Tuesday, Oct. 25: This morning the Town of Wilton announced that water is available for Wilton residents only, who do not have water available in their wells. Water will be available at the Wilton Fire Station at 874 Main Street on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. A maximum of 55 gallons per day will be allowed per resident. Fire Chief Sonny Dunham, or another representative of the town will be available to assist residents. There will be no charge for this service. The town will continue to monitor this situation and will report on this at the Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 Selectboard meetings.
WILTON – As more and more residents report their wells going dry, town officials discussed possible municipal responses at last Tuesday’s board meeting.
According to the state Drought Task Force’s October report, southern Franklin County has fallen into the severe drought category. The drought has resulted in some Wilton residents reporting wells running dry, Town Manager Rhonda Irish told the Selectboard Tuesday. There have been requests to have the town disperse water, perhaps by opening hydrants during specific times.
Chair Tiffany Maiuri said that she had met with Water Department Superintendent Justin Futia and reported that Varnum Pond, the town system’s source of drinking water, did not appear in danger of running dry. Some selectpersons noted that Wilson Lake was very low.
While wells can be dug deeper to access water, the work can be too expensive for some homeowners on relatively short notice, Selectperson Jeff Rowe noted. Additionally, Maiuri said, the waiting list for some contractors was already more than a month long. The Drought Task Force does not recommend hauling in water to refill dry wells, as significant water is lost into the aquifer and most well filters “are not sophisticated enough to eliminate any potentially introduced contamination.”
The board discussed possible methods of distributing water to people whose wells had run dry. Dispersing water via hydrants would be one method. The amount dispensed could be tracked, as the town bills the fire department for water used.
“I think it’s a good faith thing to do,” Selectperson Jeffrey Adams said.
No action was taken on the issue Tuesday evening, with the board planning to discuss the drought conditions at next month’s meeting.
The area did receive a significant amount of rain over the weekend, with the Drought Task Force is predicting a “fair chance” that precipitation will be above normal in Maine over the next two weeks. Temperatures, however, are also expected to be higher than normal across the state for at least the next month.
It has been a very dry summer..I live in Jay and habe not enough water to pump into the house….and I know I’m not alone..I hope their will be some relief for us..my neighbors’ wells are dry and St lest I have some..we run a pipe down the well and hooked a pump with garden hose to get water for toilet and dishes..I am one of the lucky ones..but afraid I might need a new pump..I pray everyday I will be OK along with all the others that need water..
remember that water treatment plant upgrade no one wanted to pay for??? you guys can keep your wells I have crystal clean water on tap thanks to town? water ,,is it town water when no one wanted to pay for the town owned treatment plant?? wait I’m confused..
Well that was way before my time and town water doesn’t come up my road..or the other one above me..
Let’s not give in to Nestle/Poland Spring if they come to our area. No matter what they offer. People before Profit.
I am fortunate to have a drilled well. After many dry summers we decided to forego many house repairs in order to have it as they are terribly expensive! If you live away from town water lines, there should be a place where people can fill jugs if necessary.
We should *all* be conservation-minded at this point whether or not we are on town water. We have a drilled well but that is no guarantee. We are taking shorter showers, etc., etc. One look at Wilson Lake and it’s obvious that we have a huge deficit and need to be good stewards.
Thanks to the town for their offer to help those residents with dry wells. In an emergency, we can work together regardless of who voted which way. No one here was anticipating a severe drought.
Ditto @Lisa. And it’s very appropriate to prepare for future changes in precipitation; “waste not, want not.”
Kevin has good point, the folks did not want to help on sewer upgrade even though it benefits whole town. Now they want help from the water and sewer customers, I am confused also.
well good for you kevin ! some of us dont live in town and theres no water line that runs buy us !!!! so why should my taxes go up for a water treatment plant when i dont have town water !! maybe your taxes should double then !! i live in the town of jay and all they can think about how much money they can waste !!!! atleast the town of wilton is looking to help those with dry well !
My post yesterday didn’t get published! It was about the select board putting off discussion until their next meeting. I’m glad to read today that they made a decision to provide a source of water for residents with dry wells.
Wilton townies are mandated to pay for town water and sewer people voted not to help with the upgrade to the to the treatment plant. Let them pay a small fee for there water use we townies do
The Wilton officials seem to know what their job is in this case. What a show of good stewardship. Not letting your citizens go without water when you can help should be the norm. Why else were towns incorporated?
As I remember private uses chipped in for may years at 30,000. Then with the upgrade it was reduced to 15,000 but recently it was decided to get the other 15,000 from the TIF fund. As I look at my tax bill I see that I am paying into the TIF fund. So we are still helping pay the 30,000. As someone that is licensed by the state to install and inspect private systems, I can tell you private systems cost as much, if not more then public systems. Also private systems lose use of a piece of land the size of a 2-3 car garage that can only be maintained to keep it functing properly. So as you enjoy that cool water remember private uses are still helping you. When private systems are pumped it has to be trucked to another town.