water

Guest · water

Hello,
I writing about water usage, specifically pumping water from brooks and streams. After speaking to people in both the Lebanon and State offices it seems nothing is done about it. Using a public resource for personal gain is wrong. We live in a city that has many valuable attributes. If we really do think they are important we need to take care of them. If we think someone who does not wish to use his own well or pay for water to be brought because "it is too expensive to water" his newly hydro seeded lawn we will lose the very attributes left in this city to those of us who think they have the right to use them up. This community has nature trails, rivers, and a rural setting all within a short distance of convenient shopping and comfortable homes. I hope we quickly realize that this will not last. We need to take notice and maintain the assets this city has now because later is too late. Those who "have" have a responsibility, too.

Connie Kroner

Another concern is people who dump into the public waters. Several years ago I saw that a house on Glen Road near Pearce had a large hose and was emptying their swimming pool into the stream feeding into the Connnecticut river. NOT a good idea.

Thomas

But than again when Lebanon Fire Dept. washes the fire trucks,soap heads towards the river. Confused

..than there's the use of road salt. Shocked

Councilor Cormen · water

All good questions & I share your concerns, Thomas, Connie, and my neighbor whom I think posted originally.

As a former chair of the Conservation Commission, and now back on the Planning Board as City Council rep, I believe we must take the best possible care of the environment--especially our water resources. Many people don't realize that the Mascoma River is the City's public drinking water supply.

The current Conservation Commission remains concerned about unauthorized water withdrawals as well as dumping in all City waters. It is hard to follow up on events after they have happened but if you observe anything in progress, your best bet is to contact the City Manager's Office (448-4220), and/or to file a report via "Lebanon Community Connection"--which you can do directly from the City's homepage at www.lebcity.com

If this is happening on the weekend or after hours, please don't hesitate to e-mail me directly (nscormen@gmail.com) and I will relay the info asap.

Meanwhile, the City is under an EPA and NH Dept. of ENvironmenta Services consent decree to separate our combined sewer & stormwater pipes so that raw sewage doesn't enter the Mascoma or Connecticut rivers during heavy rains. This task actually is a major recurring City expense to the tune of $2M-$3M annually. Luckily we were able to get Federal stimulus money to sccelerate some of this work at reduced cost to taxpayers, but there is no way to do it cheaply.

Longer term, we continue to work on strengthening local zoning & development regulations as well as enforcement of local & state regulations.

I will ask about the washing of fire trucks and other City vehicles.

Thanks,

Nicole

Longer term