New Committee To Study Lost Lake Hydrant Needs
Subsequent to the fire on Boathouse Road and one that happened in November on Lost Lake Drive, Town Manager Mark Haddad established a committee that is charged with looking at exactly what is required in order to provide adequate water to fight fires anywhere on the lakes. This may include additional Water Department hydrants, the use of dry hydrants that are designed to pull water from the middle of the lake, and/or large water cisterns that will hold thousands of gallons of water.
Chief Bosselait said that the committee will look at town-owned lots and conservations lots initially as potential locations for either dry hydrants or cisterns, and make determinations on the depth of the water, the amount of silt, and the best locations for water in the winter months. He estimated that the cost for a dry hydrant was between $5 and $10K, adding that Knops Pond is a deeper body of water than Lost Lake.
Committee members include Chief Bosselait, Police Chief Donald Palma, Water Department Manager Tom Orcutt, DPW Director Tom Delaney, and two lake residents Carol Quinn and Val Prest. Haddad said that the plan is for the committee to have recommendations ready in the fall so that if an article is required to fund any of these projects, it can be presented at the Fall Town Meeting.