Emerytown council hears detailed water task force update, seeks short-term funding for secondary supply

Emerytown council received an extended update on the town’s Water Task Force at its June 10 meeting, where the chair outlined recent drinking-water tests, efforts to revive wells and plans for a secondary water supply to reduce the risk of winter shortages.

The chair (S1) said the task force is meeting weekly, that drinking-water samples were taken again the morning of the meeting and that permits needed to move a secondary (nonpotable) system forward have been filed. “There is money available to make it drinkable,” the chair said, and added the council is trying to avoid a short-term fix that would quickly fail. The chair said the town is searching for a surge tank and that work to tie in secondary water could be done within “a week to 10 days, maybe not 2 weeks tops.”

Why it matters: Town leaders said they want a reliable backup if snow or rain do not replenish wells. The chair described contingency planning that could include hauling water — estimating that worst-case hauling needs could reach “over 2 to 3,000,000 gallons” in a month, which the chair said would be roughly 6,500 loads and therefore difficult to sustain.

Council member (S3) addressed possible upstream diversions and water rights, saying operators have water rights and that some parties “transferred their rights” and shares through the division-of-water-rights process to move water from the Muddy and Pudginapa. He said that process was completed administratively, which raised follow-up questions about monitoring and policing actual pumping volumes.

The chair said the town is coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service on upstream storage work and that a federal reservoir remains a long-term option — “probably realistically 4 to 5 years out” before any ground-breaking could occur. The chair named Celeste Malloy and Joan Curtis’ offices as current contacts helping to speed planning and funding.

Officials estimated short-term expenditures to make the secondary system operational: the chair said roughly $50,000 would likely be needed for pumps and related hardware, and set a personal goal of advancing key steps within 30 days while tests and permitting continue.

Council members and staff also described other mitigation ideas under consideration, including reverse flows on an existing pipeline to move water from a mine area and staged water turns through the town if broad connections are not immediately possible. One participant noted exploration drilling at a nearby coal mine and said the mine had not yet applied for permits; council members said they will continue to monitor any activity that could affect supplies.

Next steps: The town awaits additional laboratory results from the most recent drinking-water sample and said staff will continue permit, procurement and funding work while the task force advances tie-in plans. Council members indicated they will pursue short-term funding and keep the public updated as tests and logistics clarify the path forward.