U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) visited Peterborough Tuesday to discuss the federal funding secured for the town’s water main project and explore the possibility of similar grant money for the proposed municipal safety campus on the town’s warrant.
Peterborough was one of 10 towns in Kuster’s 2nd District to receive funding for infrastructure projects. As announced in early April, the town will receive $277,804, which covers the full cost of the project ongoing concurrently with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s work on the Route 101 bridge.
“Water infrastructure is vital for the sustainability of all our Granite State towns and communities, including right here in Peterborough,” Kuster said Tuesday. “I was proud to secure federal resources for this long-needed project to relocate Peterborough’s water main and bolster the town’s water system.”
Town Administrator Nicole MacStay said the federal funding would help ease the burden on water ratepayers.
“When the full cost of this maintenance work falls to the ratepayers, it results in burdensome increases to the cost of water, especially in small communities like Peterborough,” MacStay said. “The Town of Peterborough is incredibly grateful for Congresswoman Kuster’s advocacy and work to bring financial support to this critical project.”
Fire Chief Ed Walker was in attendance to explain the water main’s importance to emergency response systems and personnel, from sprinkler systems to fire tankers, all of which need adequate water access to fight fires. Walker also brought up the possibility of finding similar grants to help ease the potential cost of the town’s proposed municipal safety complex; Kuster and her ground team offered a few initial suggestions and promised to work with the town going forward on that issue.