By Polly Lynn
posted
Sep 19, 2012
KILLINGTON-The Town of Killington is considering the feasibility
of a municipal town water system. It would be an expansion to SP
Land's proposed water system needed for their Phase II village
plans. "About a year and a half ago, Steve Selbo suggested that if
the Town ever wanted to consider a municipal water system, now
would be a good time as much of the infrastructure and planning
could be shared," explained Town Manager Seth Webb.
Whether or not there is a need for a municipal water system, now
or in the future, was the first phase of a water study conducted by
Aldrich + Elliott Engineers of Essex Junction, Vt. The engineers
identified sporadic water needs with limited interest based on the
current water supply sources (wells) and a survey of local need.
The town then requested more information regarding the feasibility
of partnering with SP Land- the second phase of the water
study.
On August 28, the Selectboard welcomed Joe Duncan and Nathan
Pion of AE Engineers to the town selectboard meeting to present
their second phase findings.
Duncan outlined the objectives, which included first,
understanding SP Land's proposed water system and the Town's water
requirements, and then what the needed alterations/expansions to SP
Land's water system would be in order to meet those
requirements.
Pion then reiterated that Phase I of SP Land's proposed water
system would utilize existing wells and that this would be
sufficient through at least 2014. However, if the Town was ever
interested in developing a municipal water system, there are
important steps to take while SP Land is developing their new water
system plans. SP Land's design plans are approximately 60-75%
complete, they reported.
The Valley Wells, located along the Sherburne Flats, are capable
of safe yields of 600-900 gpm daily, which is plenty sufficient for
the village and town needs, the engineers say. The estimated
construction costs for developing this new water system is $10-11
million.
If the town wanted an option to have a municipal water supply,
the necessary improvements to SP Land's infrastructure would cost
$1 million plus cost sharing components. The initial $1 million
includes an expansion to the Sports Hill Pump Station, preparations
to the tank site, and increasing the size of the Village
transmission main.
"The question in front of the board now is 'Do we want to have
the option for a municipal water supply?'" said Webb.
Once the initial adjustments and expansions were made to SP Land's
plans the town could add the infrastructure to service the town at
a later date, Webb says. The cost to service the town is estimated
to be another $4.5 million and would include a 750,000-gallon
storage tank, two vertical turbine pumps, a transmission main from
the Village to the Town, pressure reducing vaults and necessary
valves and appurtenances.
Based on these estimates it would cost the town approximately
$5.5 million plus cost sharing with SP Land to develop municipal
water. Some anticipated cost sharing components outlined by AE
Engineers included; wells, Sports Hill Pump Station and the
transmission main, but are not limited to these.
Duncan highlighted benefits, from a development standpoint, for
Killington to have a town water system noting that the delivery of
water may be a competitive issue along East Mountain Road and that
the new system would address quality and quantity issues throughout
the town and its projected build-out.
The Selectboard plans to meet with AE Engineers again in October
to review their completed technical report, which will likely have
more details about the assumptions on town water use and access as
well as comparisons with other municipalities. The next step will
be for the Town to discuss ownership, cost sharing and financing
with SP Land to better understand the true feasibility of building
a Killington municipal water system.
