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Development
of a municipal water system to serve Irasville and Waitsfield
Village has been identified as a priority in the Waitsfield
Town Plan for many years, not only to address public health
concerns, but also to protect water quality of the Mad River,
to provide for economic development, and to reduce the potential
for sprawl outside these areas.
Why
Is It Needed?
In Waitsfield Village and Irasville, and throughout Waitsfield,
property owners need to provide for both water supply and
septic disposal on an individual basis. Several decades
ago, most of the buildings were fed with water from springs
on the hillside to the west. As these were found unsafe
or undependable, many people drilled wells. The drilled
wells, although more reliable than springs, resulted in new
issues, such as proximity to nearby septic systems, underground
fuel storage tanks, roads and highways, and stormwater runoff.
Stringent state
rules have made the permitting of new well and septic
sites, as well as replacement of systems, very difficult for
most the Irasville and Waitsfield Village areas. A
vast majority of the more than 150 properties within the proposed
service area are currently served by a well that is not
in compliance with the required isolation distances from their
own or neighboring on-site water or wastewater systems.
The Selectboard has identified this public health concern
as an "emergent
condition" that needs to be addressed.
A large number of rural Vermont communities have developed
community water systems for their village centers, including
Rochester, Bristol,
Bethel, and Cabot.
As a commercial center for the Mad River Valley, Irasville
and Waitsfield Village need a safe, reliable water supply
for residents, business owners, employees, students, and visitors
to the stores, library, school, and restaurants. |
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Proposed
Service Area
Although
Waitsfield Village and Irasville are the
primary areas
to be served by the municipal water, hookups will be
possible all along the transmission line, from Tremblay
Road and along Route 100.
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Benefits
Safe, proven, and reliable drinking water supply to
all connected users.
Firefighting capacity from new hydrant system.
School and other public buildings will comply with State
and Federal rules.
Capacity for building owners to install sprinkler systems.
Reduction in fire insurance premiums.
Potential to expand on-site wastewater capacity on properties
that currently use on-site water supply wells or springs.
Infrastructure needed to support Village
Growth Center; reduces pressure to grow in a "sprawl"
fashion.
Expansion of tax base, business retention, and potential
for modest growth in Irasville and Waitsfield Village.
Costs for construction and maintenance of the system
will be paid for only by the properties receiving a
direct benefit of water supply and/or fire protection.
The more users, the lower the cost per user. |
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Proposed
Improvements
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project is currently planned to include these major
components: |
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Water supply will come from a well that has been drilled
at Reed Road (off of Long Road), with an estimated yield
of 200 gallons per minute. This well is sufficient to
provide the projected future demands of the proposed
service area. |
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Approximately
7,000 linear feet of new 4-inch water transmission main
from the well to the proposed storage tank site (up
Reed Road, along Long Road, East Road, and Bushnell
Road to the Town-owned LeClair site, which is a former
gravel pit). |
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A
500,000 gallon covered storage tank and treatment control
building at the LeClair site. |
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Approximately
11,000 linear feet of new 12-inch transmission main
from the storage tank to North Road, along Tremblay
Road, and Route 100 to the Village service area; and
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Approximately
8,000 linear feet of water distribution mains (mostly
12-inch), fire hydrants, and service connections for
most properties in the Waitsfield and Irasville Villages. |
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Proposed
Service Connection Policies
The Selectboard
and Task Force have prepared the following guidance to help
residents and property owners understand their options and
responsibilities regarding public infrastructure.
| Basic
Principles and Assumptions |
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Connecting
to the system will be voluntary, except in a case where
a health hazard exists and the property owner in the
Service Area has no other viable means of correcting
the hazard. |
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The
Town will install water mains within the right-of-way
to as much of the service
area as practical; some areas may be deferred due
to funding limitations. |
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The Town
will install water service connections at its expense
to the edge of the right-of-way for all properties that
commit to service at the outset of the project. |
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There
may be circumstances where the public mains will require
an easement. |
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Property
owners will be responsible for the portion of pipes,
fittings, surface restoration, and plumbing connections
on their own property. |
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As part of the service connection fee, the Town will
install a water meter inside the building. If
a frost free location inside the building is unavailable,
the property owner will be responsible for installing
an external, below grade meter pit. |
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Installation of connection work on private property
will be done by pre-qualified contractors, will need
to meet strict specifications, be tested, and certified
acceptable by the Town. |
Connection
Package
Coming
soon!
Detailed
Project Costs
Once the
municipal water system is constructed, costs will include
yearly fixed and variable costs, as well as one-time costs
associated with connecting to the system. Go to www.waitsfieldvt.us/water/costs_march08.cfm
for detailed information about projected costs and anticipated
revenues.
Documents
& Links
(Documents
and outside links will open in a separate window)
Source
Evaluation Report for Reed Road Well, March
22, 2007 (Main
report: 34 pgs, 1,574 KB) 
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Transmittal
Letter (1 pg, 57 KB)
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Cover
& Table of Contents (3 pgs,
106 KB) |
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Sections
1.0 to 8.0 (30 pgs, 1,424 KB)
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Appendix
1 (44 pgs, 8,681 KB)
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Appendix
2 (52 pgs, 9,291 KB)
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Appendix
3 (50 pgs, 3,714 KB)
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Appendix
4 (26 pgs, 1,671 KB)
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Important Schedule Items
Citizens
are encouraged to be aware of and/or participate in
the following activities:
| January
31, 2008, Thurs. |
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Deadline
to return wastewater commitment
letters and qualify for discounted hook-up fee. |
| February
6, 2008, Weds., 7:30 p.m. |
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Call-in
program on MRVTV, 583-4488. |
| February
2008 |
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Review
Bulletin #3, which will focus on detailed cost
information and respond to questions that are
raised. |
| February
20, 2008, Weds., 7:30 p.m. |
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Attend a pre-bond vote public information meeting
at the Big Picture Theater. |
| February
25, 2008, Mon., 7:00 p.m. |
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Attend a pre-bond vote public information meeting
at the Elementary School. |
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27, 2008, Weds., 7:30 p.m. |
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Call-in
program on MRVTV, 583-4488. |
| March
4, 2008 |
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Vote
on Water and Wastewater Bond at Town Meeting. |
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2008 - 2009 |
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Secure
bond financing. |
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Secure
state and local permits. |
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Put
project out to bid; select contractor(s). |
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CONSTRUCTION! |
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Wellhead
Protection Plan for Reed Road Well, June 15,
2007(Full
document: 33 pgs, 4,620 KB)
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Contact
Valerie J. Capels, Town Administrator
Waitsfield Town Office
9 Bridge Street
Waitsfield, VT 05673
Phone: (802) 496-2218
Fax: (802) 496-9284
E-mail: 
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Updated
May 23, 2008
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Waitsfield's
Official Web Site
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VT 05673.
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