Woodstock voters approve acquisition of water company

 By Katy Savage 

Woodstock residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of acquiring the Woodstock Aqueduct Company on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The private utility, which dates back to the 1800s, will become a public utility for the first time.

Residents voted 382-103 from the floor to acquire the company for $920,000, about half of which was offset by grants. The measure specifically asked residents to use $457,000 of the undesignated fund balance to purchase the aqueduct company and all of its assets. 

“It was an overwhelming turnout,” Town Manager Eric Duffy said.

The vote on Tuesday was just Step 1. There will be a second special meeting on Dec. 10, where residents will be asked to acquire a 352-acre property and the Vondell Reservoir in West Woodstock for $7.5 million.

Duffy stressed to residents at a September meeting that the water system will also need upgrades, which could be costly down the line, and water rates and taxes will increase to help offset future costs. A preliminary engineering report from Otter Creek Engineering in October 2023 suggested the town replace an 8-inch pipe with a 12-inch pipe from Cox District Road to the Woodstock Rec Center for about $4.3 million and replace a water tank on Route 12 for about $4.8 million. A $700,000 repair to the water pipe on the Elm Street bridge is another necessity. 

The town vote comes after about a year of discussions about what to do with the Aqueduct Company, which has faced financial woes and management issues. 

Last August, the town was without potable water for 10 days when there was a flood. Now, parts of the water system are still not fixed, and if there’s a problem, residents say they can go for days without getting a call back from the company. The deteriorating water system has held up any new development or housing in Woodstock.

Additionally, water pressure from the town’s fire hydrants doesn’t meet state regulations.

Some residents at the September meeting were concerned about the water system’s future costs. Others questioned whether it would be better for another private company to acquire the water company. 

Duffy pushed back, explaining repairs and upgrades are necessary whether or not the town owns the water company. He stressed that if the town owns the aqueduct company, repair costs could be offset with grants, while a private company would likely sharply increase water rates.

“The decision we made was out of necessity,” Duffy said in September. 

“The Select Board feels we need to own the water company for the future of Woodstock,” he added.