Selectmen continue outdoor water ban as town faces sewer capacity questions and $4.5M project estimate

The Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen voted unanimously May 6 to continue outdoor water‑use restrictions after the director of public works said Beach Pond’s level is down about 24 inches and the town should limit outdoor uses for municipal water customers.

Steve Randall, director of public works, presented the restriction language — which prohibits lawn/landscape irrigation, automatic sprinklers, filling pools and washing impervious surfaces for customers on the municipal system — and said the restriction excludes private wells and recycled‑water commercial car washes. Randall told the board the measure is precautionary while monitoring continues; the motion to continue the prohibition passed 5‑0.

Randall and Stantec consultants also briefed the board on sewer‑system work. Randall described the town’s ability to dispose of effluent as about 92%, while elsewhere he noted the plant’s processing capacity is running at roughly 52%; the board recorded both figures in the same discussion and staff said further technical clarifications will be provided. Randall said a downtown sewer project design is about 90–95% complete and estimated construction costs around $4.5 million, but indicated state approvals and funding timing remain uncertain.

Regarding an apparent discharge near Town Docks, Randall reported hydro‑excavation and capping of a suspect drain pipe and said the town will undertake periodic outfall and groundwater sampling. Board members cited a UNH Water Quality Analysis Lab report showing no fecal coliform in samples taken at the Town Docks; Mr. Deshaies said low nitrogen results in those samples were more consistent with wildlife or localized contamination than human sewage, though the source has not been definitively identified.

The board directed staff to continue monitoring, finalize capacity study details, and report back on funding options and any grant opportunities.