Wolfeboro OKs wastewater bond
posted by admin in Sewer SepticThe town decided to take the steps to alleviate a large part of the ongoing waste water issue on Tuesday by approving the $6,368,000 bond to pipe effluent into a gravel pit near Tuftonboro.
A total of 2,330 votes were cast for Article 7, which required at least 1,398 votes or a three-fifths majority to pass. Of those, almost 70 percent — 1,628 — of the voters were in favor and 702 were against it.
As a result, the town will be able to use the approved bond to implement the Wastewater Effluent Disposal Management Plan, including purchasing land on the Tuftonboro border in order to alleviate longterm environmental problems, pending legal issues and help lift the sewer moratorium in town.
It will also design and construct improvements for the new effluent disposal system, clean and stabilize the closed compost area, prepare long-term facilities plans and required facility upgrades. The town must acquire easements from six or seven property owners to place the pipeline five feet under the ground along the power lines.
The plan was proposed to meet the requirements of the N.H. Department of Environmental Services’s Administrative Orders dated March 3, 2003 and April 19, 2005.
David Ford, director of Water and Utility Services, previously said the town hopes to build a new 12,000-foot pipeline along an easement used for power lines since 1963 to pump the effluent from the overflowing 90-million gallon treated septic lagoon. He added the town and the state are optimistic the proposal, which has been successfully tested, will provide a long-term solution.
If the bond failed to pass on Tuesday, the would have faced stiff fines, up to $10,000 a day, and potential legal action from state agencies.
Residents discussed the issue during the town’s deliberative session on Feb. 6, where a motion to amend the article to upgrade the existing effluent spraying system for $3,602,000 failed. Several residents, especially the abutters, expressed their concerns about whether the town has enough money within the appropriation to resolve any problems with easements.
Ford assured residents that there is enough for those contingencies.
Tags: Environment, Improvements, levi, lt, provide, sewer, successfullyRelated posts
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