Water & Sewer Advisory Committee Report
As a result of the longest drought this town has experienced and a
dangerously low groundwater supply, the town was required by the state to
develop a plan for new water resources. The
town has been mandated by the state to install water meters as part of the water
conservation program. The state
will not allow any other sources of water until this requirement is met.
This committee was appointed by the town and has been meeting by weekly
or weekly since September 2002. At several meetings, the Earth Tech, Inc.
engineers who were hired as consultants on the project, presented voluminous
information on the town’s water resources and the options to consider for
future needs.
The first objective for the committee was to recommend a plan to the
town selectmen that could provide a quick water resource and then to establish
plans for a long-term water supply. The
committee submitted the warrant articles required to move forward with the plan.
First, the quickest and least expensive resource of water is the
diversion plan taking the excess water from the Hampton Falls River during high
flow periods and sending to the town holding ponds.
Second, to provide the funds to prepare designs and permits for the
construction of a
desalinization facility. The town needs for the future are far more than any
underground water supply can provide. The committee will continue to pursue the
most efficient means to obtain more water.
Third, to install water meters as part of the state-mandated water
conservation program. If the voters do not approve Article 11 then the town will
have to pursue installing residential meters. The tax impact would be more
favorable if they approve the meters on the March ballot. The average cost of
this important article for all three portions would be $1.75 per $1000 property
evaluation. The average household would be approximately $300. Currently, all
business are required to have water meters and the businesses which account for
80-85 percent of the tax base, would cover a larger part of the cost if meters
are approved by ballot. Otherwise,
the cost of the meters would fall directly on the residents of town. This could
cost as much as $1600 per household and would be billed on the water bill not
through taxes.
It is essential that we approve this article in March so that the town
can move forward to benefit all of us for our future water needs. The mandatory
“Water Ban” will go on indefinitely if we don’t act now.
My husband and I have lived here for 33 years, and we were always amazed
that our water bill was only $40 for years and then increased to only $60. The
reality of what our water bill will cost us in the future will be to the extreme
increase if we don’t appropriate the tax funds now.
The Water & Sewer Advisory Committee Members are: Susan Foote,
Chairperson, Sandy Beaudoin, Bruce Casassa, Dick Dodge, Warner Knowles, Water
& Sewer Superintendent, Owen Latham, Suzanne Manzi, Linwood Norton and
Carrie Fowler, Secretary.
For more information on the activities of the committee, visit the following web site: www.rsdodge.info/Seabrook/Water_Conservation.htm