, which Korver estimated would reduce demand by 20-percent.

In his initial report, Korver suggested that "demand management practices alone may lower overall system demand enough to delay the need for a plant expansion beyond 2014, at least from a capacity perspective." However, he indicated that regulations on the horizon setting stricter standards for water quality would likely require expansion of the treatment plant and recommended the town acquire the adjacent property.

Last year the town appropriated $100,000 for the purchase of the lot known as the Wickes Lumber Yard behind the treatment plant. The cost of expanding the treatment plant is estimated in the neighborhood of $2-million.

The town has also funded a capital reserve account to purchase land for a second storage tank on the north side of the village and identified and evaluated a number of possible sites.