Dave Wallally outlines Old Nashville Road waterline work, safety testing and funding pathway

Dave Wallally, the town's director of public works, led a site briefing on an ongoing waterline improvement project at the intersection of Route 102 and Old Nashville Road near Lily Lane.

Wallally said the work extends water service from Route 102 toward Parmentor Road and will interconnect with a separate line planned for High Range Road. He described visible trench-patching, shoulder restoration and crews pressure-testing newly installed pipe to confirm it holds pressure and has no leaks.

Why it matters: the project replaces and extends water infrastructure and aims to provide potable service without a direct local taxpayer charge, Wallally said. He stated the work is being paid for through federal grants and other sources funneled through the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

Wallally described a section of the project at the crown of a hill where crews could not excavate next to a high‑pressure gas main. "So this area here is where they do a boring and they actually use a drill rig that goes down under earth and then comes up through the patch," he said, explaining that the drill rigs tunnel beneath the gas main to connect pipe segments on both sides. He also noted the work was made more technically difficult by ledge in the ground and the close proximity of the gas main.

On water quality procedures, Wallally walked through the pressure and disinfection steps crews use after laying pipe. He said crews mix a measured amount of chlorine into a pump and "they're ejecting that into the line" while pulling flow through a hydrant at the far end to disinfect the main. "This chlorine will then sit in the line for a minimum of 24 hours and then the crews will be back the next day to flush it all out," he said. After flushing, crews verify the line is clear of debris and meets potable-water expectations before putting it into service.

Wallally also identified the contractor on the project as Joseph P. Cadillo (transcript: "Cadillo and Suns") and reiterated that funding is administered through the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. He said the project began last year and crews began the most recent fieldwork after winter ended.

The next steps, as described by Wallally, are to complete the disinfection dwell period, return to flush and test the line, and then place the line into service for the community. Wallally said this segment will also tie into the future High Range Road connection when that line is completed.

"Once that's complete, we know that the line has clean drinkable potable drinking water in it. We know that the pressure is holding and we know that it's been disinfected and it's ready to be put into service for all the community to enjoy," Wallally said.

No formal motions or votes were recorded during the site briefing.