This story by Frances Mize was first published by the Valley News on July 17.
WOODSTOCK — Residents and businesses in several Upper Valley communities are still experiencing water disruptions as restrictions remain in place several days after water systems were damaged in last week’s flooding.
Issues are particularly acute in Woodstock, where the town’s water utility was forced to implement a “do not drink” order late last week.
In the days immediately after the flooding, when a less restrictive boil water notice was in effect, the Thompson Senior Center was still able to have in-house dining and continue its Meals on Wheels service.
“But when the warning was switched to ‘do not drink,’ we couldn’t even boil the water to do the dishes,” said Deanna Jones, executive director of the senior center.
They quickly made plans to move Meals on Wheels production to the kitchen in the lodge at Saskadena Six, the ski area in neighboring Pomfret that’s owned by the Woodstock Inn & Resort.
“The (resort) was very accommodating,” Jones said. “Our wonderful kitchen team made the lunches there, and we put them out under the tent in the parking lot.”
Some Woodstock restaurants have shut down entirely, in large part because the do- not drink order means dishes can’t be washed.
“This is a major hit to our business,” said Jason Merrill, owner of Worthy Kitchen on Route 4, which has been shuttered sin ce last week.
The Woodstock Aqueduct Co., was forced to go from a less restrictive boil order to a do not drink notice on Friday.
“Boiling water will not make it safe to consume,” according to a statement from the privately operated utility.
Water can be used to flush toilets, bathe and wash hands, but it should not be used to drink, cook, wash dishes or other items that may go into a person’s mouth, the statement read.
Woodstock Aqueduct supplies water to roughly 800 connnections from West Woodstock to East Woodstock.
Spillover from a swollen Ottauquechee River led to breaches in the water system on July 10. The company issued a boil water notice after a drop in system pressure that left nearly all of its connections without water.
On Friday, the company used a fire hose to connect two hydrants on either side of the Elm Street Bridge to help restore water pressure to the system. “This is the same solution that was used following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, when the Elm Street Bridge river crossing last broke,” a company said.
But the solution came with its own problem. Later Friday, company officials were informed that there could be contaminants in the fire hose used to restore water pressure. So while pressure was restored, the water can’t be consumed, leading to the “do not drink” notice.
Woodstock Aqueduct is working with the state to repair the pipes that are causing the pressure problems. System customers can check for updates on the town’s website, Facebook page and listserv.
In the meantime, the swimming pool at the Woodstock Recreation Center is open, but the showers are closed. Rising water levels last week also “severely” flooded a secondary building, said Gail Devine, the recreation center’s executive director.
“It was about three to four feet deep,” she said. “When we have full water again we can open them back up to the public — obviously a lot of people are calling us asking if they can shower — and we will also be able to continue with cleanup for the building, because we need water for that.”
The center is still running its children’s camp on the second floor of the main building, supplying kids with bottled water.
The Woodstock Inn & Resort did not sustain food damage, but is closed due to the lack of potable water.
The Inn plans to reopen on Monday. “We are currently not experiencing cancellations for reservations other than those due to this temporary closure and hope to accommodate those displaced within the next few weeks,” Inn officials said in a written statement.
Like the senior center, the Inn is also using the lodge at Saskadena Six for food preparation as a pop-up dining option nightly through Saturday.
The Vermont National Guard, working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has delivered 70,000 liters of water collected at the Edward F. Knapp State Airport in Berlin, Vt., to Woodstock and other flood-damaged communities across the state.
The National Guard’s last major water delivery effort came 12 years ago following Tropical Storm Irene, Nathan Rivard, public affairs deputy for the Vermont National Guard, said
The Alpha Company of 186th Brigade Support Battalion delivered water, as well as dehumidifiers and fans, to Woodstock again on Monday. It’s also assisting Woodstock Aqueduct, delivering a pipe from Springfield, Mass., needed for repairs.
Meanwhile, Royalton received water from the National Guard on Monday as well.
Users of the Royalton Fire District No. 1 water system have been on boil notice since last Wednesday, meaning residents should bring water to a boil for one minute before use.
The water district has just under 200 accounts, and serves most of South Royalton Village, “with some side streets,” said Judy Hayward, the district’s administrator.
The Royalton Water Treatment Facility draws from the White River as its main water supply — making it one of only a few towns in Vermont that relies on a river as its primary source.
But water quality in the river has plummeted after last week’s flood, which increases bacteria levels and the presence of sediment and other materials, known as a river’s turbidity.
The town is using water from its reservoir rather than the river, “because right now the water quality from the reservoir to start with is actually better than the water quality in the river,” Hayward said.
Employees at the Royalton Water Treatment plant are working to concoct the appropriate chlorination level to return the water to safe drinking level.
“People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk,” a statement from the town reads. “These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.”
More information on ways to lessen health risks from impacted water are available from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
The Worthy Burger restaurant in South Royalton has also been closed since last week.
“We’re catching up on a little painting, but not doing food prep or any of that stuff,” said Merrill, the franchise’s owner. “We could open but we feel that it’s safer to make sure our water for our guests is ready to go, and we’re not taking any risks.”
The summer food program at the South Royalton Elementary School was not impacted by the boil notice. “All the meals are prepped in Bethel, so no issues there,” said Andra Bowen, the school’s principal.
The town of Chelsea also issued a boil water notice following last week’s flooding. The First Branch of the White River rose high enough to spill into a pump house, compromising one of the town’s three wells, said Mike Whipple, the town’s wastewater operator.
But on Sunday, Chelsea was able to lift the boil notice after results from tests mandated by the state came back that put the town in the clear.
