Rhinebeck faces costly water‑system leaks; board approves budget transfers to cover repairs

The Village of Rhinebeck’s DPW and elected officials told the board that an unusually high number of water‑main leaks over the past year forced emergency work and drove the water fund past its planned spending, prompting budget amendments and a request to move $200,000 from the water fund balance to cover repair and maintenance costs.

"Our water leaks were multiplying by the week," DPW Superintendent Kyle Amy said during the board meeting, detailing subcontracted digs, sonar work to locate faults and a current $75,000 excavation to shut down a line. He said several leaks were concentrated on Radcliff Road, Morton Road and a deep service line under Route 308.

Kyle reported the plant produced about 266,000,000 gallons last fiscal year and that the village lost roughly 100,000,000 gallons to leaks. He said some repairs required heavy equipment and subcontractors, which increased costs, but the DPW has recently completed two repairs in‑house and is building capacity to do more work without outside contractors.

Board members discussed whether some costs could be reimbursed from project contingency funds tied to upgrades, whether grant contingency could be tapped, and the limits on using village funds to repair infrastructure that extends beyond village boundaries. A question about progress toward creating a town water district — a structure the transcript describes as necessary for financing infrastructure serving areas outside the village — drew discussion that the town maps are drawn but the town must pass resolutions to create the districts.

After discussion, the board approved budget amendments and a motion (recorded by voice) to accept the water‑fund transfers with direction to pursue any eligible reimbursements; the transcript records ayes but does not report a roll‑call tally.

The board instructed DPW and finance staff to continue updating maps, pursue reimbursement where eligible, and report quarterly on water production and loss metrics so the board can monitor the issue going forward.