Peter Nourse, Rochester, New Hampshire’s Director of City Services, gathered with City officials and state representatives on October 17th to celebrate completion of a major water infrastructure improvement project for the City. The City, with assistance from grant funding and low interest loans, invested $13.5 million over the course of the last six years to extend clean drinking water service to City residents along NH Route 202A. This project involved installation of over 20,000 linear feet of water main and erection of the tallest glass fused to steel elevated water storage tank in New Hampshire in support of improving water quality and supply in the community.
Historically poor water quality in private wells along Route 202A and adjacent City streets drove the need for this project. Testing of these private wells indicated high concentrations of contaminants including manganese at levels 15 times greater and iron at levels 60 times greater than recommended. Part of the project area had previously identified Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline related contaminant, in private water supplies. At the time of design these homes relied on expensive, state-maintained point of use water treatment systems. In addition to water quality issues, private well supply in the project area was significantly limited during recent statewide seasonal drought conditions. The City took action and worked with the engineering firm Wright-Pierce to develop a multi-point plan to address the need for clean, reliable drinking water. The project included construction of an elevated storage tank as well as new water main along NH Route 202A, Winkley Farm Drive, Bickford Road, and Fiddlehead Lane.
The City made it a priority to source funding for the projects so that the financial burden wouldn’t be solely on the community. They were successful in securing $3.3 million in grants from the MTBE Settlement Fund; $5.4 million in grants and $1.3 million in low interest loans from the State of New Hampshire Drinking Water Groundwater Trust Fund; and $3.5 million in City Contributions. Over 64% of the project was paid for using grants.
Director Nourse commented during the event, “Rochester continuously seeks to improve and expand its drinking water infrastructure to provide our residents with the very best quality drinking water and accommodate the growth that we welcome.” He added, “I look forward to the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund Advisory Committee, the Department of Environmental Services, and City staff continuing a relationship towards achieving our drinking water goals.”
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