Story · Water & Sewer District
Water system expansion and financing
The future tasks list says a DWSRF loan disbursement is due by January 29, 2027. DWSRF is the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, a state loan program for water projects.
NEXT STEP
Fri, Jan 29
DWSRF loan disbursement due January 29, 2027. The future tasks list says a DWSRF loan disbursement is due by January 29, 2027. DWSRF is the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, a state loan program for water projects.
How it happened
Jan 13 · MinutesFirst mention
The commission discussed linking the District's water system to the Town of Newmarket's, estimated at $6 million. It also discussed a wider regional connection and what federal funding might be available. The minutes record no decision.
Jan 13 · Minutes
A next step listed in the minutes is to hold a bond hearing (a public hearing on borrowing) for the $1.4 million SRF loan. No date is given.
Jan 13 · Agenda
The commissioners plan to meet on January 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM at the District Office to discuss engineering for expanding the water system.
Jan 13 · Agenda
The commissioners plan to meet on January 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM at the District Office to discuss State Revolving Fund loan opportunities. This is a state program that lends money for water and sewer projects.
Feb 11 · MinutesDecided
The district can apply for a State Revolving Fund loan of $1 million for well exploration, with possible 100% loan forgiveness. It can also apply for $970,000 loans, and PFAS money may be available next year. The attorney will work with the district's engineer on the amount and wording of the bond notice and warrant article. The reason for the bond is to be kept broad in case plans change. The bond hearing must be noticed 7 days before the hearing. The bond article must be on a written yes/no secret ballot, placed first on the warrant after the elected officials vote. Polls stay open 1 hour, and the Moderator counts the ballots. If it passes, the next step is the bond bank. The Commissioners gave the attorney permission to work with the engineer.
The Commissioners gave the attorney permission to work with the engineer on the amounts and wording of the bond notice.
Apr 2 · MinutesDecided
The district asked for a $2.9 million bond. $1.4 million would pay for water treatment upgrades: carbon filters (GAC) to remove PFAS and separate treatment for arsenic. $1.5 million would pay to find and develop new water sources after recent drought. A state Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) representative said $1 million of the $1.4 million is eligible for 100% loan forgiveness, and the other $400,000 is eligible for 10% forgiveness. She said the district must bond the full amount to pay contractors, and the state would repay the eligible parts. She also said the district may get about $71,000 in PFAS lawsuit settlement money. The district's engineer said the bond includes a 20-25% cushion for cost overruns and that the existing treatment building has room for the new equipment. At the hearing, residents asked about a solid waste facility in Epping, the project timeline, funding, water bills and who can vote. Officials said the project must go forward now because this is the last year to apply for this extra funding. They said voters must live in the district, be registered with the town, and attend in person. There is no absentee voting.
The commissioners voted 3-0 to recommend Warrant Article 2, the $2.9 million bond.
Apr 2 · Agenda
On Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Newfields Town Hall, 65 Main Street, the district's commissioners will hold a public hearing on a proposed 2026 warrant article (a question for voters). It would allow the district to issue a bond or note (a loan) of $2,900,000 through the State Revolving Fund loan program. The money would pay for water supply, water treatment, and related improvements. The district expects up to $1,040,000 of the loan principal to be forgiven, meaning it would not have to be repaid. Water and sewer fees would fund the rest of the bond. The hearing is to discuss the article and hear public input. The hearing is held under the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33:1 and following).
Apr 13 · MinutesDecided
The Newfields Village Water & Sewer District held a work session on April 13, 2026. The Town Clerk told the commissioners and the moderator how voting will work on the $2.9M bond warrant article (a question voters decide) at the Annual District Meeting on April 27, 2026. She gave them a ballot box, voter cards and yes/no voting cards. The vote will be by secret ballot. The Supervisor of the Checklist (the list of registered voters) will check in voters, and only District members are on the list. The polls must stay open for 1 hour. After the polls close, the moderator will count the votes and announce the result. The vote must pass by 3/5 or the article fails. The public hearing notice wrongly said the Annual Meeting starts at 6:00 PM. It starts at 7:00 PM. The commissioners agreed to meet at the Town Hall at 6:00 PM in case any voters arrive then. The chair adjourned the session at 5:30 PM without objection.
The commissioners agreed to meet at the Town Hall at 6:00 PM in case voters arrive early. No vote count is given. The session was adjourned without objection.
Apr 13 · Minutes
Annual meeting time correction on bond public hearing notice
May 4 · Minutes
The chair signed the bond application. The systems operator already sent it in electronically and will wait to hear what else must be added. The treasurer sent in the vote certification for the bond warrant article (the question voters decided).
May 4 · Agenda
Under Any Other Business, the agenda lists completing and submitting the DWSRF loan application. DWSRF is the state drinking water loan program run through NH DES. The April 2 hearing minutes say the district is working with NH DES on loan forgiveness for the $2.9 million water bond. About $1 million of the $1.4 million for treatment is expected to be 100% forgiven, and the other $400,000 qualifies for 10% forgiveness. The April 27 appropriations form lists $2,900,000 voted for this article.
Jul 7 · MinutesDecided
A representative of Underwood Engineers presented a contract for the water expansion and treatment project. The chair signed it as Commission Chair. The chair reminded the board that the Governor and Executive Council will act on the District's $2.9 million loan application on July 29. Every transducer (a sensor that measures water levels) was broken, so there is limited data for the consultant from GZA, who returns July 13 to start studying groundwater recharge. Phase I of the water exploration on the Society for the Protection of NH Forests Woodlot property begins this month. The commissioners agreed that one commissioner will handle payment requests during the project.
The commissioners agreed to have one commissioner handle disbursement requests. The chair signed the contract.
Oct 6 · Agenda
The future tasks list says a DWSRF loan disbursement is due by January 29, 2027. DWSRF is the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, a state loan program for water projects.