2004 Year in Review

The Walpole Water Department had a quiet year in 2004. We were lucky enough to have relatively minor leaks in the system that were easily fixed. We had a few large scale projects that were completed in 2004.

During summer we spent many hours at the old reservoir repairing damage from heavy rains in 2003. The reservoir, constructed in 1904, was disconnected from the water system in 1969. The old galvanized spillway had rusted through and washed out a section of the dam. We repaired the earthen section of the dam and constructed a new concrete spillway. These repairs should ensure the safety of the dam for years to come

During the summer of 2004 we also worked hard to update and add valves on Main Street. We plan to replace the water mains under Main Street from Elm Street to Prospect Hill in 2004 while the street is being re-paved. The installation and repair of these valves will allow us to minimally impact water usage while this work is completed.

We are also looking into new control systems to tie all of our facilities together. This will allow us to more easily monitor the system and respond to problems faster.

Walpole Water completed the Source Water Protection Plan in 2003; a copy of this is available to anyone interested at the Selectmen’s office.

Once again, we thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to make the water system better for everyone.

WHERE DOES YOUR WATER COME FROM?

Your water comes from two gravel packed wells. Well #1, known as the Watkins Hill Well, is located along Watkins Hill Road adjacent to Great Brook. This well, installed in 1950, is 35 feet deep and provides 150 GPM. This pump runs 24 hours a day 365 days a year, and is the main source of water to the town. Well #2, known as the River Well, is located behind Pinnacleview Equipment, about 200 yards from the Connecticut River. This well, constructed in 1964, is capable of providing 375+ GPM. This well is used to supplement the Watkins Hill well, and in case of high usage for fire suppression. Water from these two wells is stored in a 350,000-gallon below-grade storage tank on Prospect Hill.

The water main system is flushed twice a year, in spring and fall. Notice of flushing is posted on the bulletin board outside Burdick Chocolates café, in the Bellows Falls Town Crier, and in the Keene Sentinel. These notices will appear one week prior to flushing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. We can be reached through the Selectman’s office at 756-3672.

Walpole Reservoir

Abbreviations: ppt: parts per trillion • ppb: parts per billion • ppm: parts per million or • n/a: not applicable • NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit • MFL: million fibers per liter • nd: not detectable at testing limits. TEST RESULTS
Contaminant	Violation Y/N	Level Detected/ Range of Detection	Unit Meas.	MCLG	MCL	Likely Source of Contamination
River Well Data
Radioactive Contaminants
Radon	No	960	pCi/L	none	none	Decay of natural elements.
Inorganic Contaminants
Fluoride	No	<.20	Ppm	4	4	Erosion of natural deposits.
Nitrate (as Nitrogen)	No	3.98	Ppm	10	10	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Nitrite (as Nitrogen)	No	<.05	Ppb	5	1	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Watkins Hill Data
Radioactive Contaminants
Radon	No	880	pCi/L	none	none	Decay of natural elements
Inorganic Contaminants
Fluoride	No	<.20	Ppm	4	4	Erosion from natural deposits.
Nitrate (as Nitrogen)	No	1.57	Ppm	10	10	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Nitrite (as Nitrogen)	No	<.05	Ppm	1	1	Corrosion of galvanized pipes, erosion of natural deposits, discharge from metal refineries,run off from waste batteries and paint Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

Definitions: MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, or the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. • MCLs: The highest level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. They are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology • AL: Action Level, or the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. • TT: Treatment Technique, or a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.