Pennichuck adds Exeter system

Pennichuck East Utility has completed the purchase of the Exeter-based Forest Ridge community water system.

The announcement came within days of Pennichuck Water Works’ announced completion of the second of three major phases of a $40 million upgrade to its water treatment plant in Nashua.

While the Pennichuck Corp. subsidiary provides service to Exeter residents through the company’s operations division, Forest Ridge represents Pennichuck’s first Exeter franchise.

“This is our first community system acquisition in Exeter,” said Pennichuck vice president, Bernard Rousseau. “Exeter and neighboring communities continue to grow and professionally operated community water systems continue to be a viable means of assuring safe, high quality drinking water to the homeowners.”

The 200 Forest Ridge residents served by the community water system are members of a new condominium development constructed by Chinburg Builders of Durham.

The water treatment plant upgrades recently completed in Nashua include a new finished water pumping station, 6.5 million gallon finished water storage tank, a new backwash holding tank and new finished water chemical feed facilities.

Plans for the third phase, to be completed within two years, includes the construction of a water inlet system and upgrades to the clarification, filtration and chemical feed facilities.

According to a recent statement made by company officials, the goal of the upgrades is to “ensure compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act water quality standards.” – TRACIE STONE