LIVERMORE FALLS – Officials from Jay and Livermore Falls recently agreed on applying for a joint sewer grant, but they don’t necessarily agree on water rights.

At issue is allowing recreational access to Parker Pond, also known as Parkhurst Pond, versus protecting it. The pond is the secondary water supply for the two towns.

Moose Hill Pond in Livermore Falls is the primary source for the Livermore Falls Water District. But the district has drawn from Parkhurst in East Jay for several months each year since a five-mile pipeline connected the two several years ago.

The district serves customers in both towns. For residential consumption, 42 percent is by Jay residents and 34 percent by those in Livermore Falls. The remaining consumption is by commercial customers.

About a year ago, the owner of the road leading to the pond decided he didn’t want the public on his property, citing problems such as partying, and he put up signs denying access. The water district, which has a right-of-way across the land, so it wasn’t affected by that action.

However, area residents, seeking recreational access to the pond, weren’t happy with the decision and put pressure on Jay town officials to overturn it.

“It has become a very emotional issue. One party comes to every selectmen’s meeting, just in case it should be discussed. They don’t want people on their land,” says Jay Town Manager Ruth Marden.

However, some people reason that since the pond is the only recreational water in Jay, they want access to it for activities such as ice fishing and canoeing, and for access to snowmobile trails.

After reaching a dead end with the landowners, Jay officials began a search for an alternative access. They have tentative plans for access from Therrien Road to the pond over the property of three private landowners.

If that plan succeeds, and funding is secured, it still wouldn’t guarantee unlimited access to the pond because it’s a public water supply and protected by state law.

“This is our water supply and yours,” water district Trustee Darryl Brown said. “Recreation is a wonderful thing but we need to protect our water supply.” He suggested Jay should consider an ordinance such as Livermore Falls has for Moose Hill Pond.

A initial-source water protection program proposed by the district would prohibit swimming or having domesticated animals in the pond, gas-powered motors in or on the pond and automobiles on the frozen waters.