Woodsville, NH – Kevin Shelton, Fire District Administrator for Woodsville, reported to the Bridge Weekly this week that his district is providing water for Wells River residents to use.
This program was established recently after the early January 2025 fuel oil spill became a potential threat to the district’s 219 water users. Recent comments from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources indicated that a January 2025 fuel oil spill in Wells River, Vermont, near the village’s public water supply, has prompted monitoring by local and state officials.
The location of the spill, officials noted, was in the basement of the Evernorth-owned Baldwin Block, a mixed-use building on Route 302 in Wells River. They say approximately 600 gallons of fuel oil were spilled. As of April 2025, the agency reported that “while initial reports in February 2025 indicated no impact on the public water supply, oil was detected in the village test well in April 2025, raising concerns about potential threats to the public water system serving 219 customers.”
The agency noted that the potential risks involved indicate that fuel oil can contaminate groundwater and drinking water sources, potentially posing health risks to consumers. The long-term effects, they said, depend on the extent of contamination and the effectiveness of cleanup efforts. The spill could have long-term environmental consequences.
The Vermont spill program assesses the environmental impact of spills, oversees cleanup efforts, and enforces relevant regulations. Spills of hazardous materials, such as fuel oil, that reach the ground or water should be reported to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
The agency emphasized the importance of the public staying informed about developments related to this bill and being aware of any potential issues or warnings issued by local and state authorities. They advised the public to contact the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation or the Village of Wells River for the latest information on the situation.
Local Wells River District information was issued to the public two weeks ago by Wells River Village Clerk Mary Schilke in an “Urgent notice to all village water system customers request for voluntary water conservation measures” she outlined the situation describing that due to a spill of fuel oil in the vicinity of the villages well, the only water source, “there is a high potential for the well to be contaminated. In response, the village will discontinue using the well, effective Monday, July 21, 2025, and will commence bulk water hauling, utilizing tankers to transport water from the Woodsville Fire District to the village’s storage tank. This operation will be very costly, and for this reason, the village trustees are respectfully requesting that all water customers attempt to limit water usage during this emergency condition.” Her telephone number is 802-757-3401.
Ms. Schilke noted in her release that the contamination is an issue that is expected to impact the ability to use the well for an extended period of time, possibly years. The village, she said, is proceeding with actions to provide a longer term but is still working on temporary solutions.
“The village is also proceeding with actions to search for and drill a new well source that could possibly replace the existing well. Both of these options will take time to plan and implement, hence the need for bulk hauling in the immediate term, which may extend through the end of the year.”
Woodsville Fire District Administrator Shelton said that Wells River is receiving water from the Woodsville water system. “We have plenty of daily capacity to assist,” he said recently. The water shuttle trucks are receiving water through a hydrant at the Woodsville Community Field, which has a potable water connection and verified to have a chlorine residual.
He added that the residual must be present to ensure there is no danger from bacteria. It is added at the treatment plant and is monitored at several points in the system to ensure its presence, Shelton said.
He said that, to his knowledge, this is the first time that the Woodsville Fire District has provided emergency water services to Wells River. He said it is a unique situation, and with winter a few months away, the temporary solution will need to be modified.

Have a story?