Police Chief Robbie Blish, Woodstock Aqueduct's Eric Wegner, Village Trustee Chair Candace Coburn and Selectman Preston Bristow
10:50 pm Woodstock Early Bird plans to give you a full report on the meeting at Woodstock Elementary School in the morning. We’ve been off enjoying a hurricane rum punch and MRE’s prepared by the neighbors. A most restorative break! But most important right now is this news:
Police Officer Jen Hutchins has communicated that the Kedron Brook is now contaminated with #2 Fuel Oil from Maple Street. The odor of fuel or “diesel” type smell is quite strong from Maple Street all along the Kedron Brook up through High Street to the Ottauquechee River.
An Early Bird who was using Kedron Brook water for flushing toilets on High Street also noticed the oil in the water earlier today. This is the area behind the Woodstock Inn and across the Kedron Brook from Vail Field.
Now to the Community Flood Response Meeting…It was well-run and well attended with lots of good information. It was grounding to see all the folks who have been leading us through this flood crisis assembled in one room. Also, to hear about the number of people volunteering to help. If you have any needs or want to assist, Woodstock Elementary School is the place to go in the next few days.
The headline: We finally got to meet and hear from Woodstock Aqueduct’s Eric Wegner who, despite “looking like hell”– as a Village resident pointed out — gave a very comprehensive review of the company’s efforts and a review of the effects of Sunday’s flood on the water system. Despite his exhaustion Wegner’s clearly communicated information should help to settle people’s immediate concerns.
Water will slowly be coming back to the Village. But Woodstock Aqueduct will be regulating the flow so we may get some water in the morning and afternoon and then none at all for the next few days. While two pumps are up and running to get the water out and pressure restored, there will still be issues with pipe breaks in the entire system. Residents are asked to help identify these leaks and breaks. If there is water flowing in odd places, it’s a problem. Also, this water will still be under a BOIL ORDER. If you wish to drink it is safest to boil it for at least five minutes. When we get back to 24/7 water and the water has been tested and found free of any levels of contaminants, Woodstock Early Bird will let you know.
In addition, Village Trustee Trish Compton appealed to everyone to continue preserving water — use it for flushing, simple cleaning and drinking. It is not an endless resource, but very precious at this time. The Red Cross has delivered drinking water to the Woodstock Elementary School and it will be available all day tomorrow. Please feel free to pick up a small pallet. And Water from Chip Kendall’s tank will also be re-filled and offered again for flushing toilets and cleaning at the Elementary School.
Bottom line on Water : Woodstock Aqueduct is making good progress but we are not “out-of-the-woods” yet. In the meantime, water resources are available but will be limited.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 