Donna Murphy: Vote yes on Articles 3, 11 to protect Meredith water supply

To The Daily Sun, 

This year Meredith’s voters will be presented with two warrant articles that are intended to protect the town water supply, Lake Waukewan. Most people are aware of the growing threat of cyanobacteria to all New Hampshire lakes. But are you also aware that a significant bacteria bloom near the water intake would disrupt, and possibly shut down our water system? You can readily imagine the effect this would have on our residents and local businesses. We need to take steps now to prevent this sort of disruption.

Article 3, Clean Water State Revolving Fund Grant, appropriates $100,000 to complete the Lake Waukewan Watershed Restoration Plan, which is vital to identify issues, and the required remediation to address them. The grant is structured as a loan, however the loan is traditionally forgiven when the work is completed. The only cost to taxpayers is the small interest on the loan. The Windy Waters Conservancy, a Lake Waukewan homeowners association has offered to cover this interest, so the cost to taxpayers is zero.

Article 11, Establish a Lake Waukewan Water Quality Protection Expendable Trust Fund, sets aside $100,000 to address water quality problems that arise. This is simply being prudent. Should the need arise, funding to deal with it will be available before it grows into a full-fledged crisis. Funding for the $100,000 will come from the fund balance; these are tax monies that you already paid but not expended, so it will have no effect on this year’s tax rate.

Both of these article make great sense for our town, and are wholeheartedly endorsed by the Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee, Windy Waters Conservancy, and other HOAs around the lake. Please vote yes in support of these articles.

Donna Murphy

Meredith