Lancaster staff report progress on Lead Service Line project; hydrovac testing set for June

Water/Wastewater Supervisor Timmy Bilodeau updated the Select Board on Lancaster’s Lead Service Line project on May 4, saying the town is moving deliberately to identify and verify remaining service-line materials and reduce unnecessary pavement cutting.

Bilodeau explained that the contract in place when meters were installed in 1996 did not obligate replacing galvanized lines, and he pushed back against what he described as misinformation that plumbers were prohibited from using any fittings that contained lead at that time. He said the team will use VIC forms to investigate outstanding unknowns and plans to verify 20% of properties toward the end of the project.

Bilodeau outlined an operational schedule: Hydrovac work is planned for the second through fourth weeks of June with a goal of roughly 10 services per day; for the first round he intends to test services not in the DOT right-of-way to avoid cutting pavement. He said both NHDES and Hazen have commended Lancaster’s approach, calling Lancaster "the most proactive community with this project." He also noted ongoing lagoon aerator issues and that one filter bed is being dried of sand with another planned for the fall.

The update included routine water-system items: preparing to flush hydrants in May and June and coordination with staff who narrowed the list of properties for inspection. Bilodeau and Highway Foreman Tim Brown will continue coordination on field work and verification steps.

Board members thanked staff for their work and asked that verification and testing continue with attention to minimizing pavement cuts and local disruption. The Select Board plans to review water and sewer rates at a future work session.