Vermont Flood Response At Drinking Water & Wastewater Utilities

Vermont Rural Water assists systems impacted by severe July flooding

A large number of drinking water and wastewater utilities in Vermont were severely affected by the storms and flooding on July 9–10, 2023. At least 19 water systems experienced Boil Water Notices, Do Not Drink Orders, or were unable to deliver drinking water to customers. An estimated 23 wastewater systems had some form of permit violation due to flooding. Several treatment facilities were themselves flooded. Many water mains and sewer lines broke when streets or rivers flooded.

Vermont Rural Water's staff has been working around-the-clock to assist systems impacted by this emergency.

Johnson Wastewater Treatment Facility
Johnson's wastewater treatment facility was completely destroyed by flooding. Vermont Rural Water staff have visited the site numerous times since the flood to help source pumps, portable treatment units, and temporary lab/office space. We also continue to meet with the wastewater operators, the Village manager, and staff from the State of Vermont, EPA, Army Corps, USDA and FEMA about the immediate and long-term needs of Johnson's wastewater facility.

Assistance Provided
The type of help that Vermont Rural Water has provided to drinking water and wastewater utilities includes:

• Inspected treatment plants, distribution/collection pipes, manholes, river crossings, and pump stations
• Completed initial and ongoing needs evaluations
• Sourced equipment from nearby utilities and rental companies
• Set up bypass pumping and coordinated sludge pumping
• Cleaned and rebuilt chemical feed room and plumbing
• Repaired blower for secondary treatment
• Located influent manhole coming into plant and sewer line under brook
• Dye tested potential broken pipes at river crossings
• Delivered emergency response trailers for onsite clean and dry workspace and storage
• Designed chlorination system for disinfection
• Coordinated mutual aid response between towns
• Sourced and delivered a borrowed vactor truck
• Spoke with press about how supply chain issues are impacting repair timelines
• Delivered supplies such as dehumidifiers, industrial fans, and KN95 masks
• Installed replacement chemical feed pumps and tubing
• Pumped water out of reservoirs and lagoons to prevent overflows
• Delivered sample bottles to water system
• Transported water samples to laboratory
• Called all water and wastewater systems in areas affected by flooding to offer assistance
• Called all water systems under Boil Water Notices
• Provided information and resources on our website and through daily email updates

VT WARN
Vermont Rural Water's executive director, Liz Royer, is co-chair of the Vermont Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (VT WARN), a mutual aid network of water and wastewater utilities. Throughout the emergency, Liz has managed requests and offers for assistance from member utilities.

Communities Helped
Vermont Rural Water provided onsite or phone assistance to drinking water and/or wastewater utilities in:

Time Spent
Vermont Rural Water's staff spent a tremendous amount of time helping water and wastewater utilities in the two weeks following the beginning of the flood (July 10 through 21):

• 228 hours onsite at impacted water and wastewater utilities
• 208 hours of additional support (phone calls, emails, etc.)