Board accepts $60,000 DES grant for lead service‑line inventory and approves $10,000 engineering contract

The Manchester Board of Water Commissioners on Sept. 25 approved accepting a New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services grant for $60,000 to support completion of the city’s lead service‑line inventory and to fund associated outreach and field work.

Commissioner Tremblay moved the grant acceptance and authorization that the director execute any required documents; Commissioner Brown seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote. As part of the same action the board approved a $10,000 task contract with Weston & Sampson to perform two task items described in the staff packet: outreach/mailing support and field services to document service‑line materials.

Staff described the inventory work as required under state and federal lead‑and‑copper rules: Manchester must complete the inventory by 2027 and would then have a ten‑year timeline to replace any identified lead service lines. Staff said the city previously identified approximately 10,800 services and had completed about 60 percent of initial inventory work; the DES grant will fund mailings, door‑to‑door verification and contractor management. No matching funds were required for the DES grant, staff said.

The board was told a $300,000 loan previously approved by the board is available for replacements and that much of the program funding is grant‑forgiveness eligible; staff urged prompt execution because grant reimbursement rules generally cover costs only after a grant award begins. The motion to accept the grant and contract passed on an affirmative voice vote.