• Water gardens and lawns early in the day to ensure that most of the water reaches plants and to minimize water loss by evaporation.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.  A family of four can save 50 to 100 gallons of water per week by taking this step.
• Upgrade old style toilets.  Installing a low flow toilet that uses only 1.6 gallons/flush can save over half the water used in older toilets.  Alternatively, add a plastic bottle filled with pebbles to the tank to reduce the amount of water it will hold. 

What Our Clients are Saying...

• Sheldon Water System Improvements
  Through the diligent efforts of Dmitri Hudak of the Vermont Rural Water Association, we are nearing completion of an income survey for the Town of Sheldon.  Results from this survey will improve the Town's eligibility for funding opportunities.  Final plans for the water system improvements have been delivered to the permitting agencies.  We look forward to assisting the Town with a positive bond vote, and subsequently embarking on the bid and construction phase later this year.

• Waitsfield Water Supply Project
  Congratulations to the Town of Waitsfield!  After a very long road, the Town received an Act 250 Permit and is concluding the design phase of their comprehensive water project.  We anticipate bidding the project this summer while the construction market remains competitive.

• Addison Wastewater Study
  Voters in the Town of Addison recently approved expansion of the Town wastewater system study.  This study has grown out of the Town's desire to restore their historic Town Hall, which has no local wastewater capacity.  Preliminary findings have shown that it may be possible to serve several Town buildings and some private properties with a community system.  

• Alburgh Village Treatment Plant Improvements
  Congratulations to the Village of Alburgh on the recent passage of a $2.5 million bond vote for much-needed improvements to their water treatment plant.  Design plans for this project are approaching 90% completion.  We are awaiting a formal funding commitment from USDA Rural Development and will complete final plans this summer to allow for bid and construction in 2010. 

• Middlebury College Water Main Replacement
  Phelps Engineering was recently awarded a contract for engineering, bid, and construction phase services on a Bread Loaf Campus water line replacement project.  This project involves replacement of the existing water main from the Bread Loaf Campus storage tank to the main campus.  Phelps Engineering has provided engineering services to Middlebury College for the Bread Loaf water and wastewater systems for 25 years, as well as numerous projects on the Main Campus.  

• Town of Dover
  Work continues on the Town of Dover water system feasibility study.  Phelps Engineering has applied our GIS experience to develop Town-wide water demand estimates.  Possible service areas have been reviewed, and a hydraulic model of a possible water system was developed.  Over the next few months this study will be moving into the public meeting phase, and we look forward to sharing what we have learned about water system feasibility with the residents of Dover.

• Eastview at Middlebury
  This retirement community of approximately 100 units will be getting under construction this year after several years of permit appeals.  Phelps Engineering designed roads, utilities, grading, and drainage for this important project.

Financial and Funding News

• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) - Water Supply Division
  • Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) provide about $8 to $10 million annually for eligible projects, with interest rates between +3% to -3% over 20 to 30 years.
  • Eligibility depends on a needs review to establish a point ranking; out of about 150 projects, about 10% receive funding each year.
  • Applications are accepted annually in the spring.
  • See www.vermontdrinkingwater.org/grants.htm for more details.

• ANR's Wastewater Management Division
  • Grants for Projects which can assist with refurbishment, storm and sanitary sewer, and phosphorus removal among other projects.
  • Revolving Loan Funds for local share of eligible projects; interest rates of 0% for 20 years are typical.
  • See www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/fed/fed.htm for more details.

• USDA Rural Development
  • Grant and Loan Program
    • Grant eligibility is largely based on community average household income; this can be as much as 75% of eligible costs.
    • Loan terms also depend on community income.
  • See www.rurdev.usda.gov for further information.

• Block Grants
  • Agency of Community Development provides grant opportunities, generally based on a competitive process which favors local job creation.
  • STAG (State Local and Tribal) Block grants available through the state's congressional delegation and administered through the Vermont ANR.

• ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act)
  • Funding authorized in 2009 provided a substantial increase to assist the ANR with water supply and wastewater projects which were ready to construct during 2009.
  • Congress has not yet authorized an appropriation in 2010; current indications do not show likelihood of passage this year.

• Vermont Municipal Bond Bank (VMBB)
  • Traditional bond issues at standard municipal rates, currently about 4.2% for 20 to 30 years (up to 40 years for water supply projects).
  • Build America Bonds - intended to provide economic stimulus, provide a 35% interest rebate, reducing the effective rate to about 3%; requires annual IRS reporting to obtain rebate.
  • Recovery Zone Bonds - also through the VMBB, allows 45% interest rebate, but requires project contracts to use Davis-Bacon federal wage rates.
  • Go to www.vmbb.org for more information.

• The big news in our office is that our newest member, Robert Clark, was married on May 22, 2010 to Diana Barrett.  The happy couple was married in a lovely ceremony on the Bridport Town Green.  Our best to the Clarks as they start their life together here in Addison County.

• Jeremy Rathbun continues his volunteering with the Middlebury Energy Committee, helping to identify funding opportunities for studies and small projects related to energy efficiency and renewable energy.

• Jon Ashley and Jeremy Rathbun volunteered as judges at the Vermont State Science and Math Fair held at Norwich University on April 17.  Both agreed that this state has some very, VERY, smart kids!  Jeremy met a 5th grader who received a DNA extraction kit for Christmas and who may one day start a Bio-Tech firm.  Jeremy promptly offered the student his business card and his engineering services...one never knows!

• Jim Scott has continued his summer volunteer work with the River Collaborative, a local river sampling initiative.  By sampling water quality at various points along waterways in Addison County, this group of volunteers provides samples for the State of Vermont to test, thus enabling the State to better track pollution in our public waterways.  

• Kim Betourney has been a busy volunteer for various graduation activities for Middlebury Union High School.  Her youngest child graduates this spring and then embarks on her college studies at the London College of Fashion.