LONDONDERRY-Construction on the highly anticipated South Village Wastewater Project has begun.
According to town officials, this milestone "marks a significant step forward in modernizing local infrastructure, protecting the local environment, and supporting the long-term economic vitality of the village center. A similar project for Londonderry's North Village is being advanced through engineering and permitting phases."
Following a competitive bidding process, the town recently awarded the construction contract to local firm Hunter Excavating of South Londonderry. Hunter will oversee the installation of the new wastewater system, which project coordinators say has been "designed to provide reliable, efficient service to homes and businesses within the village district."
Preliminary site work and equipment mobilization will be done in the coming weeks. Wastewater from individual properties connected to the system will be discharged to a soil-based disposal field, similar to a conventional septic leach field, at the town-owned Prouty Parcel located between the North and South Villages on Route 100.
A critical component of bringing this project to fruition is the more than $4.6 million of funding secured through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). "By leveraging these federal and state recovery funds, Londonderry is making a generational investment in essential municipal infrastructure while minimizing the financial impact on local taxpayers," said town officials in a news release.
In 2024, residents approved a bond vote covering the required funding match. The project is the first ARPA funded village wastewater project to be bid in the state.
"This project is a transformative step for Londonderry," said Town Adminstrator Aileen Tulloch. "Bringing reliable wastewater infrastructure to our village center has been years in the making." As she thanked ARPA funding, volunteers, Windham Regional Commission, Dufresne Group, and the support of other stakeholders in the state, she said, they are "finally ready to put shovels in the ground and build a stronger foundation for our community's future."
"Like many historic villages in Vermont, South Londonderry lacks municipal wastewater infrastructure that is critical for supporting housing, businesses, flood resiliency, and improved water quality," said Matt Bachler, a senior planner at the Windham Regional Commission. "The South Londonderry wastewater project is a great case study for other communities in our region to learn from and see how these types of projects can go from an idea to construction, thanks to the dedication of volunteers, elected officials, and town staff."
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has provided technical support during the planning and permitting process for the project.
Residents, businesses, and visitors should expect an increase in construction traffic and minor detours in the village area this summer. Representatives from the town and Hunter Excavating say they are committed to minimizing disruptions and will provide regular updates on construction phases, traffic impacts, and continuing progress.
For more information about the Village Wastewater Project and construction schedules, or to sign up for project updates, visit londonderryvt.gov/wastewater.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.