Thought I would continue to send info on the water problem in New Castle. This is something that could put an enormous amount of stress on our finances.<div>Nanc<br><br>---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b></b> <<a href="mailto:aptarlton@comcast.net">aptarlton@comcast.net</a>><br>Date: Monday, November 14, 2016<br>Subject: Preliminary Review of Underwood Water System Study<br>To: Dennis Dinsmore <<a href="mailto:dgdinsmore@comcast.net">dgdinsmore@comcast.net</a>>, Jeff Reilly <<a href="mailto:reillyjeff@gmail.com">reillyjeff@gmail.com</a>>, Laura Ludes <<a href="mailto:ludesl@comcast.net">ludesl@comcast.net</a>>, Andrew Moore <<a href="mailto:amtmoore@comcast.net">amtmoore@comcast.net</a>>, Nancy Gulley <<a href="mailto:nancgulley@gmail.com">nancgulley@gmail.com</a>>, Len Seagren <<a href="mailto:laseagren@comcast.net">laseagren@comcast.net</a>>, Rita Fusco <<a href="mailto:r.p.fusco@prodigy.net">r.p.fusco@prodigy.net</a>>, Sugden Murphy <<a href="mailto:Mickseadog@gmail.com">Mickseadog@gmail.com</a>>, Sara <<a href="mailto:lynnsrb@comcast.net">lynnsrb@comcast.net</a>>, Dave McCArdle <<a href="mailto:dnmc@comcast.net">dnmc@comcast.net</a>>, Irene Bush <<a href="mailto:irbush@comcast.net">irbush@comcast.net</a>>, Craig Strehl <<a href="mailto:Cfstrehl@sbcglobal.net">Cfstrehl@sbcglobal.net</a>>, VJ Strehl <<a href="mailto:vjstrehl1@gmail.com">vjstrehl1@gmail.com</a>>, Sandra Bisset <<a href="mailto:bissetconsulting@comcast.net">bissetconsulting@comcast.net</a>>, Paul Hamblett <<a href="mailto:phamblett@aol.com">phamblett@aol.com</a>>, Jane Finn <<a href="mailto:rimplefinn@gmail.com">rimplefinn@gmail.com</a>>, John Small <<a href="mailto:jwilliamnh@gmail.com">jwilliamnh@gmail.com</a>>, Teddy Golter <<a href="mailto:teddyg@comcast.net">teddyg@comcast.net</a>>, Nancy Borden <<a href="mailto:Nancy@nancyborden.com">Nancy@nancyborden.com</a>>, Peter Rice <<a href="mailto:mayorduckshead@comcast.net">mayorduckshead@comcast.net</a>>, Bob Rais <<a href="mailto:esrcr53@yahoo.com">esrcr53@yahoo.com</a>>, Jim Zuckerman <<a href="mailto:james_zuckerman@hms.harvard.edu">james_zuckerman@hms.harvard.edu</a>>, Ann <<a href="mailto:annhtarlton@gmail.com">annhtarlton@gmail.com</a>>, William Smith <<a href="mailto:willsmith975@yahoo.com">willsmith975@yahoo.com</a>>, Jim Munton <<a href="mailto:j.munton@comcast.net">j.munton@comcast.net</a>>, Jim Rini <<a href="mailto:nhimager@gmail.com">nhimager@gmail.com</a>>, Terri Golter <<a href="mailto:terri.golter@comcast.net">terri.golter@comcast.net</a>>, Grant Drumheller <<a href="mailto:Grant.drumheller@unh.edu">Grant.drumheller@unh.edu</a>>, Bill Cronin <<a href="mailto:bill.cronin@quickservicesllc.com">bill.cronin@quickservicesllc.com</a>>, Reggie Whitehouse <<a href="mailto:elmct@aol.com">elmct@aol.com</a>>, Sam Asano <<a href="mailto:sasano@cablynx.com">sasano@cablynx.com</a>>, Andy Schulte <<a href="mailto:andyschu1@aol.com">andyschu1@aol.com</a>>, Barbara Moore <<a href="mailto:barbaramoore@aol.com">barbaramoore@aol.com</a>>, Rich Ferdinand <<a href="mailto:raferdinand@comcast.net">raferdinand@comcast.net</a>>, Bill Duncan <<a href="mailto:waduncan@gmail.com">waduncan@gmail.com</a>><br><br><br>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline">Some
of us have read and discussed the Executive Summary of the recent study by
Underwood Engineering of the New Castle Water System. Selected highlights and
some preliminary interpretations follow:</div>
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<div>1. The present system has woefully deficient capacity to provide proper
fire fighting water</div>
<div> </div>
<div> a. The largest gap between current flow rates and ISO
Needed Fire Flows (gallons per minute) exists in the area of highest risk \u2013
downtown large structures and closely spaced historic district homes; Wild Rose
Lane and Wentworth Road on the Portsmouth side are also very high risk
areas</div>
<div> b. The fragile Odiorne water supply pipeline is
currently inoperable, to mitigate leaks, so that current water flows in some
areas would therefore be overstated in the study</div>
<div> </div>
<div>2. Possible Solutions will likely cost around $9 million:</div>
<div> </div>
<div> a. New 12 inch diameter pipe in a loop from Portsmouth
to-around New Castle, or</div>
<div> b. 140 feet high water tower with four hours of supply
to entire island of New Castle</div>
<div> </div>
<div> Note: It will be important to know if the recommended
12\u201d pipes are based on current levels of water consumption and fire fighting
demand, or for projected increases over the next 30 \u2013 50 years, particularly if
older homes are replaced with larger structures and/or residents install an
increasing number of sprinkler systems. These are important considerations,
because actual fire fighting flow rates are the total flow capacity minus
operational flows (household uses for showers, laundry, dishwashing, et al),
which fluctuate during the day and night, demands being higher during the early
morning and early evening.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>3. New Castle depends upon Portsmouth for water supply, as well as their
willingness to act and their bond underwriting capacity for water
infrastructure</div>
<div> </div>
<div> a. Our New Castle Select Board will soon meet with
Portsmouth officials to explore the feasibility, timing and enthusiasm for
different courses of action</div>
<div> b. Funding may be available with 50 \u2013 70 year bond
duration, appropriate for subject infrastructure (reduced tax impact from a
longer amortization period)</div>
<div> c. Interest rates are likely to rise, perhaps strongly
and quickly, such that interest costs could be reduced by earlier, decisive
action</div>
<div> </div>
<div> Note: the conveyance of the New Castle Water District to
Portsmouth has been mentioned on many occasions by the Select Board. Some
believe that such a step should be considered only after system upgrades have
been accomplished, to avoid the possible risk of further delays (due to New
Castle possibly being a lower budgetary priority in City of Portsmouth
deliberations). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>4. Underwood presented a five year project to complete the installation of
the 12\u201d pipe system</div>
<div> </div>
<div> a. Five equipment set ups and takedowns might be more
expensive than get-it-done-in-one complete loop operation</div>
<div> b. The above highest risk area would not be addressed
until the third of five annual projects, if and once approved</div>
<div> c. There are many aspects to this project and likely
many public opinions to be considered, all consuming time (these include
financing, respective New Castle and Portsmouth responsibilities, timetables, et
al)</div>
<div> d. One could describe a process schedule for
\u201cconsider-approve-fund-<wbr>install\u201d that required 7-9 years - before safe levels of
fire fighting water would be available to protect residents, firefighters, homes
and historic identity</div>
<div> </div>
<div>5. The Select Board has the desire and responsibility to do the right thing
to avoid a repeat of the Tarbell \u201cgame changer\u201d fire</div>
<div> </div>
<div> a. They next meet on Monday, November 21 at 7 pm in New
Castle Town Hall</div>
<div> b. We should attend, ask questions, and encourage them
to undertake an effort to solve the problem sooner rather than later</div>
<div> - Get approval at 2017 Town
Annual Meeting for the entire amount to minimize interest costs, while securing
50 \u2013 70 year bonds</div>
<div> - Raise funds to complete the
project in one year instead of five years</div>
<div> c. If the essential 12 inch upgrade will be stretched
out for too long a period, interim steps must be explicitly defined to reduce
the risks in highest risk areas?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>We have a voice. Let\u2019s help!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Peter Tarlton</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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