By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
May 08, 2008 06:01 am ATKINSON — In 18 months, Hampstead Area Water Co. could turn on the pumps at its five new wells in the Walnut Ridge water system if it receives a permit. But it will take 15 years for the company to increase its production by about 100,800 gallons per day — or 70 gallons per minute — and none of that additional water will be pumped into another town, according to President Harold Morse. The water company, represented by the geohydrological firm Emery & Garrett Groundwater Inc., shared details of its large groundwater withdrawal application at a public hearing last night. The proposal is similar to a withdrawal request denied last year because it was incomplete. About 75 people attended, and many asked questions about the water company's plan to expand its operation, including Bill Bennett of Summit Drive, who had numerous concerns. He said he is an engineer and that the data presented was abridged and meant to confuse people. "It seems like someone's trying to put something over on us," Bennett said. "Any water company would love to pump water out from under our feet and sell it back to us." Representatives from the state Department of Environmental Services, which must rule on the application after the 45-day comment period ends, were present to answer questions. That period began yesterday. Hampstead Area Water Co. provides water to 11 communities and has its core systems in Atkinson and Hampstead, according to company Planner Charlie Lanza. It provides water for 40 percent of the town's population, he said. The water company is required by law to have an adequate source of water for its customers. Lanza said they now have 13 wells in town. Two additional wells have been shut down, and in 2006 the company determined it was necessary to increase its sources. It has drilled five new wells, each 400 to 600 feet deep. Two are at Settlers' Ridge, one at Midpoint and two at Fieldstone, according to engineer John Brooks. The Fieldstone wells are near the golf course and all the wells are in the Spicket River watershed. Preliminary tests have already been done on those wells, and Brooks presented technical data for about an hour. Some of the 75-person crowd started yelling and jeering when Brooks then handed the microphone over to another engineer instead of turning it over to the public. When residents finally got to speak, Bennett said one of his concerns was that water from wells drilled 400 feet deep would take a long time to replenish. Bennett, who lives about a mile from the well fields, said he thinks he would have trouble in the future proving that a problem with his well was connected to this project. Sue Killam, chairman of the Planning Board, asked the question she said most residents are concerned about. She wanted to know how much more water the company would withdraw in Atkinson if it received the permit. The company currently pumps 180 gallons per minute, and expects to increase that to up to 257 gallons per minute in the next 15 years, Emery said. That's with an estimated 395 new customers over that time period. By state law, the applicant must offer to monitor wells within 1,000 feet of the new well sites and at an unspecified number of other wells in a larger radius. James Emery, another engineer for Emery & Garrett Groundwater, said they plan to offer monitoring for a 2,000-foot radius, plus for the wells at the Bittersweet subdivision and Wright Farms condominiums. DES spokesman Stephen Roy said the state will monitor the testing as well to ensure its done as specified in the company's application. If the new wells affect the public's wells, the resident and the company will have to work out a solution, Roy said. The company would have to pay to drill a new well or to install hookups to the community water system. If the hookup is chosen, the homeowner will have to start paying for water. The engineering company will conduct a seven-day pump test, and pump 350 gallons per minute, which is much more than the company would ever need to do, Emery said. The firm would monitor private wells for seven days before and seven days after the test. Resident Carol Grant said Midpoint is the largest watershed in Atkinson and protected by the town's master plan. Roy said it would be monitored because the company must prove the new wells don't adversely affect the environment and other private wells. There was one lone supporter from the community at the meeting, Steve Woodworth of Kelly Lane. He said 55 fire hydrants in town are hooked up to the water company. Nineteen large groundwater withdrawal permits have been issued statewide, and 10 of those are held by community water sources. Two applications have been denied and four or five others were withdrawn, Roy said. The test period may seem short, but with paperwork and any necessary adjustments, the Hampstead Area Water Co. would not get a permit to turn on the new pumps for about 18 months.
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