1. DORSET Water System Information Meeting
Dorset fire district No. 1
DORSET Water System Information Meeting
November 7, 2016

2. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
DORSET WATER SYSTEM
Water Source
Kellogg Springs feed the reservoir
series of covered spring houses
Reservoir
225,000 gallon covered storage, just downhill of springs
water is chlorinated by a mechanical system (no power at reservoir)
distribution system is gravity fed by 2200 ft. of 8” pipe
Distribution System
12,000 ft. of mains – 6” and 4” iron pipe (responsibility of the district)
supply lines from mains to buildings (responsibility of property owners)
201 service connections
90% residential, 10% commercial
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

4. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
WATER CO. MANAGEMENT
Part-Time Water Operator: Jim McGinnis
checks reservoir levels
maintains chlorinator at reservoir
checks & fixes animal entry points into reservoir and spring houses
samples water
diagnoses leaks in system
schedules and oversees maintenance contractors
interfaces with state regulators
Prudential Committee
5-person volunteer board
sets budget and water fees
oversee water operator and help with customer interactions
also responsible for Dorset Fire Dept.
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

5. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
WATER CO. BUDGET
REVENUES Water Fees Maintenance Fees TOTAL
$31,150 $20,000 $51,225
EXPENSES Chemicals Clerical Supplies Clerk Fees Consumer Report Contingency Dues & Publications Fuel Insurance Maintenance Operating Permit Postage & Printing Professional Fees Water Operator Testing TOTAL
$550 $100 $5,400 $420 $5,000 $260 $500 $4,500 $12,000 $2,200 $450 $9,645 $9,600 $600 $51,225
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

6. WATER SYSTEM CHALLENGES
Supplemental water supply is needed
Frequency and severity of leaks continues to rise
Hydrants can’t be used for fighting fires
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

7. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
WATER SHORTAGES
2016
water restrictions from Sept. 18 to Nov. 3
water emergency and boil order from Oct. 12 to Nov. 3
springs production dropped to 80 GPM
reservoir level was down over 4 ft.
2015
water restrictions from Aug. 22 to Oct. 16
springs production dropped to 85 GPM
reservoir was nearly empty (down 11 ft.)
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

8. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
WATER LEAKS
Service Lines
responsibility of property owners
many service lines have reached end of lifespan (galvanized)
location of most service lines is unknown
service lines were added in ad hoc manner without any engineering
Mains and Valves
responsibility of the district
mains are in surprising good shape (pig iron)
problems exist at curb stops and junctions
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

9. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
FIRE HYDRANTS
Hydrant Usage Prohibited
Vermont banned the use of our hydrants for fighting fires in 2003
mains are undersized and water storage is inadequate
Poor ISO Rating
our fire department is rated a 9 (1 is best, 10 is no protection)
40% of rating based on water supply (50% on fire department, 10% on dispatch)
insurance companies rely on fire suppression rating to set premiums
insurance companies are starting to discover low ISO rating
ISO testing of fire department is a goal
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

10. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Water operator has been aggressively fixing leaks
Received $20,000 matching grant from state of Vermont
Engineering study underway and focus on supplemental supply
Billing and bookkeeping contract with town of Dorset
Improved communications with customers (website & )
Hired CPA firm to perform an annual audit
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

11. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
DETAILS OF GRANT
Asset inventory and condition assessment
Life cycle cost analysis
Risk assessment
Level of service agreement
Mapping the system
Funding strategies
Risk and life cycle cost reduction measures
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

12. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
WATER STUDY
Engineering study underway (Kepler Consulting)
preliminary investigation of supplemental water site completed
develop funding strategies
map and inventory the system infrastructure
update operating procedures of district
Leading sites for well location
Cutler Park
Prentiss Pond
private parcels
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

13. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
POTENTIAL WELL SITES
Prentiss Pond
land owned by district
Nature Conservatory restrictive covenants
challenging and expensive permitting anticipated
near mains on Church St.
Cutler Park
land owned by town
potential for high-yielding gravel well
near mains on Rt. 30
Private parcels
two high-yield sites identified
prudential committee needs to talk with land owners before going public
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

14. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
NEXT STEPS
Finalize plans for supplemental water supply
Finish the tasks listed in the approved grant application
Create an infrastructure master plan
Develop a new water budget
Determine staffing and consulting needs
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

15. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
CURRENT WATER BUDGET
Current budget is seriously underfunded
water fees much lower than comparable systems in VT (average $150/year)
current maintenance fee inadequate to cover current level of fixes
Current budget has no money for…
construction of supplemental water supply infrastructure
master planning
infrastructure improvements
staffing and consulting needs
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1

16. WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Get informed and get involved
attend monthly district meetings (2nd Monday of the month, 7pm)
attend our annual meeting (May 8, 2016)
register for water updates on our website: DorsetFireDistrict.org
Think about the importance of a reliable water system in Dorset
critical to our economy and property values
critical for our health and welfare
very important for fire protection
significant effect on insurance premiums
Nov 7, 2016
WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION MEETING: DORSET FIRE DISTRICT #1