Clarendon working toward sixth water district

A sixth water district that would serve 72 homes is under consideration by Town of Clarendon officials.

A public hearing was held March 12 to discuss the cost per household, roads to be served and to solicit comments from residents. John Paul from Chatfield Engineers explained the project would encompass portions of Hindsburg Road, South Manning Road, Glidden and Chugg Roads, Powerline Road and a portion covering two homes on Lake Road.

Paul explained no petition was filed for the formation of the district. "The town formed it because the district would qualify for grant and loan monies and it closed a couple of loops with other districts," he said.

In order for most small towns to be able to afford the costs of installing and maintaining a water district, Paul said, they need low cost interest loans and grants the state and federal governments have to offer. He said the state sets a threshold of $597 a year per household as the maximum charge that can be levied for a household hook-up in a district. "If a town can't install a district at a charge less than that threshold, the state won't approve it," he said.

The overall project will be about $892,735.07. The town is anticipating receiving a Rural Development grant in the amount of $387,900, a low interest loan for $504,835.07 that will carry an interest rate of five percent. After figuring in average annual water use and costs for the transmission main, the cost to the homeowner will be about $575 per household.

A second public hearing on the water district is scheduled for March 27 at noon at the town hall.