Town of Shaftsbury

WATER SYSTEM NEWSLETTER

 

October 2008

 

 

Background

 

The State of Vermont is requiring the Town of Shaftsbury to make improvements to the Town’s water system.  The Town is seeking voter approval for a bond to pay for these improvements because low cost financing is currently available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.  The low cost financing is limited, and may not be available to the Town in the future if the bond is defeated.

 

The water system serving South Shaftsbury receives its water from the nearby North Bennington water filtration facility located off Buck Hill Road.  We are very fortunate to have this high quality water source, delivered to Shaftsbury through a 12-inch diameter water main directly from the filtration plant’s 1,000,000 gallon water storage tank.

 

The Shaftsbury water distribution system currently consists of 8-inch 6-inch, and 4-inch water mains that provide water to homes and fire hydrants.  In many locations the 6-inch and 4-inch mains do not provide adequate flow or pressure to the hydrants to meet State of Vermont Water Supply Division standards.  The State is concerned that, when a fire truck pumps water out of the water mains, water pressure drops, allowing ground water to siphon into the Town’s water lines and possibly contaminate the Town’s water supply. The State has notified the Town that improvements must be made in order for the Town to maintain its Water Supply Permit in good standing.  An engineering study, paid for by the State and conducted by Otter Creek Engineering, outlined several water main improvements that would bring the system into compliance with State regulations.  If these improvements are not made, the State could order the Town to remove the fire hydrants from the Town’s water system.

 

What is planned as part of this project?

 

The proposed project will correct a number of issues, bringing the water system into compliance with the State Water Supply Rules and allowing the Town to provide water service in accordance with current standards. Approximately 2,500 lineal feet of new 8- inch water main will be installed, distributed as follows:

 

1.                  1,100 feet of 8-inch diameter water main from the last hydrant on Sycamore Lane to Church Street.  This will provide for adequate fire flows, eliminate an old, small diameter water pipe serving several homes, and eliminate the existing dead end line by providing a “loop” back to Church Street.

2.                  350 feet of 8-inch diameter water main from the end of Meadow Lane to Route 7A.  This will improve fire flows and pressures by providing a “looped” system, eliminating the existing dead end main on Meadow Lane.

 

3.                  1,000 feet of 8-inch diameter water main along Ledgely Drive and Westview Place, beginning at Route 7A.  This provides needed fire flows and water pressure.  It also allows for a second Shaftsbury connection to the North Bennington water transmission main, if needed in the future.

 

These improvements will bring the Town water system into compliance with State regulations and improve the overall operation and reliability of the water system.  Making these improvements also assures that the Town can continue to maintain the fire hydrants and fire protection in the village.

 

How will the Town finance these improvements?

 

The estimated project cost of these improvements is $425,000.  These costs will be financed through a loan administered through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The interest rate on the bond will be 3%, and the bond will be repaid over 20 years.  The mechanism for approving this loan is a Bond Vote by the registered voters of Shaftsbury.

 

Bond Vote

 

The bond vote question is as follows:

 

Shall the Town of Shaftsbury construct improvements to the water system to be financed through general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed Four Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($425,000), subject to reduction from the receipt of available state and federal grants-in-aid, with the bond and all costs associated with this project to be paid for by the users of the Shaftsbury Municipal Water System?

 

A public meeting has been scheduled for November 3, 2008 so that detailed information can be provided and questions answered.  The actual Bond Vote will be on Election Day, November 4, 2008.

 

Who can vote on the bond question?

 

Any registered voter in the Town of Shaftsbury can vote, regardless of whether or not they are served by the water system.  Only the water users will pay for the improvements to the water system, and they will make payments semi-annually as part of their water bills.  No Town tax money will be used to pay for this water project.  Property owners who are not connected to the water system will not be billed for this project.  All registered voters may vote on the bond issue, but only the users will share in the project costs.

 

How will the water system improvements affect the cost of water for users?

 

Based on the proposed Bond of $425,000, the cost per equivalent residential user (ERU) will be a flat semi-annual fee of $43 or $86 per year. This cost will be added to your regular water bill and due in October and May each year.  The cost of the project will NOT be added to property owners’ tax bills.

 

What if Shaftsbury voters do not approve this Bond?

 

These improvements must be made for the Town’s water system to be in compliance with State standards.  If the Town does not pass the Bond providing for the funding of these improvements, the Town will face two choices: (1) remove fire hydrants from the system or otherwise restrict fire flow use; or (2) make improvements to the water system in the future without the benefit of the State’s low-interest loan.  DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION.  The existing conditions of fire flow on small water mains can cause low water pressure which, in turn, potentially allows ground water to siphon into and contaminate the water system.  If we do not make these improvements or remove hydrants, our Water Permit will not be renewed.  For safety reasons, the Selectboard recommends making the needed improvements and passing the bond.

 

Will water users have any out-of-pocket expenses during construction?

 

No.  All work will be paid for under the project.

 

Will all water users share the cost of this project fairly?

 

Yes.  The cost of this project will be shared proportionately by all water users on an equivalent residential user (ERU) basis.  For example, a single family home is 1 ERU, a duplex is 2 ERU’s, the school is 4 ERU’s, etc.  This is a fair way to distribute costs to all users based on typical water use.

 

What if I have questions?

 

If you have questions, you may speak with Water System Operator, Joe Herrmann, or Karen Mellinger. You may also attend the Informational Meeting, scheduled for November 3, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shaftsbury Elementary School, where our engineer Mark Youngstrom of Otter Creek Engineering, Inc., along with local officials, will explain the project and answer your questions.

 

In Conclusion

 

The Town and especially the residents of South Shaftsbury are greatly benefited by the public water system.  Like all municipal utilities, the Town’s water system needs periodic maintenance, repair and improvements to address deteriorating conditions and new standards.  By maintaining the water system, the Town can continue to provide the water users reliable service.

 

The Shaftsbury Selectboard recommends making these needed improvements to our water system and approving the Bond Vote to finance the improvements. We welcome your questions and comments over the next month.

 

Karen Mellinger            Lon McClintock           Bill Pennebaker

Wynn Metcalfe     Cinda Morse