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Residents, engineers press for deeper review of Forest Road sewer work as E. coli persists in Jockey Cove
Summary
At a lengthy Board of Selectmen discussion, residents and a sewer system representative pushed for independent analysis, DNA testing and tighter oversight of a Forest Road sewer extension after recurring E. coli test results showed continued contamination despite a town-funded sewer project.
Derek Brown, a water-and-sewer system representative, told the Board of Selectmen on March 19 that recurring E. coli detections around Jockey Cove have continued despite a $1 million sewer line extension the town approved in 2023.
"Don't throw the money at the problem. Analyze what's going on," Brown said during a 45-minute presentation that reviewed testing locations, historical pumping records and a timeline of field work dating to 2021.
Brown urged the board to commission independent environmental testing — including DNA source-tracking — and to contract an environmental engineer to re-evaluate assumptions underlying the sewer extension design. He warned that several private connections remain incomplete and that the hydraulic behavior of the low‑pressure sewer system makes component uniformity critical to reliable operation.
The matter drew technical responses from town staff. Jim Peneo, Wolfeboro’s town manager, said the line was designed by Horizons, reviewed by New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and was examined by the town’s contracted sewer operator, Woodard & Curran. "We hired an engineering firm. This was not done in house," Peneo said.
Brown described a complex fact pattern at one property on Forest Road: a septic tank found disconnected from its distribution box in 2021, a capped tank later in 2023, and ongoing E. coli spikes in downstream test sites. He told the board five of 12 properties listed for hookup have connected to the new line so far and said one known failing system had been taken off the ground by the connection process.
Board members pressed for clearer next steps. Some members said the town should ask DES for a joint presentation, examine how the line extension integrates hydraulically with existing Sewell Road infrastructure, and require standardized inspections of private pump/tank equipment because private deviations can cause system-wide failures.
Brown recommended a three-part response: (1) standardize and expand bacterial testing (including DNA source tracking), (2) retain an independent environmental engineer to analyze monitoring results and design assumptions, and (3) require consistent equipment and inspection on private connections to protect the extension's performance.
Peneo told the board staff would coordinate with DES and the town’s contracted engineers to identify next steps.
The selectmen did not take a formal vote on new construction or bonds at the meeting; the discussion ended with directions to staff to follow up with engineers and DES and to schedule further updates.
