The Amherst Town Council approved the $90,000 purchase of a 120‑acre parcel of forest land on February 5, 2026, to protect the town’s drinking water supply. The parcel is located in the North Tyndal Wellfield, which provides fresh water to nearly 10,000 residents in Amherst and the surrounding Cumberland County area.
By owning this property, the Town (through the Amherst Water Utility) gains direct control over land use, reducing the risk of future residential or industrial activities that could contaminate the groundwater. The town said in an official statement that it is much cheaper to buy the land now than to try to remediate a contaminated aquifer later.
The purchase was funded from the Town’s Water Utility capital budget — specifically the depreciation/land acquisition reserves set aside for environmental protection. The move follows a similar December 2023 land acquisition and is consistent with the provincial North Tyndal Protected Water Area regulations; municipal ownership gives the town additional direct control over land use beyond the restrictions the regulations impose.
The forest helps protect the aquifer recharge area and water quality, and municipal ownership gives the town the ability to manage and restrict development on the parcel to reduce contamination risk. Protecting the wellfield is part of the town’s long-term strategy to safeguard drinking water and support the future growth and health of the community.
