Municipal water and sewer infrastructure enable housing development on smaller lots and in greater densities, which can help to keep costs lower for homes (i.e. units on smaller lots, in greater density).  In addition, it encourages efficient and compact land use development patterns that further goals for village revitalization, providing new homes in walkable neighborhoods, and creating more density which makes public transit more cost efficient. Creation of new workforce housing and other larger developments is also limited by the lack of buildable areas served by public water and sewer systems in the greater Upper Valley region.  

There are many existing homes within municipal infrastructure service areas that are not presently connected.  Part of this project is to encourage redevelopment of existing homes to create more units.  As part of that, renovated homes should connect to municipal water and sewer systems, as capacity allows, maximizing use and generating fees for the municipality. 

Additional resources: 

• Vermont Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Financing Programs by VT Dept. Of Conservations 
• New Hampshire Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Funding Programs by the Environmental Finance Network
• New Hampshire Town and City magazine, “Municipalities: Stewards of New Hampshire’s Water Infrastructure”
• Asset Management for Water and Wastewater Utilities by US EPA