Jaffrey expects to utilize principal-forgiveness loans from state revolving funds to tackle two large-scale projects in the coming year – replacing a section of water mains on Squantum Road and closing the town’s wastewater treatment lagoons on Old Sharon Road.

As both projects require taking on debt, Jaffrey was required to hold a public hearing on both proposals, which took place on Monday. Both projects will be on the town’s warrant in March, and will require a supermajority of a three-fifths ballot vote to pass.

The first proposal is a $2.56 million project to design and construct a replacement water main and associated equipment along Squantum Road and Prescott Road.

Due to the length of Squantum Road, the replacement of the water main will be done in segments, with the current segments due for replacement running from the end of Stratton Road to the end of Howard Hill Road, and from Prescott Road to Sherwin Hill Road.

The town intends to use a New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan to fund the project. Of the total, 70% of the loan – about $1.8 million – may be waived as principal forgiveness. The remainder would come from town Water Department, supported by user fees and not from property taxes.

The second project is also relying on a principal-forgiveness loan, with the expectation that the entirety of the loan will be forgiven. The town is requesting $100,000 to design a closure and decommissioning plan for the three wastewater lagoonx at 2 Old Sharon Road.

The town used to use the lagoon process to treat its wastewater, prior to a new wastewater treatment plant being constructed over a decade ago. The lagoon process is now considered outdated.

The lagoons are part of a registered dam, which must either be maintained by the town until it is removed, which is  the plan for the coming year. The town is seeking an engineering firm to design a plan to close the lagoons, as is required by New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, which will declassify the lagoons as dams.

The project would be funded by a loan, also through NHDES, with assistance from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The town anticipated 100% of the principal of the loan to be forgiven by NHDES. Any town funding that is needed to contribute to the project will be provided by wastewater user fees, and not from property taxes.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.