Merrimack council votes to support low-salt route near town wells

The Merrimack Town Council voted 6-0 Thursday to support a Merrimack Village District request asking the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to designate a low- or limited-salt winter maintenance route on Industrial Drive and Continental Boulevard to protect the town’s wellhead protection area.

Councilors moved to reissue a letter on town letterhead asking DOT to limit or reduce sodium chloride application from the Exit 10 area on the Daniel Webster Highway southbound onto Industrial Drive, continuing south on Continental Boulevard to where Continental Boulevard meets Milford Road. The council approved the motion as presented. Motion made by Councilor Nancy Murphy and seconded by Councilor Jennifer Jovan. Vote: 6-0-0.

The request stems from concerns by the Merrimack Village District (MVD) that road salt applications are contributing to elevated chloride levels in the local aquifer. Town officials said past sampling and MVD monitoring showed contamination at wells referenced in the discussion; speakers identified Well 3 and more recently brought Well 9 and Well 2 into the conversation as sites of concern. Town staff and MVD told the council the DOT asked that the town submit a clear request on town letterhead before DOT would schedule a follow-up meeting to explain maintenance changes.

"This is so important. I think it's really important for people in the community to understand why we sort of get really upset about these sodium chloride levels," Councilor Nancy Murphy said during debate. "Not only...is there a cost to people who are MVD customers...but the bigger issue is public health. Cardiac issues, elevated blood pressure, and those kinds of things were associated with what's happening on our water supply."

Ron Miner, superintendent for the Merrimack Village District, said MVD staff drive the area to monitor sites with site-plan salt restrictions and send letters to businesses that appear to be using salt in violation of their approvals. Councilors asked about enforcement; staff said the town issues cease-and-desist letters for violations and can escalate to fines or court action if businesses do not comply within the stated notice period.

Council discussion also noted that some private properties and sites already have low- or no-salt requirements in their site plans, and that the town and MVD continue outreach to property owners. Town staff said other nearby communities have raised similar concerns about DOT salt use affecting drinking water supplies.

The council signed the letter at the meeting and staff said DOT will be asked to meet with the council to outline what a maintenance change would mean for roadway operations in the area.

Ending: Councilors and MVD staff said the next step is a DOT meeting once the town's request is on DOT records; the council did not set a follow-up deadline at the meeting.