To help make the necessary changes, Mountain Water Company has been offered $290,000 in funding from the state of Vermont's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program. The money will go towards improving the system and correcting deficiencies which have caused the company to operate under a temporary permit.
"The state decided that private water systems were not eligible for stimulus money," said Elizabeth Walker, utilities manager of Mountain Water Company. Although Sugarbush did not receive stimulus money, it did benefit from it. Many companies that had been of higher priority for finances from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund were taken off the list.
"Every water system needs to be upgraded," said Susan Martin of the Vermont Public Service Department. "Mountain Water is looking at certain deficiencies. This money will help them."
"Over time, things break," said Walker. "Some of our infrastructure is beyond its useful life." The original water system is 40 years old. Money from the loan is hoped to put Mountain Water Company in full compliance with the state's Water Supply Rule.
The corrosive nature of the water has resulted in a problem with lead. While corrosion control is installed at three source locations, it is yet to be installed at a fourth well location, explained Walker.
NON-CORROSIVE WATER
Water companies are responsible for providing non-corrosive water. "The chemistry has not been easy because we're dealing with many different sources, being ground water and surface water," Walker said. Lead is a non-acute contaminant, meaning that it is harmful as it accumulates.
The loan will be repaid over 20 years at an interest rate of 3 percent. The Mountain Water Company has proposed a user charge of $7.42 per connection per quarter.
Part of the loan money will go towards replacing an 11,000-gallon steel storage tank. Approximately 40 years old, it has been weakened by pitting, corrosion and fatigue of steel with no protective coating. The replacement will be made of concrete.
Telemetry that operates pumping facilities will be upgraded to improve control of source pumping. Current equipment will be replaced with more reliable equipment, most likely radio telemetry.
New state regulations required the replacement of water mains or hydrants. Mains must be upgraded to eight inches, or fire hydrants on undersized mains will need to be replaced with flushing hydrants. The Mountain Water Company will prioritize the replacement of mains with a history of breaking. All new mains will be eight inches.
RADIO METER READING
One-fifth of the water meters will be tested and replaced if necessary to improve the accuracy of the system. The reading system will be upgraded to a radio meter reading device. Information will be accessible to Mountain Water Company more easily, so they will be able to respond to problems more quickly and efficiently.
The Mountain Water Company filed a petition with the Vermont Public Service Board for approval of the loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund on June 19. The board has 45 days to either approve or disapprove.
"We certainly support the water system being upgraded," said Martin. "This is a great opportunity, at 3 percent interest."
Mountain Water Company will hold a meeting for customers on August 1 at the Sugarbush Conference Center to answer questions.
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