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Water company seeks $1.1 million to connect systems
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON, N.H. — The Hampstead Area Water Co. plans to connect its major systems and will increase its rates in order to do so.
The water company applied for a $1.1 million loan in June to connect Atkinson's water system with the company's Hampstead system, according to general manager Harold Morse. If the loan is awarded, 15,000 feet of pipe would be laid between the two towns along Route 121 next summer, he said.
The low-rate interest loan, 3.49 percent, would come from the State Revolving Loan Fund for drinking water, which is governed by the state Department of Environmental Services. It's the water company's second active application with that department.
The other is a large groundwater withdrawal application to take an additional 100,800 gallons a day from Atkinson. That application led residents to enact a water withdrawal ordinance in September 2007. A second Special Town Meeting, scheduled for Sept. 9, has issues related to water withdrawal on the ballot.
The deliberative session for next month's Special Town Meeting was held the day before the water company notified residents of the loan application.
The water company just drilled five new wells to accommodate the proposed groundwater withdrawal increase. Residents at a public hearing with DES in May expressed concern their own wells could go dry over the 15 years the water company proposes increasing its pumping.
State officials told those people they would have to work out a solution with the company, whether it be for Hampstead Area Water Co. to pay to drill homeowners new wells or to install hookups to the community water system. In that case, residents would have to start paying for water.
Morse said yesterday the interconnection of the two major systems has nothing to do with the application for large groundwater withdrawal. The interconnection is a safety feature for the company's current customers, he said.
The company will take out the 20-year loan to pay for 75 percent of the project, and a state grant will pay for the other 25 percent, Morse said.
"There's a grant out there encouraging these connections," he said. "We couldn't afford to do it on our own, so the state will pay 25 percent. That's how important they think it is."
Morse said all customers will see a 3.48 percent raise — 32 cents per 100 cubic feet — in their bills after the work is completed. Based on annual consumption rates, that's an average increase of $7.04 a quarter, he said.
The loan application must be considered by Gov. John Lynch before the money can be awarded, DES spokesman Jim Martin said.
The state Public Utilities Commission also has to approve the funding, according to Mark Naylor, director of the Gas and Water Division. A prehearing conference has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 3 in Concord. The public is allowed to attend.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
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From
Groundwater Protection: What Can Municipalities Do?
NHDES Watershed Conference
November 13, 2004
Cordell Johnston, Government Affairs Attorney
Local Government Center/New Hampshire Municipal Association
----------
The Nature of Municipal Authority
New Hampshire is not a “home rule” state. Cities and towns in New Hampshire
are political subdivisions of the state; as such, they have only the powers granted to them
by the state legislature. In the absence of legislative authority, municipalities would not
have the power to do anything at all. Thus, before local officials take any action to
regulate or protect groundwater or other water resources, they need to make sure they
understand the statutory source for their authority to do so.
----------
Groundwater withdrawals. No “person” (including a municipality) may withdraw
57,600 gallons or more of water per day without DES approval. The state has exclusive
authority over such withdrawals. (Through the site plan review process, the municipality
may regulate other aspects of the project, but approval of the water withdrawal itself is
exclusively up to the state.)
However, the state permitting process (RSA 485-C:21) requires applicants to send
copies of the application to the governing body of each municipality within the zone of
contribution to the well. The governing body has 15 days to request a public hearing. If
no municipality requests a hearing, none is required.
If a hearing is requested, DES must hold one within 30 days after the request.
The governing body of each municipality within the zone of contribution may submit
written comments up to 45 days after the hearing (or, if no hearing is requested, 45 days
after receipt of the application). If the written comments make recommendations, DES
must specifically consider and address each recommendation.
So, if a municipality has concerns about a large groundwater withdrawal, it is
essential that it request a hearing, and it’s a very good idea to submit recommendations if
the town has any. An affected municipality has a right to appeal to superior court if it is
unhappy with the DES decision, but it obviously cannot do that if it hasn’t requested a
hearing in the first place. And if it fails to make specific recommendations to DES, it
may be deemed to have waived its arguments. In any event, there will be a clearer record
for appeal if recommendations are submitted in writing.
How is it the report of this loan comes out a day after our town meeting? The Water company hid this information before our meeting on purpose. How can you trust a company that does not tell the whole and real truth? You can't, and you shouldnt. Also take note that everyone keeps talking about Atkinson water is going to stay in Atkinson, well here you have the HAWC trying to link Hampstead to Atkinson. Oh and what other towns will get hooked up next? In my opinion, there will be more in the future. Our Atkinson water is in jepordy of being Salems, Kingstons, Chesters, Newtons, etc....You name it. This reminds me of a quote from a Mel Brooks movie "We aren't doing this for the money....We are doing it for a shitload of money!"
Money is what it's all about. HAWC/Lewis has a shit load of it and they can't seem to get enough. So, what do we have so far:
1: A large water withdrawal request with wells that can draw a staggering amount of water per day, 617,760 gallons per day to be exact.
2: A public presentation by HAWC (last May) largely filled with content nobody could understand.
3: A statement by Harold Morse at that meeting that none of this water will leave Atkinson.
4: When asked why they need so much water, Harold won't answer.
5: Lots of stuff in between
6: A request to the PUC to construct a pipeline hooking up the Atkinson and Hampstead water systems. So much for the water not leaving Atkinson. Don't think so? Why do they want to pump so much water in Atkinson. Don't see any new wells going into Hampstead do you? Harold caught in a lie.
7: To pay for this pipeline HAWC is asking for a low interest loan from the state (our money) and plans a rate increase for their customers to pay for it. If I were a HAWC customer I'd be screaming bloody murder right now.
8: The pipeline is also intended to increase their franchise (and maybe supply water, for a fee, to some of those whose wells they sucked dry). More profit for HAWC and their customers and the people of NH are paying for it.
9: A planning board with Harold Morse as a member, and a majority of the rest willing to let HAWC/Lewis do most anything they want.
10: Another PB member who seems to think we live atop a lake that can never go dry. No lake and no facts to back his claim.
11: I could do this all night.
There is this attitude by many in town that Peter Lewis was a really great guy who did a lot for this community. Well, ask yourself, what did he do? Built a lot houses, and a water company to supply them. Sat on a few boards, helped some with the current library, built this wonderful country club (to make a profit), helped out some friends, and, wait, I got nothing. Anything in this town named after Lewis other than Lewis Builders? Not that I've seen. Mr. Lewis is gone, may God rest his soul. Sorry to speak ill of the departed and I apologize. Now we're talking about his children and nothing has changed.
All I see is take, take, take. And now they have the nerve to ask for public money to expand, to make more money. Why, because they think they can get away with it, and make more money.
Maybe someone needs to ask Harold Morse why his family needs to jeopardize the water supply of our town even though his family owns one of the largest construction companys in So. NH, East Coast Lumber, and Hampstead Water Company. Why Mr. Morse, do you need to bleed your towns aquifer to fill your bank account? Don't you make enough money now?
This is the Harold Morse that tried to get elected to the Board of Selectman so that he could rule the town from the top; does this family have any shame?
A sense of shame and the concept of "Doing the Right Thing" is in short, short supply in this town.
We have a chief of police whose behavior, though always odd, seems to get worse by the day. Calling an Asst. Atty General a lier, when it can be proven he's the one that has been lying, smacks of arrogance. And this little stunt of staring down drivers. I've run out of words to describe this man.
A company that has profited very well from Atkinson, wants more, and has given very little back. Sorry, the Country Club does not even remotely fit into this category. How many seniors can afford to have meals there on a regular basis?
A PB whose allegiance can be called into question.
A BOS with all the backbone of a snail.
A member of the Conflict of Interest committee who seems to have difficulty speaking the truth.
Now, not all is bad. Why do you think we never hear about the Fire Dept.? Because they act as true professionals, even though they are all volunteers. They do their job, and very effectively.
With that aside, it just boggles the mind that we can have all this in such a small town.
From DES FAQ re Large Ground Water Withdrawal Permitting
36) What control or authority do local governments have regarding the proposed large
groundwater withdrawal?
State law (RSA 485-C:20 Effect on Local Ordinances) states the following:
“Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to preempt the authority of municipalities, under other
statutes, to enact local ordinances or regulations affecting groundwater, other than groundwater withdrawals;
provided, however, that requirements imposed under this chapter shall be considered as minimum.”
This law provides DES with the sole authority to regulate groundwater withdrawals, however other
aspects of the project such as land use zoning are regulated at the local level. It should be noted that since
the large groundwater withdrawal permitting program was established in 1998, the majority of all new
large groundwater withdrawal permit applications associated with bottled water or golf courses have
required significant zoning variances from the local government.
The only instance where an applicant may not need to comply with local ordinances or zoning is
when a public utility proposes a new project. A public utility which uses or proposes to use a structure
which does not comply with local zoning or ordinances, may petition the public utilities commission
pursuant to RSA 674:30, III to be exempted from the operation of any local ordinance, code, or regulation.
The public utilities commission, following a public hearing, may grant such an exemption if it
decides that the present or proposed situation of the structure in question is reasonably necessary for the
convenience or welfare of the public and, if the purpose of the structure relates to water supply withdrawal,
the exemption is recommended by the department of environmental services.
In response to Atkinson-Factor August 18, 2008 7:31 PM
How is it that the letter for a price increase and hooking up Atkinson to Hampstead by water company came out THE DAY AFTER the town meeting?
ANSWER: Planning Board, BOS, etc. planned it that way. Dates and timing are everything. The truth is in the details. (Problem with not having "Home Rule".
The public isn't watching what our trusted "Powers that are" are doing. Public certainly isn't watching dates on issues that they don't know about. "Powers that ARE" know that.
Shame on Atkinson Taxpayers for not watching what the BOS are doing to us.
It's our fault that the BOS can rape us for not paying attention. It's BOS's fault for furthering the issues of the businessmen in town, at our expense.
THE BOS AND THEIR CRONIES are not working for us. They are working to line their own pockets.
Anyone take the time to see if the BOS and the rest of the "powers that are" are paying for their food/drinks at the Country Club after Selectmen's meetings?
It's time to set up a committee that can follow each and every one of them. Where they go, what they do, whom they are doing it with and if it's all FREE to them. No one would work for $3000 a year, and not be "on the take".
Not this BOS, that is. Only HONEST PEOPLE would be willing do that. This BOS is not honest.
In response to August 19, 2008 9:39 AM regarding your statement:
“Now, not all is bad. Why do you think we never hear about the Fire Dept”.? Because they act as true professionals, even though they are all volunteers. They do their job, and very effectively.
We remember talking to the Chief of the FD, asking for his support. His reply was: "I have to work with these people, so I can't get involved". “What I do behind the voting curtain, is what I really feel, and they (BOS) don't know what I'm doing”.
So how did Chief Murphy vote? We will never know.
If his allegiance is to the "Powers that are" that give him his funding,where does his allegiance lay?
Mike, if you don’t vote your convictions, then you are part of the problem. We know your dept. does the best during a fire and we appreciate it, but if you vote your funding……………..we've lost faith in you.
Unfortunately, Chief Murphy has a point. There is saying, "You don't s**t where you sleep." Not saying it is right, but I understand it.
However, it is not Chief Murphy's responsibility to deal with Phil, any more than it is Teddy's, the town clerk, the head librarian, etc. It is the BOS who must take responsibility for Phil's actions and deal with them accordingly.
Unless a majority of town employees and volunteers organize a vote of no confidence, it is unlikely that any single one of them will take the chief on. With the chief's history of harassment, retribution, and short temper, it is no wonder he has gotten away with his antics for all these years.
It takes a TOWN to manage a TOWN, especially when our BOS cowtoes to the Chief! It's time for the TOWN (not bos) to take charge! OUT with the bos, and LONG LIVE THE TOWN PEOPLE THAT TAKE IT OVER!. It's time for the bos, chief, polito, pb, zba, etc to GO!
LONGE LIVE THE TOWN OF ATKINSON without the political hacks.
Midpoint Wells illegal???
Browsing around the town web site I came across the August 6 minutes of the Planning Board. Below is an excerpt"
"Discussion: Ms. Killam opened the topic of the Longchamp complaint letter that had been forwarded to the Planning Board from the Selectmen in July. Members had reviewed the letter during the past 2 weeks. Ms. Killam passed around a highlighted set of 1997 Minutes of Planning Board meetings where the Centerview Hollow project was reviewed and approved. She pointed out the times that water supply was discussed with regard to that project. Discussion ensued, with the Chairman trying to keep the comments focused on the review of what was approved in 1997. It was agreed that the 1997 plan did not contain any provisions for drilling wells or erecting a pump house for that project. The members proceeded to put the final touches on a memo to the Selectmen that Ms. Killam had drafted, and it was agreed to forward that memo to advise the Selectmen of the Planning Board opinion that the 1997 approval for Centerview Hollow did not include provisions for wells etc."
The area behind Centerview Hollow is the location of the HAWC Midpoint well site. It would appear the existing wells, and the new well, were put in with the necessary local approvals for the site.
What's going on here? Did Lewis build Centerview Hollow, but not mention to the PB he was going to turn it into a major water source for HAWC. Have they done this elsewhere?
Yes, yes, I know, the DES controls large water withdrawal permits. But you can't just pick any old site you want and start digging. If you tell the PB you're going to do one thing, and then you do another, that would be called a violation, would it not?
"The area behind Centerview Hollow is the location of the HAWC Midpoint well site. It would appear the existing wells, and the new well, were put in with the necessary local approvals for the site.
"
Typed too fast. I meant "without" the necessary approvals.
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