Wilton closer to solving well woes

WILTON - Town Manager Peter Nielsen has received notice that $60,000 has been reserved in a state grant to extend the public water line to nine homes on Bennett and Thompson streets that have contaminated wells.

Now, the town has been invited to participate in the second phase of this application for a Community Development Block Grant, Nielsen said. If the grant is approved, it would pay 75 percent of the $80,000 water line project, with the remaining $20,000 coming from the Wilton Water Department, Nielsen said.

The project will not affect existing customers' water rates, he said.

Nine of the 10 residents who had wells that showed contamination were interested in participating, he said.

Nielsen said the application process is extensive and includes Planning Board and environmental reviews. Voters will also need to consider the water line extension again in June.

Voters approved the project last year but the town didn't get an urgent-needs grant, which was sought then. Since this is a different grant program, it needs another vote, Nielsen said.

The town meeting is Monday, June 13.

"I think we're lining up pretty good to get this done," Nielsen said.

If approval is given, he said, the project would be done this year.