SB 11 Not a Done Deal Yet

We are happy to report that SB 11 has a two week reprieve as far as being voted on in the NH House of Representatives.

These are the questions that still remain unanswered:

1) There is already in existence a Merrimack Valley Water District. They are the ones who tried to take over private wells in Bedford, NH by eminent domain in 2005 with HB 572. Why does the pair of towns requesting this need more legislation if it has already been made legal to form water districts?

2) The language in the bill says that by virtue of the general court, water would be “determined” and “declared” a “public” resource — does this mean the state would own all water in NH?

3) The bill allows for the right of the water district to tax property owners within the district. Which property owners might these be? ALL property owners in the district or just those who are hooked into any water processing and waste water treatment plants that might be built? This is not clear. It appears to be ALL property owners as written.

There are too many questions to be answered about SB 11. Until such time as these questions are clarified, we consider this bill a huge can of worms.