Ledge investigations within the potential wastewater system service area are tentatively scheduled for the week of June 19th. 

Why is this happening? 
This work is being conducted to determine the depth of bedrock in specific areas.
​
How do ledge investigations work? 
This work involves using a mini drill rig called a Geoprobe, which is mounted on a rubber tracked ATV unit. The Geoprobe will push a two-inch diameter probe into the ground until it reaches “refusal,” or the point where the probe hits a material that it cannot go through - bedrock. 

​Where will this work happen?
The bedrock probes will be advanced within the right of way along roads where the collection system is proposed to run. 

Will any work be done on private property? 
If site specific information outside of the right of way is required, Stone Environmental Inc. will contact the individual property owners in advance to request permission to use the geoprobe on their properties. 

Is there any noise, traffic, or earth disturbance?
The bedrock probes create minimal earth disturbance but do create noise. For this reason, ledge probes are scheduled for later in June to avoid creating noise during school times, and to prevent creating delays around Westford School drop-off and pick-up times. 
  
Where can I get information?
For information regarding the Community Wastewater Project, please refer to the FAQs at westfordsfuture.com. This website has answers to commonly asked questions about the Community Wastewater Project and is updated as information becomes available. 

Residents may submit questions by attending a Planning Commission meeting or emailing the Commission at planningcommission@westfordvt.us. You may also contact Melissa Manka, Town Planner, at planner@westfordvt.us or (802) 878.4587 for accurate information on what is happening, when, and how questions will be addressed. 

The next phase of the community wastewater project is about to begin! The Selectboard has approved the contracts with Stone Environmental, Inc., and Birchline Planning, LLC. Outreach to property owners in the service territory for potential connection will begin early this Spring. This next phase is to conduct further analysis, refine and update the cost estimate, and develop final designs.

This will enable the Town to answer specific questions such as:
• What are the anticipated costs;
• How will ledge along Brookside Road be handled;
• What will the final design look like;
• How does drip dispersal work?

The Town will also be able to begin developing a sewer ordinance that would be adopted by the Select Board after a successful bond vote. The ordinance will establish how capacity is allocated, how connection and user fees are calculated, and the process for property owners in the service territory to connect to the system.

The Wastewater Outreach Advisory Committee will be working in March with the Town’s Consultants and the Planning Commission on a Communication Plan to provide timely information and further promote community engagement and discussion, with the goal of having a well-informed electorate. Information about the project can be found at  https://www.westfordsfuture.com. An anticipated bond vote will occur no sooner than November of 2023.

The consultants of Stone Environmental, Inc., and Birchline Planning LLC have been working with the Town for many years, exploring solutions for our highly constrained soils in the center of Town and we’re very fortunate to have such expertise and guidance. We’re pleased to introduce our consulting team members:

Amy Macrellis and Peter Lazorchak of Stone Environmental, Inc. 
Stone Environmental is a 100% employee-owned environmental science, engineering, and field services firm located in Montpelier, Vermont. Stone’s capabilities include environmental assessment and remediation, water resources management, natural resources engineering and design, environmental modeling, agrochemical fate and exposure, data quality assessments, and geospatial analysis, data visualization, and application development.

Amy is a Senior Water Quality Specialist at Stone Environmental, where she has over two decades of experience with wastewater and stormwater management projects, policy development, community wastewater needs assessments and feasibility studies, and applied water quality research projects. She “grew up” on decentralized wastewater feasibility and demonstration projects and remains committed to providing safe, sanitary wastewater treatment for Vermont’s unsewered villages. In addition to managing wastewater needs and feasibility studies, Amy provides permitting and regulatory compliance support for villages both devoted and lucky enough to have soil-based wastewater treatment systems in operation. Since the early 2000s, she has led or supported hydrogeologic investigations for the design, permitting, and construction of a wide variety of soil-based treatment practices for stormwater and wastewater systems. Amy has been working with the Westford Planning Commission, residents, and a variety of consultants on various wastewater treatment-related efforts for our Town Center since 2007.

Peter is the leader of Stone’s Water Resources Management Group, and a civil and environmental engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the consulting industry. His areas of expertise include wastewater treatment and disposal, stormwater management, land use planning, and navigating local, state, and federal permitting processes. Peter has designed hundreds of soil-based wastewater systems, ranging from single-family systems to large community and commercial systems. Through innovative thinking, perseverance, and solid interpersonal skills, he has a track record of advancing challenging projects. He recently served on the Indirect Discharge Technical Advisory Committee assisting the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation with their regulation update. Peter is a licensed Professional Engineer in Vermont, a Vermont Class B Licensed Designer, and a LEED Accredited Professional.

Juli Beth (JB) Hinds of Birchline Planning LLC. 
JB is the principal of Birchline Planning LLC, a sole proprietorship based in one of her two hometowns, Waterbury, VT.  She has been around Vermont her whole life, growing up partly in Waterbury and partly in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.  How long, you ask?  Well, she remembers well when Sears first opened on Shelburne Road.  JB is a planner by training with a bachelor’s in Economics from Hollins College, Virginia’s first chartered college for women, and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University.   JB was the Executive Director of the Mad River Valley Planning District from 1997 through 2000.  In January 2001 she became Director of Planning and Zoning for the City of South Burlington, Vermont, where her responsibilities also included developing and managing Vermont's first storm water utility.  Birchline Planning LLC was founded in 2012 to support “Great Waters and Great Communities.”  JB is proud to work with cities and towns throughout Vermont on wastewater, stormwater, land use, zoning, and strategic planning.  She has notably supported the Valley towns and Sugarbush as a consultant, working for many years with the Stone Environmental team on the successful construction of wastewater systems to serve Warren Village and Irasville (that’s where Lawson’s Finest Liquids Brewery is).  JB is honored to be working on Westford’s Future, supporting the team on the financial projections, grants management, ordinance development, and public communications tasks. ​

Within the last few weeks, several positive developments have occurred to move the community wastewater project forward and closer to a bond vote, which is anticipated to occur in November 2023, at the earliest.  In a nutshell, engineering design of the system and detailed cost estimation is expected to begin in earnest this February and continue through the spring and summer, so the community will have the information needed to make an informed decision on the proposed system.

On January 13, 2023, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) issued the long awaited Finding of No Significant (Environmental) Impact and  Facilities Plan Approval letter (https://www.westfordsfuture.com/uploads/1/3/8/4/138498261/ww_facility_plan_letter_1.13.23.pdf). The Facilities Plan letter states the ANR Water Investment Division has reviewed the Preliminary Engineering Report, Supplemental Preliminary Engineering Report, Environmental Information Document, Environmental Report  and other related documents (https://www.westfordsfuture.com/resources.html) and they agree, following review and consultation with other Vermont agencies, that (1) The project qualifies for a Finding of No Significant Impact, and (2) Environmental conditions in the project area have been identified and acceptable mitigation measures have been proposed. These findings enable the project to move forward to engineering design and cost estimation.   

The Facilities Plan represents a foundational ‘check’ on the assumptions around population, non-residential activity to be served, projected design flows, and robustness of the technologies Westford has proposed.  The Facilities Plan Approval letter represents a fundamental endorsement by ANR that the basic engineering and planning assumptions are sound, allowing a system to be designed using these assumptions, and that the project is ready to proceed with design.  Importantly, this also confirms and continues the Town’s eligibility for CWSRF and other federal and state funding.  ANR also reviewed and approved an Amended Step 2 Engineering Services Agreement (ESA) between the Town and Stone Environmental, Inc., and a Professional Services Agreement between the Town and Birchline Planning. Upon execution of the above agreements and an amended Step 2 Clean Water State Revolving Fund application by the Selectboard and ANR, the Town’s consultants will be able to conduct further analysis, refine and update the cost estimate, and develop final designs for the community wastewater system.
This will enable the Town to answer specific questions people have been asking, such as:
• What are the anticipated costs;
• How will ledge along Brookside Road be handled;
• What will the final design look like;
• How does drip dispersal work; and
• When will additional outreach to property owners occur;

The Town will also be able to discuss and develop a sewer ordinance that would take effect once a system is approved for construction through the Bond Vote.  The ordinance determines how capacity would be allocated, outlines how connection and user fees would be calculated, and provides information about connecting to the system. 

The Planning Commission anticipates contracts with Stone Environmental, Inc., and Birchline Planning will be approved and executed by mid to late February. The Planning Commission will provide regular updates as they become available. 

The Planning Commission thought it would be helpful to detail everything that's been done and spent on the project to date:

Westford Community Wastewater Project
Planning Grants, Construction Grants, and Town Expenditures:
January 1, 2007 - February 14, 2022
 
Planning Grants and Town Expenditures:
• 2007-2008 Planning Advance: The Town received a “planning advance” from the State of Vermont to fund the first Feasibility Study. This Feasibility Study determined the status of existing wastewater systems and completed a desktop identification of suitable soils for a community wastewater system in the Town Center Area. The Feasibility Study also included 
recommendations for securing and utilizing grandfathered systems in the Town Center Area.  The planning advance consisted of $15,000 in State funds which is normally repaid by inclusion in the bond amount if the system is constructed. However, the State recently proposed zeroing out this loan with a Pollution Control Grant if the system is constructed. There is no payback requirement if a community system is not constructed.
• 2012-2013: Town General Fund: The Town spent $673 to investigate the soils and existing wastewater system at the Spiller property. This data was critical during discussions with the Agency of Natural Resources to secure the “grandfathered” system capacity that now serves the Westford Country Store and Café.
• 2013-2014 Municipal Planning Grant & Planning Commission Special Project Funds: The Town received a $10,715 municipal planning grant.  The majority of this grant was used to update the zoning bylaws for the Town Center Area, specifically developing the Form Based Code. A small portion ($1,999) was used for soil testing of municipal and community owned properties identified in 2007-2008 to investigate possible suitability for onsite wastewater. The local match requirement was $120 paid from Planning Commission Special Project Funds. The Town’s knowledge of soil conditions at the Town Office, Town Common, Brick Meeting House, and Common Hall is a result of this investigation. 
• 2015-2016 Municipal Planning Grant& Planning Commission Special Project Funds: The Town secured an additional Municipal Planning Grant to investigate the soils at the Jackson Property, now known as the Maple Shade Town Forest. This involved a $15, 826 grant with $2,608 a local match requirement paid from Planning Commission Special Project Funds.  
• 2017-2018 General Fund: The Town purchased a legal easement to place a proposed valve vault and dosing station on private property across the road from the proposed future wastewater area. The total cost was $5,893.
• 2018-2019 Planning Commission Special Project Funds: The Town spent $7,105 to further investigate suitable soils at the Jackson Property and develop conceptual wastewater plans. This investigation was funded from Planning Commission Special Projects Funds.    
• 2020-2021 Step 1 Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund: The Town received “Step 1” approval to fund a Preliminary Engineering Report and Environmental Information Document which are required to receive additional State and Federal funding. The total cost was $39,050, with 50% ($19,525) funded by the State. The remaining $19,525 has been rolled into the Step 2 Clean Water Revolving Loan (see below) and will be rolled into the total bond/grant amount if the system is constructed. If the system is not constructed this amount will be repaid per the amortization schedule from Planning Commission Special Project Funds. 
• 2021-2022 Step 2 Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund: The Town received “Step 2” approval to fund final design, permitting, and other engineering necessary for an informed bond vote. The total project cost $250,531. The first $125,000 is structured as a fully “forgivable loan” with no payback requirements regardless of whether or not the system is constructed. At the recommendation of the Planning Commission, the Selectboard specifically directed that no part of the remaining cost be incurred prior to receiving additional funding or a positive bond vote. 
Construction Grant Funding:
• 2021 Northern Borders Regional Commission/Economic Development Administration: The Town has been awarded a $466,194 grant from the Northern Borders Regional  Commission/Economic Development Administration for construction of the system.       
• 2022 State of Vermont Pollution Control Grant: The Town has informally been offered a $15,000 Pollution Control Grant in order to zero out the Planning Advance received in 2007- 2008. Confirmation of said award would occur upon submission of a Step 3 Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund application for construction.
• 2022 State of Vermont American Recuse Plan Act: The State of Vermont has notified the Town that the State will award up to $2,377,136 in American Recuse Plan Act funds dedicated to village wastewater solutions. The details of this grant are still being worked out at the State level and additional information will be provided when available.      
Summary
Since 2007, the Town has spent  $16,399 in town funds in order to leverage $174,622 in state grants. The grant money was used to investigate potential solutions to long standing wastewater challenges in the Town Center Area. The Town has recently secured over $2.4 million in construction grants. 

Because of two important developments in December, the Planning Commission has concluded that at this time it is prudent to delay a bond vote on the proposed wastewater project. There will not be a bond vote on the wastewater project at March 2022 Town Meeting, for two reasons.

First, the State of Vermont has yet to make its formal commitment of funding to the Town of Westford. The State has dedicated ARPA and Village Wastewater funding in hand. In the fall, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources stated in its public presentation that Westford would be one of the two communities (along with Montgomery) receiving FY22 funds. Between the pandemic and other delays at the State, the full commitment has not been made. Without the specifics of this commitment, we cannot calculate the cost to taxpayers or system users.

Second, the Town has new – and unexpected - options for the design of the leach field at the Maple Shade Town Forest. In the course of the regular, planned engineering evaluation of soil conditions at the site last November, the engineering team found the soils are significantly better-suited for effective wastewater treatment than we anticipated. This has important implications for design, the need for pre-treatment, and costs. Our engineering team and the Town need time to fully understand and choose the best design option for the community.

The Planning Commission will be moving forward with the community wastewater project in a transparent way, continuing to keep the community informed and engaged as the new engineering options are evaluated. As financial information comes in from the State, we will work with the Selectboard on taxpayer implications and user rates. The public information meeting previously scheduled for February 8th will be rescheduled to a later date when a complete picture of the engineering and financial options can be presented. While we do not yet know when a bond vote will occur, we anticipate the vote will occur on or before election day in November 2022.
​

​November and December have been busy months for the community wastewater project. Project information is always available at www.westfordsfuture.com. Here are some updates on specific aspects of the project:
 
Funding Commitments: The Town is still waiting to receive word from the State of Vermont on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to be allocated to the Westford Community Wastewater Project. Things are looking very positive, but the pandemic and other factors have delayed hearing about a finalized award. As soon as we learn more, we will update residents on the results.
 
Engineering Progress: You may have seen the engineering team from Green Mountain Engineering (Alan Huizenga, Brad Washburn, and Alex Huizenga) visiting property owners in and around the Town Common. They have verified building plumbing and exits, which is essential information for final design engineering for those properties who would choose– voluntarily – to connect to a community system. Based on responses to the service area property owner survey and meetings with the engineering team, 19 of the 34 eligible parcels in the service area plan to connect to the system, and another 7 are considering whether to connect.
 
Maple Shade Town Forest Leach Field Evaluation: You also may have seen a drill rig on the Jackson Farm property during the week of November 7th. As a normal and required part of the engineering design process, a drill rig took soil borings and conducted large-scale hydraulic tests of the proposed leach field (wastewater disposal) area on the Maple Shade Town Forest property. This involves taking soil borings to establish the depth to clay layers and bedrock underneath the disposal field, pumping water into the ground, and taking readings at a monitoring well to assess how much wastewater can be applied safely. The testing found that the leach field area has very deep, well-drained soils, with 34’ depth to bedrock and no groundwater. This is excellent news for the, effectiveness, and safety of the site’s use as a wastewater disposal site. It means that the area can safely manage projected system effluent in a way that is protective of groundwater, and protective of nearby properties and wells and will have superior resiliency and longevity. It further establishes that securing the property of the Maple Shade Forest in which this site is located provides for many long-term benefits to the Town and its residents. Additional engineering evaluation and design will now be prepared and reviewed with State regulators to determine a final capacity number and site layout.
 
Upcoming Meetings:
 
A public informational meeting on the community wastewater system is scheduled for Tuesday, February 8th, from 6:30-8:30pm at Westford School. Hybrid attendance options will be available. Full information about this event can be found at https://www.westfordsfuture.com/events.html. 

During the week of November 14th, additional engineering investigations were conducted on the north-east section of Maple Shade Forest. Previous investigations used an excavator that can only reach approximately 14 feet deep. The new work included installing four new soil borings to further refine subsurface properties such as depth to bedrock and groundwater elevation.  New monitoring wells were installed in the borings and further assessment of ground water will be conducted.   This investigation work is 100% grant funded.

We asked the Consulting Engineer, Amy Macrellis of Stone Environmental, what she finds interesting about working in this section of Westford.  This was her response: “What I love about the Maple Shade site is that it was once lakeshore property! Unfortunately for the Westford Town Common, it was under the lake…~13,500 years ago. The departing glaciers first gave Westford Glacial Lake Vermont, then took it away in stages as the ice sheets retreated north.
The Lake Vermont shores were relatively high-energy - think about the waves you might see on the modern Lake Champlain shoreline on a blustery day. Today, where those shores were, we see sands, gravels, and lots of nice bedding structures, all found during last week’s boring.  On the map below, I marked where Westford was relative to the full extents of Lake Vermont, so you can maybe get some sense of how big Lake Vermont was… and for a cool (to me) animation created by Vermont DEC of how the glacial lakes formed and retreated, check out https//www.facebook.com/watch/?v=492996508035516"

On Sunday, November 21st, Westford residents were able to visit an existing in-ground leach field near Hillside Lane, off of North Road in Westford.  This system has a similar capacity as the one proposed on Maple Shade.  We want to thank the residents of Hillside Lane for allowing us to visit. We also want to thank Marty Scanlon and Terry Bosworth for taking time to share their perspectives of their community system and especially R.J. Moore for providing technical background and expertise to help answer questions from those present.  More information about their community system can be found at https://www.wfd1.org/.