By Curt Peterson
Two large well-drilling rigs were headed for a water source site behind the Mountain Times offices recently, but the bridge to cross the Ottauquechee River appeared to be strained as the first truck made the trip. The second truck waited in the newspaper’s parking lot until Mosher Excavating was able to reinforce the span with supporting steel.
Once at their destination the rigs started enlarging two existing wells from 6” to 12” diameter casings, and make them deeper. Plans include adding a third well of the larger dimension and depth.
Alterations to the existing wells and the additional source are to test the water capacity in this location.
SP Land Co. LLC owns the wells, which were covered by an approved Act 250 permit.
SP is planning to build a large multi-use development next to Killington Resort, to which water from the re-engineered wells will be pumped via a planned new water system.
Several businesses along Killington Road will also benefit, as they have been inconvenienced by water quality issues in the past. Water from the new wells is expected to resolve those issues permanently.
Members of the Killington Planning Commission heard the system will be funded with a combination of grants and tax increment financing (TIF). The total amount the town will need to borrow is still to be determined, according to the consultant and town planner Lisa Davis. The water project will be built out in four phases that could take up to eight years to complete.
The current testing of the wells is to determine capacity for the full build-out of the water system and advance the planning of this piece of town infrastructure.
