Kingfield is fortunate in having a reliable water source. The town should weigh the positive and negative aspects of its commercial use. The worldwide demand for safe water is growing and sources are limited. The pressure to mine it will increase. Nestle and other firms will need more. We should act quickly to provide regulations protecting this vital resource. Other Maine towns are already doing this.

Negative aspects involve the aquifer and the town infrastructure. If the water withdrawal rate is doubled, tripled or more, can the recharge rate keep up? What is the impact on water quality? Could existing town wells go dry? Forty trucks per day at 8,000 gallons per truck add up to 320,000 gallons per day. The truck traffic will increase town road maintenance costs, as well as adding to the noise and traffic stress at the town center.

Commercial users are paying for water in other towns. Added town costs incurred as a result of these 40-ton trucks should be borne by the user .

Positive aspects for the town are limited. One or two owners of well-site property may profit, and a bottling plant might be built in Franklin County, which might employ up to 200 people, perhaps including some Kingfield citizens.

As a minimum, the town should implement a drinking water supply ordinance designed to protect the quality and quantity of its supply. Water is a vital natural resource, arguably more valuable than oil. It must be protected and used wisely.

Freeland Savage, Stockton Springs

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