Waterford board approves contract to replace plastic residential water services with copper in District 2

The Waterford Board of Selectmen on June 2 approved a contract to replace plastic residential water service lines with copper in District 2.

The agenda item, introduced by the chair, carried a recommendation from purchasing agent Shay Davie and named Jill Stevens as director of utilities. Stevens told the board the department identified 21 houses that require service replacement and estimated roughly 660 linear feet of copper tubing will be needed, with a contract not-to-exceed figure of about $110,000. She cautioned that curb stops "may need to be replaced" if excavation finds additional damage.

Board members pressed Stevens on the scope and timeline. Stevens said the town has about 7,900 services in total and the department has investigated "a couple thousand" so far; she said this is the program's third year and staff are coordinating replacements with the Department of Public Works' paving schedule to avoid leaving trenches before roads are repaved. Selectman Greg asked how many sections remain and how the program will scale townwide; Stevens did not give a precise phasing plan but said staff are "working on that."

Selectman Rich raised a local follow-up about multiple trenches on Kingfisher Way; Stevens said she would check call-before-you-dig records to determine whether the work was performed by the town or by utilities such as Eversource or Beal and report back.

After discussion, the board voted by voice to approve the contract award to B and W Caving and Landscaping LLC for the District 2 replacements as presented. The chair called the ayes and the motion carried.

The board did not provide an exact start date in the record; Stevens noted that field findings could change the final scope if additional curb stops or other repairs are needed.