Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Drinking Water topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Drinking Water Committee urges quick action to secure $3.6M PFAS funding for Bow Junction connection
Summary
The Drinking Water Protection Committee told selectmen the state offered up to $3.6 million to address PFAS contamination in the Bow Junction area — including a $1.5 million grant and $300,000 for emerging contaminants reported as fully forgivable — and recommended the town pursue the funding and a warrant article to commit.
Bow Town — The town’s Drinking Water Protection Committee reported Sept. 23 that a State Revolving Fund package totaling $3.6 million is available to address PFAS contamination in the Bow Junction area if the town moves quickly to pursue it.
Cindy Clemons, speaking for the committee, said the package includes a $1,500,000 grant tied to emerging‑contaminant criteria and an additional $300,000 described in the presentation as a 100% forgivable portion for PFAS response, leaving the balance as a low‑interest loan. “Essentially, we’re getting $1.8 million of free money because of the PFAS contamination in the area,” Clemons said.
The committee reported that 10 homes in the Bow Junction area make a new residential public water system eligible for funding, and recommended that the town approve pursuing the funds and place any required warrant article before voters. Clemons also urged the selectmen to include a thorough rate‑study in a consolidation grant application to assess impacts on wholesale and customer water rates.
The presentation also covered the committee’s concerns about proposals to extend municipal water northward, citing potential stagnation and water‑quality issues in the northern service area; the committee asked to be included in feasibility planning and cautioned that the study should analyze water‑age, source capacity and rate implications before committing to extensions.
What’s next: Committee members said the town must submit required applications soon and that any borrowing or loan terms would require voter approval via warrant article. Selectmen accepted the report and asked staff to coordinate next steps with regional partners and Concord.
