Plymouth Village Water & Sewer district approves multi-million-dollar infrastructure package; rates could rise as projects proceed

Plymouth Village Water and Sewer District voters on March 13 approved a slate of warrant articles authorizing bond and grant-backed spending for water and wastewater projects, including $6.3 million for water-main work, a $7 million replacement of a low‑service water storage tank and multi‑million upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant.

District Director of Operations Jason Randall told the meeting the projects target chronically failing cast‑iron mains, an aging 1972 concrete tank and obsolete plant equipment. “This tank was built in 1972,” Randall said in describing the reservoir structure; on aging mains he said the district has “15 water main breaks” on one corridor and has found “potential for lead service connections” on others. Randall outlined funding mixes that rely on state revolving funds (SRF), loans, grants including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and federal programs such as the Northern Borders Regional Commission and Homeland Security grant opportunities.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the work is intended to reduce emergency breaks, restore reliable firefighting capacity and bring aging infrastructure into current standards. The district serves about 1,100 service connections and maintains roughly 27 miles of distribution mains, Randall said, and some projects coordinate with the Town of Plymouth’s roadway work to avoid repeated digs.

Key votes and funding details - Article 2 — Water main and street work (Highland Street, Reservoir Road, Emerson Street): voters authorized raising and appropriating $6,300,000 and issuance of bonds or notes in accordance with the Municipal Finance Act, RSA 33; the appropriation includes authority to accept unanticipated…