DIXFIELD – In 1994, Dixfield did a major overhaul of its water system, which it acquired in 1979, taking on $3.2 million in debt.

The project – getting two new gravel-packed wells and a new reservoir – was completed in 1998.

At Monday night’s selectmen meeting, officials learned it would cost an estimated $1.03 million more to complete the remaining work based on January 2004 dollars.

The cash-poor town can’t begin to seek community development block grant assistance until it conducts an engineering study of the water distribution system.

Last year, Town Manager Nanci Allard applied for and received two $10,000 grants, one a capacity development grant from the Maine Department of Human Services, and the other a federal planning grant.

Using $15,000 of that money, the town hired engineer Bill Dawson of Sevee and Maher Engineers Inc. of Cumberland Center to do the study. The remaining $5,000 may be used to complete another income survey in the affected areas, which is a block grant requirement.

On Monday night, Dawson presented selectmen with a draft study, then discussed its contents and recommendations at length.

That’s when town officials learned that Dixfield has 12.88 miles of piping, the majority of which is 1- and 2-inch lines.

That doesn’t bode well for residents along Bradley Street, Beedy Brook Lane, Webb River Drive and other places because it means the town can’t install fire hydrants there, Allard said Wednesday afternoon.

Instead of pumping water from hydrants should fires occur, the town’s fire company would have to rely on pumper/tanker trucks to shuttle water to the area.

“It’s a safety concern. Fire suppression requires 8-inch lines, but all over town we have 1-inch and 2-inch lines. There are very few 6-inch lines and no 8-inch lines. We can’t put hydrants in because of the 2-inch lines,” she said.

According to Dawson’s comprehensive system facilities plan, 11,890 feet of pipes on 19 streets needs to be replaced with 8-inch water main line. That project is estimated to cost $914,745.

Another $95,000 will cover necessary improvements at the well site.

“That was kind of a surprise to the board and I. We had only been thinking about work to be done to solve the lead and copper (water quality) problem and the dead-end pipes,” Allard said.

The first capital improvement priority, according to the engineering study, is to replace piping on North, X-Country, Nash, Oak, Newton and Howard streets; Coburn, Third, Blayne and Birch avenues; and Wilton Road.

That price tag is $549,500.

The second priority, to be completed within three to five years, is to replace piping on Brackett, Pine, and Bradley streets; Kidder and Robbins avenues; and Webb River Drive. Estimated cost: $479,250.

Selectmen may decide to prioritize the capital improvement projects differently, Allard noted.

With the engineering study under way, Dixfield officials can move forward and apply for grants, specifically a $400,000 block grant, which requires an $80,000 match.

“If we can get that money, we’ll do as many projects as we can and move forward. We need to do what has to be done, so we can have quality water again,” Allard said.

The town’s previous attempt to get a $400,000 block grant failed because an engineering study on the water system had not been done, nor did the town have the required 20-percent match in its coffers.

Allard said Dawson expects to finish the study later this spring when the ground thaws enough to allow hydrant testing work.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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