Aqueduct Update 7/19/23

From Woodstock Aqueduct — Wednesday, July 19:

The new line has just been connected and we said goodbye to the firehoses, which are no longer in use. This is terrific progress!

The water sampling comes next. We can take the bacteria sample over today, while we wait for the chlorine levels to rise. The State is requiring our chlorine levels to be much higher than usual for the Do Not Drink to be lifted. You may be able to smell it in the water, and when the Do Not Drink is lifted, you may be able to taste it. This is temporary and we will be able to bring it down soon. It’s just a precaution to ensure that no bacteria is present.

Additionally, we have arranged for the East End river crossing (from the Billings Farm field to the Sewer Plant field) to be replaced via directional drilling. The rig for this has now arrived and work should begin shortly. Using directional drilling will allow the line to be buried much deeper, and makes it nearly impossible for the line to ever break again. We are also lengthening the line so that the valves are much further from the edge of the river. The drilling process may take up to a week.

When we do resume normal operation, please continue to conserve water. We used to have 16” of line running across the river between the 2 river crossings, but with the breaks and temporary pipe, we now only have 4”. That is why the tank levels have remained low. This should improve when the new line is in place, but until then, please be thoughtful about your water usage. If water usage picks up, the tank will return to a critically low point.

Things that are okay to do:
- Flush toilets
- Short showers (<15 minutes)
- Laundry (2 loads max per week, on express wash)

Things that are not okay to do:
- Water your garden
- Fill pools
- Pressure wash or hose wash anything
- Any other things that aren’t critical and use lots of water

Note that the Woodstock Inn has irrigation that comes from their own well. If you see their sprinklers running, it is not using Aqueduct water.

If you see anyone pressure washing, please ask them to stop, and reach out to us and let us know.

Woodstock Aqueduct Company emails: tessmalloy@gmail.com or fhgstoreoffice@gmail.com.

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