Waitsfield Wastewater Planning Project

Progress to Date

Planning and design have been ongoing since 2022, transitioning into Final Design in January 2024. All work to date has been funded through state and federal sources (~$400k) at no cost to taxpayers.

Construction & Operation

Construction and operation of the system is designed to not burden Waitsfield taxpayers. Instead, the cost will be shared by users after deducting grants. The Town is actively pursuing federal and state grants, along with a federal loan to be repaid through affordable user rates.

Bond Vote

A positive bond vote on 6/11/24 for the full project cost ($15 million) is required to secure the maximum amount of state and federal funding. This funding is necessary to achieve project goals of affordable user rates and ensuring no taxpayer impact beyond connections to municipal properties.

If you have questions or comments about the Waitsfield Wastewater Planning Project, please contact Town Administrator, Annie Decker-Dell’Isola at townadmin@ gmavt.net or (802) 496-2218 ext. 5.

Last Updated: September 6, 2023

Project Background

Since the Fall of 2021, the Town of Waitsfield has engaged in a concerted effort to explore wastewater infrastructure options for Irasville and Waitsfield Village and surrounding areas. This effort is supported by many chapters of the Waitsfield Town Plan (December 2017) including policies and tasks identified in the Natural Resources, Infrastructure, Housing, and Land Use chapters.  

The 2022 Wastewater and Water Feasibility Study explored options for infrastructure improvements, wastewater solutions, and potential expansion of water service connections for Irasville and Waitsfield Villages. Under the direction of the Water and Wastewater Feasibility Study Committee (WWFSC), made up of members from the Selectboard, Planning Commission, and Water Commission, engineering consultants DuBois & King (D&K) identified a variety of alternatives and considerations.

On December 5, 2022, the Waitsfield Selectboard accepted the recommendation of D&K and supported by the WWFSC to proceed with a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the study’s Scenario 5B (explore the development of the Munn Site for treatment and disposal as well as another site for treatment and disposal in the north) and Scenario 2 (explore opportunities for connecting remaining properties with private wells in the Irasville and Waitsfield Village Districts to the water system). A scope of work for a Wastewater and Water Project Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) and Environmental Information Documents (EID) was developed with D&K, for the purpose of further defining the preferred solutions’ feasibility and costs, which was approved by the Board on January 23, 2023.

This marked a transition from feasibility study (Phase 1A) to the engineering work required to advance the project (Phase 1B). The culmination of the Feasibility Study work resulted in the development of a new project approach and structure to guide this next phase of the project. On February 13, 2023, the Selectboard approved a plan for continuing the work on the wastewater project, including an MOU with the Mad River Valley Planning District (MRVPD) to provide project support based on the identified Waitsfield Wastewater Project Planning Structure.

Preliminary Engineering Report

The Project Coordination Team and Engineering & Technical Team (ETT) have been working with D&K since early 2023 on the Preliminary Engineering Report. On May 30th, the Project Outreach Team presented the initial findings and recommendations of that report to the Selectboard and the community. 

90% Preliminary Engineering Report

On June 5th, the Selectboard took action to support the findings and recommendations included in the 90% Preliminary Report, as found in more detail below.

• Main document: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​90% Preliminary Engineering Report from Dubois & King(6/1/23)
• Figures (1-12)
• Appendices
  • Appendix A
  • Appendix (B-O)
  • Appendix (P-W)

At their meeting on June 5th, the Selectboard also directed the Wastewater Planning Project Team to draft an engineering services agreement and loan application for the 30% design phase of the project. This was reviewed and approved for submittal by the Selectboard on June 26, 2023.

Meetings & Materials

• April 17, 2023: ​​​​​​​Presentation during Joint Selectboard & Planning Commission Meeting (PDF)
• May 30, 2023: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Presentation during Selectboard Waitsfield Wastewater Planning Project Update​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​(​​​​​​​P​​​​​​​D​​​​​​​F​​​​​​​)​​​​​​
• June 5, 2023: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Presentation to Selectboard of 90% PER Review and Recommendation​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​(​​​​​​​P​​​​​​​D​​​​​​​F)​​​​​​
• June 26, 2023:​​​​​​​ Selectboard reviewed and approved for submission a draft Engineering Services Agreement and Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan application for 30% Design, as recommended in the June 5th staff report and included in the June 5th presentation. Meeting agenda & packet are available (PDF)