Representatives of a water-bottling company who visited Hooksett told the towns economic development committee they are considering a 500,000-square-foot facility on the west side of Hackett Hill Road near I-93 and would likely buy the property, committee members said.

The company described a phased plan that would supply two production lines in phase 1, requiring about 600,000 gallons per day, with a possible phase 2 that would roughly double that amount. Town participants described the project as a major new water user in the Hooksett Village Water precinct and said Village Water and company representatives are discussing interconnections and additional well sites to meet demand.

Why it matters: Committee members described the proposal as potentially large enough to affect the towns existing water system and to accelerate the precincts search for new wells. Members said identifying new well locations is complicated by conservation easements, existing aquifer protection and past contamination in some candidate locations.

Committee discussion and next steps

Town participants said Niagara Waters team asked detailed questions about sewer and water capacity and that municipal water and sewer staff were present during the meeting. Committee members said the company is also evaluating other regional sites and has not made a final choice.

Committee members discussed five test-well areas identified by the water precinct. One candidate site near Heads Pond was described as having a conservation easement that restricts uses; speakers said permitted uses in some easements can include domestic or fire wells but that specific easement language varies by parcel. Members noted that the village precincts existing wells are clustered near Pinnacle Pond and that a new large user could put the precinct near capacity if additional sources are not developed.

Members also raised groundwater and surface-water safeguards. Committee discussion referenced an existing 12-inch pipe that transfers water from Brickyard Brook into the aquifer system that feeds Pinnacle Pond, and one member said streamflow limits affect when water can be diverted. A few members expressed concern about locating new production wells in areas with a history of material importation or other potential contamination, and they asked staff to continue pursuing test sites and to talk with regional economic development partners about available incentives.

Clarifying details

- Proposed facility size described by company representatives: about 500,000 square feet.
- Company-described water need: about 600,000 gallons per day for phase 1; phase 2 described as roughly double.
- Status: company stated Hooksett remains in the running but other locations are being evaluated.

Community and environmental context

Committee members discussed the need to balance economic development and aquifer protection. Members noted prior town approvals that created clustered well fields (near Pinnacle Pond) and said both interconnection with neighboring systems and identification of new well locations are being considered. One member urged caution because some nearby sand-and-gravel operations have accepted fill material in the past and may raise contamination concerns.

Meeting-level outcomes

Committee members said staff will continue follow-up with the company and with regional economic-development contacts, and they discussed inviting regional partners (for example, BEA representatives) back to a future meeting if staff locates additional incentives that might make Hooksett more competitive.

Speakers

Committee members and participants who spoke about the topic in the meeting transcript included: Dave (not specified), Grant (not specified), Mike Bergeron (not specified), Mike Heidorn (not specified), Dana (not specified), Andre (not specified), Brian (not specified).