Atkinson Residents concerned their wells will run dry

From the Eagle Tribune;

Residents concerned their wells will run dry Water company says pumping will have little impact
By Eric Parry
eparrry@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Some residents last night expressed fear their private water wells will go dry if the Hampstead Area Water Co. gets permission from the state to operate pumps at two new well sites.

But an engineer said tests indicated there would be little impact on the residential wells.

The water company submitted its final report to the state in March that calls for a 46 percent drop in usage from its initial proposal submitted last year. The first proposal was for 648,000 gallons per day, but this latest proposal is for 348,800 gallons a day.

One reason for the drop is that the latest proposal only has two well sites instead of three. There are two pumps at each well site.

The water company, represented by the geohydrological firm Emery & Garrett Groundwater Inc., presented its plans to about 30 residents at a public hearing last night.

It was the second hearing in the permitting process. The first hearing was last May before any test pumping was done.

Hampstead Area Water Co. President Harold Morse said the new wells would improve the company's water system in Atkinson that serves between 30 percent and 40 percent of the community.

He said it also would allow for more customers to hook up to the system if they wanted.

Engineer John Brooks said the two well sites, Fieldstone and Settlers Ridge, were tested for eight days at levels well above the levels that would be pumped if the plans were approved.

During the testing, Hampstead Area Water Co. also monitored some of its existing wells and residential wells in the area, Brooks said.

Only two residential wells close to the Fieldstone site showed minor effects from the pumping, Brooks said.

But residents said they were still concerned their wells would run dry.

If the new wells affect the private wells, the resident and the company will have to work out a solution, said Derek Bennett, manager of the water conservation division. That solution could mean the company would pay for a new well or a hookup to the water system. The resident would then have to pay for the water.

In the past, new large groundwater withdrawals permitted by the state have had little effect on private wells, Bennett said.

If the permit is accepted, the water company would have to adhere to a water conservation plan, which it currently does not have.

Only four residents spoke during the public comment section of the meeting, with three of them saying they were skeptical of the plans.

Resident John Wolters said he didn't understand why the company needed to withdraw so much water when only 40 new customers have hooked up to the system in the last five years.

Last night's hearing wasn't the last opportunity for the public to comment.

Residents have until June 15 to send DES comments. They will then publish a letter with the comments and the decision will come some time after that.