Town of Gorham��Water & Sewer Department
Public Hearing
Medallion Opera House
December 16, 2024
Agenda
Reason for Public Hearing
Grants Received
**ARPA stands for the American Rescue Plan Act**
Lead & Copper Rule Revision
LCRR is a federal drinking water rule implemented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in December 2021. This rule revises, updates, and improves upon the original Lead and Copper Rule of 1991. The revision requires all community (CWS) and non-transient non-community (NTNC) water systems to prepare and submit a materials inventory of all service lines in the drinking water system, along with changes in water sampling protocols, notifications, and corrosion control requirements.
The goal of the lead service line inventory (LSLI) is to identify and replace all service lines made of lead and any galvanized steel downstream of lead materials that can leach lead into the drinking water. LCRR requires CWS and NTNC water systems throughout the country to be proactive about mitigating the exposure to the adverse effects of lead in drinking water. All unknown service line materials are assumed to be lead until proven otherwise to prevent any possible lead from leaching into the drinking water from the service line. Although lead rarely occurs naturally in New Hampshire’s drinking water sources, it can be found in drinking water due to the wearing away of piping, plumbing fixtures, or the solder that connects those pipes.
While Gorham’s compliance water tests performed by the NHDES laboratory in Concord have not indicated any results where the system water has not been found to comply with State and Federal mandated standards, the Department will be required to provide documented proof to the State and EPA within 12 years that confirms the system has no installations that do not conform to this new standard.
EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)
What Is Required? Submittal of all service
line (SL) inventory and replacement plan. Failure to comply will result in federal enforcement by EPA.
Consulting Services for Small & Medium Systems
CWS and NTNC water systems with less than 1,700 service connections are receiving technical assistance from four NHDES-hired consulting firms: Arcadis, Hazen and Sawyer, Northeast GIS, and Underwood Engineers.
New water systems are responsible for complying with LCRR as part of the
design review process and will not be assigned one of the NHDES consultants. Visit NHDES’ Lead and Copper Rule webpage to see if a consultant has been assigned to your water system.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) will strengthen the current rules by identifying and removing potential sources of lead from drinking water. LCRR requires community (CWS) and non transient non community (NTNC) water systems to submit inventory and replacement plans to NHDES by the federal deadline of October 16, 2024.
Who Must Comply? All community water systems (CWS) and non transient non community (NTNC) water systems.
Start developing inventory of all service lines (SLs). Review documents including but not limited to tie cards, pipe installation dates, etc. SLs classified as lead, unknown and/or galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) will prompt follow up actions. As you develop your inventory, try to identify as many SLs as possible to reduce the number of unknowns. You must use multiple methods of verification to backup your data.
Develop Replacement Plans for any SLs identified as lead, unknown, or GRR. Replacement plans must be submitted along with the inventory by the October 16, 2024 federal deadline. More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.
Become familiar with the NHDES Lead Service Line Inventory Template which is the required format to submit inventory.
For more information visit NHDES’ Lead and Copper Rule webpage – (603) 271-2513 – DWLead@des.nh.gov
Purchases Needed for Lead & Copper Rule
Purchase a Vac Truck OR Hire Company to Dig Holes
Cost of Vac Truck - $517,581.50 Cost per hole - $2,000
Loan through NHDES at 71% forgiveness Total Cost for 900 holes - $1,800,000.00
We would only pay $155,098.64 for Vac Truck
Infrastructure Improvements Needed
Water Asset Management Survey
2024 – 2029 ENGINEERS PROPOSED REPLACEMENTS
2 - ¾” Copper Water Main - $65,005 3 – 8” DI Water Main - $620,040
23 - 1” Copper Water Main - $2,267,320 1 – 12” CI Water Main - $7,320
1 – Unknown Copper Water Main - $135,355 119 – Hydrants - $1,785,000
1 – 1 ½” Copper Water Main - $31,050 117 – Hydrant Gate Valves - $936,000
5 – 2” Galvanized Water Main - $677,810 286 – Gate Valves - $2,288,000
1 – 4” CI Water Main - $383,040 Water Plant Upgrades - $562,000
11 - 6” CI Water Main - $2,606,880 Gorham Hill Chemical Feed House Upgrades - $448,000
4 – 6” DI Water Main - $755,620 Cascade Hill Pump House Upgrades - $125,000
1 – 6” Unknown Water Main - $354,755 Well #1 & #2 Pump House Upgrades - $648,000
3 – 8” CI Water Main - $632,900
Total Replacement Costs $15,329,095
Wastewater Asset Management Survey
2024 – 2029 ENGINEERS PROPOSED REPLACEMENTS
1 – 6” PVC Gravity Main - $103,890 5 – 12” VC Gravity Main - $860,163
2 - 8” PVC Gravity Main - $298,727 278 – Manholes - $4,170,000
2 – 8” VC Gravity Main - $347,182 Wastewater Plant Upgrades - $4,905,000
1 – 10” PVC Gravity Main - $52,404 Tinker Brook Pump Station Upgrades - $290,000
1 – 10” VC Gravity Main - $240,328
Total Replacement Costs $11,267,694
Engineers Recommendations for Capital Reserve Accounts
Water Capital Reserve Sewer Capital Reserve
Recommended $1,000,000 Recommended $1,000,000
Current $207,840.83 Current $194,284.86
Deficit $792,159.17 Deficit $805,715.14
Current Rates
Sewer Rate
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $83.88
The quarterly sewer rate is $8.03 per 100 cubic feet based on 80%-meter flow
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $69.50
Water Rate
The quarterly meter and billing charge is $5.90
The water rate is $5.30 per 100 cubic feet (750 gallons)
Engineering Proposed Rates Approved by NHDES
2025 Proposed Rates – 20% Increase
Sewer Rate
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $100.66
The quarterly sewer rate is $9.64 per 100 cubic feet based on 80%-meter flow
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $83.40
Water Rate
The quarterly meter and billing charge is $7.08
The water rate is $6.36 per 100 cubic feet (750 gallons)
Total Increase on a Minimum Bill would be $30.68 per Quarter
2026 Proposed Rates – 20% Increase
Sewer Rate
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $120.79
The quarterly sewer rate is $11.57 per 100 cubic feet based on 80%-meter flow
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $100.08
Water Rate
The quarterly meter and billing charge is $8.50
The water rate is $7.63 per 100 cubic feet (750 gallons)
Total Increase on a Minimum Bill would be $36.81 per Quarter
2027 Proposed Rates – 20% Increase
Sewer Rate
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $144.95
The quarterly sewer rate is $13.88 per 100 cubic feet based on 80%-meter flow
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $120.10
Water Rate
The quarterly meter and billing charge is $10.20
The water rate is $9.16 per 100 cubic feet (750 gallons)
Total Increase on a Minimum Bill would be $44.18 per Quarter
2028 Proposed Rates – 20% Increase
Sewer Rate
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $173.94
The quarterly sewer rate is $16.66 per 100 cubic feet based on 80%-meter flow
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $144.12
Water Rate
The quarterly meter and billing charge is $12.24
The water rate is $10.99 per 100 cubic feet (750 gallons)
Total Increase on a Minimum Bill would be $53.01 per Quarter
2029 Proposed Rates – 20% Increase
Sewer Rate
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $208.73
The quarterly sewer rate is $19.99 per 100 cubic feet based on 80%-meter flow
The quarterly minimum charge based on 0 to 1200 cubic feet usage is $172.94
Water Rate
The quarterly meter and billing charge is $14.69
The water rate is $13.19 per 100 cubic feet (750 gallons)
Total Increase on a Minimum Bill would be $63.61 per Quarter
NH Comparable Water Rates- Based on 1200 C.F. Usage Per Quarter
1 – Plymouth - $185.20 29 – Milford - $91.18
2 – New London - $176.93 30 – Charlestown - $90.40
3 – Newfield - $176.83 31 – Meredith - $90.20
4 – Conway Village - $159.50 32 – Hanover - $89.00
5 – Sunapee - $159.00 33 – Dover - $88.80
6 – Rollinsford - $147.63 34 – Portsmouth - $87.33
7 – Exeter - $142.97 35 – Newport - $84.46
8 – Waterville Valley - $137.78 36 – Farmington - $84.00
9 – Whitefield - $137.67 37 – Hinsdale - $82.47
10 – Lebanon - $136.10 38 – Enfield - $80.82
11 – Hooksett - $133.47 39 – Somersworth - $78.36
12 – Troy - $129.50 40 – Antrim - $77.85
13 – Hillsborough - $127.19 41 – Rochester - $76.92
14 – Lisbon - $125.35 42 – Peterborough - $74.26
15 – Franklin - $124.90 43 – Warner - $72.72
16 – Claremont - $123.83 44 – Gorham - $69.50
17 – Newcastle - $119.40 45 – Salem - $68.56
18 – Berlin - $119.00 46 – Greenville - $67.32
19 – Abenaki Water - $114.41 47 – Seabrook - $64.69
20 – Wolfeboro - $114.40 48 – Bristol - $64.47
21 – Epping - $105.60 49 – North Conway - $60.00
22 – Newmarket - $103.00 50 – Lancaster - $58.34
23 – Jaffrey - $101.97 51 – Belmont - $56.64
24 – Groveton - $101.10 52 – Laconia - $55.60
25 – Keene - $100.70 53 – Pembroke - $51.20
26 – Winchester - $95.40 54 – Concord - $47.54
27 – Walpole - $94.46 55 – Lincoln - $47.21
28 – Colebrook - $91.46 56 – Stratford - $45.60
NH Comparable Sewer Rates- Based on 1200 C.F. Usage Per Quarter
1 – Sunapee - $275.00 29 – Jaffrey - $134.55 57 – Stratford - $71.25
2 – Whitefield - $264.66 30 – Hanover - $130.43 58 – Salem - $71.20
3 – Plymouth - $258.02 31 – Pembroke - $130.18 59 – Belmont - $70.13
4 – New Castle - $251.76 32 – Dover - $128.16 60 – Tilton - $66.00
5 – Portsmouth - $243.45 33 – Laconia - $123.50 61 – Lancaster - $58.34
6 – Rollinsford - $220.66 34 – Goffstown - $122.50 62 – Winchester - $57.00
7 – Farmington - $216.12 35 – Somersworth - $117.00 63 – Bedford - $43.44
8 – Troy - $205.90 36 – Groveton - $116.81
9 – Epping - $196.28 37 – Meredith - $116.20
10 – Waterville Valley - $193.43 38 – Colebrook - $114.00
11 – Exeter - $190.98 39 – Newfield - $112.37
12 – Conway Village - $185.19 40 – Littleton - $108.28
13 – Walpole - $183.58 41 – Hooksett - $106.42
14 – Greenville - $179.52 42 – Peterborough - $104.92
15 – Atkinson - $176.16 43 – Abenaki - $99.45
16 – Wolfeboro - $165.93 44 – Rochester - $98.04
17 – Newmarket - $163.00 45 – Londonderry - $96.00
18 – Hinsdale - $162.77 46 – Bristol - $95.63
19 – Keene - $151.83 47 – Charlestown - $90.40
20 – Hillsborough - $150.00 48 – Berlin - $86.88
21 – Rye - $150.00 49 – Gorham - $83.88
22 – Newport - $144.24 50 – Manchester - $83.86
23 – Franklin - $139.20 51 – Enfield - $80.95
24 – Antrim - $137.97 52 – Concord - $77.58
25 – Lebanon - $137.73 53 – Hopkinton - $76.44
26 – Warner Village - $137.16 54 – Merrimack - $76.00
27 – Lisbon - $135.45 55 – Allenstown - $75.35
28 – Claremont - $134.70 56 – North Conway - $74.68