Questions from residents
When will this get done?
The project is currently expected to be completed in the Fall of 2026. Planning efforts will work with the school to limit any disruption to school operations. Since the special votes in June passed, the project is moving forward at full speed.
Why can't this grant funding be used for flood buyouts?
The funding is designated specifically for wastewater projects only.
How much will maintaining the system cost residents?
Our project engineers and consultants have estimated the annual service cost to be approximately $60,000—this cost includes regular system inspection, septic tank pump outs, and a reserve fund for any repairs to the system. The service fee that village residents and business pay each month will pay the $60k, in addition to the non village resident tax as described below:
- The cost to village residents hooked up to the system to be $25-$40 per month, depending on the size of the home.
- For non-village residents, the only cost associated with the maintenance is for the municipal buildings hooked up to the system. Those buildings include the town library, town offices, the old town hall, and highway and fire department building.
- The cost to non-village residents is estimated at $6-8 per $100,000 of assessed value per year (e.g., $8 per $100,000 home, $16 per $200,000 assessed home, and so on).
- The Town will be responsible for all the maintenance and will sub-contract out this work to a highly qualified contractor.
What do we do if the new wastewater system fails?
There is a reserve fund built into the service cost that accounts for any repairs that may be needed for the system.
The system will be designed to withstand the 500-year flood event. Similar systems installed across the state and region have had minimal maintenance issues and failures.
How much would our property tax increase if the wastewater project was approved?
The Wastewater Committee has been working hard over the past five years and has secured nearly $5 million to design, permit, and construct the wastewater system for the village. The grant funding will include the initial hook-up costs for village residents. This project will be fully funded by these grants, unless there are unforeseen future costs.
The costs for town residents outside of the village will be minimal and only include the service costs of municipal buildings that are located in the village and hooked up to the system. The service costs include system inspection, maintenance and regular septic tank pump outs. The Committee is still working on the septic ordinance that will dedicate the service costs for private residents, businesses, and municipal buildings located in the village. Our preliminary costs to town residents are about $8 per $100,000 of assessed property value. That means a $200,000 assessed property would have an additional $16 per year of property tax and a $300,000 assessed property would have an additional $24 a year of additional property tax.
Again, we are still working on the ordinance, but these are the numbers as of today.
When exactly did they come up with the estimated cost of installation of this proposed system?
We did an opinion of probable cost in the Preliminary Engineering Report and then we updated that again this spring based on some changes that we knew we have to do.
Listen to the full answer by civil and environmental engineer Peter Lazorchak from Stone Environmental.
Has the recent flooding impacted the infrastructure pathway where this is proposed to go?
In general, our goal is to pick routes that are out of the floodplain as much as possible, but more importantly we are looking at the fluvial erosion hazard areas and trying to stay out of areas that are more at risk of losing land.
Listen to the answer by civil and environmental engineer Peter Lazorchak from Stone Environmental.
About the system
What is a STEP system? What is a drip dispersal system, and how does it work?
A Septic Tank and Effluent Pump (STEP) System is soil-based community septic system. Tanks collect sewage from hooked-up properties. Effluent is collected from all properties at a common pump station, then sent to the disposal field, and released into the field’s soil in small doses.
Why is the school playing field the best location for the dispersal area?
Several sites were considered for the dispersal area of the system. Based on an “initial capacity analysis” completed by project engineers, the school playing fields were chosen because the soils are well-suited for the system, the site has the hydraulic capacity, and is on a plateau 805 feet about sea level, which adds to the resilience of the system in flood events.
For more information, please see the Preliminary Engineering Report, Appendix 4-2, Attachment 11.
What are some examples of other Towns with community wastewater systems? Are there towns that have similar systems?
Warren Elementary School, Colchester sites.
Who will maintain the system once it is up and running?
The system will be maintained by the Town. Regular pumping of tanks will still be required, as maintenance required for current systems. This is part of the monthly maintenance fee.
What is the expected life of the community wastewater system?
A properly maintained wastewater system can last 30-40 years, or longer.
Who's paying for what?
The Wastewater Committee and our partners have been working diligently over the last 5 years to secure state and federal grants to fully pay for the design, permitting, and construction of the wastewater system, totaling nearly $5 million.
This grant funding will go away if the wastewater system is voted down. The only cost to non-village residents will be the service cost of the municipal buildings located in the village and will be minimal. Village residents hooked up to the system will pay a monthly service bill that the Committee has worked hard to keep as affordable as possible.
How is this project being funded?
As of January 2024:
- $4 million in state ARPA funding is secured.
- A $125,000 Engineering Services Agreement through ANR DEC is secured, and an additional $125,000 is expected.
- $640,000 grant through the ACCD CRRP program is secured.
- The Town Wastewater Committee and Selectboard are committed to pursuing additional funding opportunities, with the goal of completely funding the project with grants, loans, and other means.
What is an average cost of replacing individual septic systems? How does this compare to connecting to the community system and paying annual costs instead?
As of 2024, an estimated annual fee for an individual onsite “conventional” system is between $785-$1126 per year, with an estimated monthly fee $65-$94. An individual onsite “mound” system is estimated $2,241 per year, with an estimated monthly fee of $187.
The O&M for the community wastewater system is expected to be $54,000 per year. The cost to the taxpayers for this breaks down less than to $8 per $100,000 assessed home value—this covers the cost of the maintenance of the municipal buildings. User fees for residential properties that hook up are expected to be $25 for 2 or less bedroom units, and $40 for 3 or more bedroom units.
How much will the project cost? What is included in the total cost of the project?
The current opinion of probable cost from our engineers is $4,717,830, which includes a 30% contingency for construction. The total cost includes: engineering costs (including preliminary engineering, final design, and construction); easements, legal, and permitting fees; and construction costs (including collection, treatment, and disposal areas). Annual Operations & Maintenance Costs are estimated to be around $60,000.00.
To date, $4 million in state ARPA funding, a $640,000 CRRP grant, and $125,000 for engineering services is secured. The Selectboard and Wastewater Committee continue to pursue funding sources to cover as much of the project cost as possible.
Benefits to the Town
What is the expected benefit for the Town of Wolcott? How would things look in 10 years if we proceed?
A community wastewater system will help expand how properties can be used, increase property values, and help Wolcott Village be more flood resilient. Local businesses could grow, and residents could add another bedroom or accessory apartment. Instead of a leach field in your backyard by the river, everyone shares a leach field on the hill by the school.
The Town of Wolcott is situated along the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, which provides great opportunities to enhance resident and visitor experiences, support local businesses, and expand job opportunities. The LVRT could even offer healthy, accessible transportation options between neighboring communities.
In 10 years, Wolcott Village could have a coffee shop, more locally sourced, healthy food options at a Store, and a vibrant community space where people live and gather. You could meet a friend at the community garden, walk to job opportunities at local businesses, or recreate on the Rail Trail.
How will this benefit me? Why should I pay for a community wastewater system?
A community wastewater system will serve buildings that benefit all Wolcott residents, including the Town Office and Town Hall. Taxpayers will benefit from future taxes paid on increased investments in Village property and job opportunities that can result from investment. A community system would help provide sanitary and safe wastewater treatment to ensure safe drinking water sources and a healthy Lamoille River.
For example, a local resident is interested in creating a mixed-use residential and commercial building along the Lamoille River. A public wastewater system is foundational to the success and affordability of this vision.
The Schoolhouse Committee is also interested in restoring the old schoolhouse on School Street and leasing the building for a small coffee shop. Community wastewater could support this. It could also support a childcare facility in a time with much needed childcare services around the state.
Potential negative impacts
Are there any anticipated negative impacts, such as bad smells or impacts to drinking water wells?
There are no anticipated bad smells or impacts to drinking water. The system will be subject to routine inspections and maintenance as required under state rules. Routine inspections and maintenance have worked for the Warren Elementary School system. Warren’s system was installed back in 2005 and has had no issues to date.
As a part of the system design, the dispersal fields cannot be located within source protection areas for drinking water. Individual septic systems that are currently at risk of failing or already failing could impact drinking water wells. A community system offers a chance to remediate failing systems that smell and are a risk to public health.
What is the potential impact from flood events on this public wastewater system?
Overall, the new system will be more resilient during flood events because of the proposed location of the “community leach field” up the hill by the elementary school. This will help ensure that wastewater does not back up into buildings during a flood event. The STEP tanks in the Village will be designed and installed to accommodate flood events.
