Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-05-16 Board of Public Works MinutesBoard of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 1 A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 18, Community Center at 7:30 P.N. Present were Chairman Wood, Secretary Fallon, Board Members Barker and Griffin and Superintendent E. Roger Louanis and Assistant Superintendent William R. Bergeron. It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 to accept the minutes of the Board of Public Works meeting of May 9, 1983 as amended. It was moved, seconded and voted 4 :0 that Sheet No. 7, Bill No. 8 for a 70% lateral for Alvin P. & Joan N. Bittrich, 9 Barbara Lane, Plat 168, Lot 29, dated May 16, 1983 in the amount of $336.00 be committed to the Tax Collector and betterments assessed accordingly. It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 to accept the letter from the D.E.G.E. regarding the Construction Grant Payment in the amount of $454,468.00 for the Water Treatment Plant as a point of information. The Board met with representatives of Camp Dresser & McKee to discuss the ongoing problems with progress at the Water Treatment Plant. Present from CDN were John Willis and Edmund DiIorio. There were several Reading residents present as well as Town Counsel, Ted Cohen. Mr. Willis stated with regard to the lime system we have written a letter outlining the proposed plan of action. At the current time the lime system is operating at 50% of its capacity, the main problem being grit removal from the slaker to the slurry tank. This system is now operating at the maximum capacity it can remove the grit. CDN is recommending an external degritting device be installed. CDN may also design one themselves. It will take four to six weeks to manufacture that device. We do not know the delivery time on a pre - manufactured item, but probably the same time frame. In the meantime, CDN has purchased a new eductor which will partially alleviate the problem. Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 2 Mr. Willis stated this is only a partial solution to get a system up to a 70% solution. CDM is also sending a member of their staff to the plant on Tuesday. point. Chairman Wood asked what type of lime CDM is recommending at this Mr. Willis stated CDM is not recommending any change - they are recommending improvements to the system which they think will work with any type lime. CDM thinks the pebble lime used was not a true pebble lime, but can not prove that to the manufacturer. Chairman Wood stated we have a number of problems. One of them is the number of calls we are receiving with water problems. The week before last, the call list was very bad, the Department received at least 189 calls regarding yellow or rusty water and ruined laundry. Mr. Willis stated I think most of the dirty water problems are because of the fact that the system has not been properly flushed for several years. There is nothing ocurring at the plant except for a problem with the sludge collector that could have caused all of those problems. Mr. Willis stated he has talked to the operating staff and nowhere can he find any problem other than the sludge collector. Mr. Griffin stated he has many problems with the letter from CDM dated May 13 regarding the lime system with respect to its ability to meet the pH adjustment requirements of the water treatment plant. Mr. Griffin stated the slaker can produce a 10 -12% concentration, however, we can not move that concentration to the slurry tank. Mr. Willis stated the system was not designed for this. Mr. Griffin pointed out the letter states "However, after educting the lime slurry into the lime slurry tank only a 3 to 4 percent is produced ". Board of Public Works Meeting of May lb, 1983 Page 3 Mfr. Griffin stated, this strikes me as a design problem. Mir. Willis stated yes, it is. to design problem) Mir. Willis stated the slaker is capable of a 20% concentration. The external degritting device would allow us to get a range of solution strengths in the tank. We think this is the best solution. Mfr. Griffin asked if the new educting system and the external adjustments again fall short and do not produce the variation possible, what then? Mfr. Willis stated he would not recommend this if he thought it would fall short. It is up to CDMi to replace it. We have already stated this is a design problem. Mfr. Griffin pointed out the letter states "It is evident that the existing degritting mechanism of the lime slaker will not produce an adequately degritted lime slurry to meet the above requirements ". He stated this means we are always going to have a problem. Mir. Willis replied you have always had this problem. The lime you have will always have grit regardless of any design changes. The slaker now is capable of removing the grit at 10 -12 %, but can not remove it at 15 -18 -20X. This is again a design problem. Mfr. Griffin stated it seems to me that this is what the machine is designed to do. I don't see where these additions are going to do it. Mfr. Willis stated this is a manufacturer's problem. Mir. Griffin replied I don't see this as a solution. Mir. Willis stated this system does not have to be maintained as a pump has to be. Mir. Griffin asked, after the external adjustments, what percentage are we talking about going into the lime slurry. Mir. Willis replied 10 -12X. Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 4 Mr. Griffin stated his feeling is that this is a design problem and should have been remedied before this and somehow he does not see the figures line up consistently. Mr. Barker stated he was at the Treatment Plant last Saturday morning and again found the system less than operational. He has received many phone calls asking what is wrong with the water. He stated he felt the pumps are undersized. Mr. Barker stated we have a non - functioning lime slurry system which is causing us to add caustic soda to this system. Mr. Willis replied that CDM has been talking to lime suppliers and equipment manufacturers and is trying to come up with the best solution for the Town of Reading. Mr. Fallon stated he is tired of this, and both CDM and the Town will continue to be. He went to the Treatment Plant today and exclusive of the lime system, he could have made a two page Punch List. Many of these things have been discussed in the past. There is no progress being made. He saw some leaks previously repaired that are leaking again. He doesn't know whether it is the piping or the equipment. He stated he is over his head as far as the expertise needed to handle this. He stated there are many people here that are concerned about the water they are washing and drinking with. It has not been good for the last several weeks. One of the reasons is that the system has not been properly flushed in many years. He stated in his short time in this Town, he does not recall the condition of the water ever being this bad. He still has not heard any solutions. Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 5 Mr. Willis stated the only thing that is malfunctioning is the lime system and this would not cause the water problems. He stated if the plant is being run with either chemical or a combination then those problems would not exist. Chemically speaking, there is no difference between lime and caustic soda as far as the coagulation. He suggested again that the system be flushed. Mr. Barker stated he has never seen the water this bad in 30 years. Mrs. Wood stated we are not running half the water we would run in July. It seems every time you start changing your treatment system if it is not one problem, it's another. Mrs. Doreen McLaughlin of 235 Summer Avenue stated she has had this problem for four to six weeks. She has two small children and has to do laundry every day and her laundry is ruined. She showed samples of her discolored clothes. She refuses to use rust remover on infants clothing. She had her water lines flushed last Friday and the problem still exists. She asked Mr. Willis how she should get her clothes clean. Mr. Scarpa of 15 Chapin Avenue stated he has had the problem for six weeks and has noticed it to be the worst in early morning. He stated the copper fittings behind his washer are green and corroded. He stated all his neighbors have the same problem. Mr. Willis stated if it occurs in the morning it supports his theory that the system needs to be flushed. Mr. Scarpa stated his frustration is that the amount of money he spends for the quality of water is atrocious. Obviously, he stated, we have to have water for drinking and washing clothes. He asked if the possibility of-getting water from the MDC was feasible. Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 6 system. Chairman Wood replied we don't have any connections to the MDC Mr. Willis stated the water quality analysis at the plant does not exhibit these problems. CDM has recommended that the Town should have a full time water quality chemist on staff. The Board has chosen not to do so. Andrew Botticelli of 144 Grove Street asked if changing from caustic soda to lime could be causing the organic material lining the pipes of the system to be removed and introduced into our homes. Mfr. Willis replied I don't believe so, but the fact of the matter is we haven't made a complete changeover. I don't think there is any chemical reason to support this theory. Mfr. Scarpa of Chapin Avenue asked if we are the only Town in the State that has this problem. Is there no outside help available from the State or Federal Government? Mr. Willis replied I think the solution to the problem is to get the system properly flushed and the plant be operated in a professional manner. Town Counsel Ted Cohen was called out of the meeting by the Selectmen at 8:35 P.M. Paul Dodge of 19 Warren Avenue presented the Board with a water sample taken from his home that appeared to be quite ,yellow and when settled, there was an iron colored sediment in the bottom of the jar. He stated he was very disturbed with the quality of the water in the Town and the fact that the treatment plant is not operating correctly. Mr. Michael Longo of SO Pratt Street asked if the Town had flushed the system in the past. Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 7 Superintendent Louanis replied the Town had a policy of flushing 1/4 of the Town at a time. We stopped this program three years ago. Flushing has to be done very carefully and thought out very well, and is not something that can be done in a few days. He believes the problems are caused by a combination of things, the treatment plant being one problem. He stated from the Department's point of view, we will work with CDM to flush the system and we will keep urging them to work on the treatment process to get that completed. Mr. Barker asked why the odor of chlorine was so prevalent in the water. Mr. Willis replied the only answer to that could be that excess chlorine was added at the plant. Mr. Fallon stated in regard to the lime slurry system we are talking about 4 - 6 weeks for the equipment, which is July 1st, which is peak load time. He asked if CDM would agree that the system could not handle peak load. Mr. Willis replied yes, the system as it is now operating could not function. If you are running 24 hours a day in the Summer for a two week period then there is a large increase in consumption. The maximum day consumption is on the average 4 mgd4 The design capacity is 6 mgd. Plant Superintendent John Louanis stated the maximum gpd pumped last Summer was 4 mgd. Chairman Wood stated when the treatment plant is operating, we will consider flushing the system. The Board next discussed Punch List #5 dated May 13, 1983 item by item (attached). The Board then discussed Contract Change Order No. 3. Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 8 It was moved, seconded and voted 3:0 to approve Item No. 1 of C.O. #3 - Furnish labor, equipment and material to install additional paved areas - in the amount of $2,519.40. It was moved, seconded and voted 3 :0 to approve Item No. 2 of C.O. #3 - Furnish labor and materials to install seamless epoxy flooring plus cover bases in the following areas of the upper level of the addition: two (2) laboratory rooms, office lunch room, control room and hallway - in the amount of $2,940.00. It was moved, seconded and voted 3:0 to approve Item No. 3 of C.O. #3 - Furnish labor and materials to install drive belt guards on the two (2) existing air compressors relocated into the lower level of the new addition - in the amount of $385.48. It was moved, seconded and voted 3:0 to approve Item No. 4 of C.Q. #3 - Furnish labor and materials to repair concrete on the existing water treatment plant building at Column E7 (at loading dock) and at filter wall - in the amount of $318.32. It was moved, seconded and voted 3:0 to approve Item No. 5 of C.O. #3 - Furnish labor and materials to install an exterior concrete pad and step at the location of the new doorway to be cut into the North Flocculation Room - in the amount of $209.35. It was moved, seconded and voted 2:0:1 (Barker abstaining) to approve Item No. 6 of C.O. #3 - Furnish labor and materials to install protective plastic cover shields over the new six (6) filter equipment monitoring racks located in the existing filter gallery - in the amount of $677.64. It was moved, seconded and voted 3:0 to approve Item No. 7 of C.Q. #3 - Furnish labor and material to install two (2) 3/4" PVC header pipes to collect the continuous overflow from the six turbidity meters t . Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 9 and bubble traps located in the filter gallery and then carry this overflow to the sump pit - in the amount of $396.38. It was moved, seconded and voted 3 :0 to approve Item 8 of C.O. #3 - furnish materials to supply Town with additional plastic valve tags to be used to mark valves in existing plant - in the amount of $237.39. It was moved, seconded and voted 3:0 to approve Item 9 of C.O. #3 - Furnish labor and material to install a PVC clear plastic sight gage on the sodium chlorite storage tank (4000 gallon) - in the amount of $191.58. It was moved, seconded and voted 3:0 to approve Item 10 of C.O. #3 - Furnish labor and material to remove and then relocate two (2) existing unit heaters, (one at previous office area on the second level; the other on ground floor at entrance to filter gallery) - in the amount of $540.20. It was moved, seconded and voted 3 :0 to approve Item 11 of C.Q. #3 - Furnish labor and materials to install flushing connection on ferric chloride feed system as requested by the Town - in the amount of $76.11. It was moved, seconded and voted 3 :0 to approve Item 12 of C.O. #3 - Furnish labor and materials to perform the following electrical work as directed in the field by the Engineer. a. Connect two (2) relocated unit heaters. b. Additional wire for heaters at emergency generator. c. Add switches to chlorinators and ammoniators. in the amount of $630.90. It was moved, seconded and voted 3 :0 to approve Item Mo. 13 of C.O. #3 - Furnish a 12" - 90 degree O.I. flanged bend for pumping station piping - in the amount of $248.40. Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 10 It was moved, seconded and voted 3:0 to approve Item No. 14 of C.O. #3 - Provide credit to Owner for substitution of specified ammonia, chlorine and fluoride analyzers with approved substitutions offered in R.H. White letter of April 22, 1982 with attached R.E. Erickson Co. Inc. proposal - in the amount of $10,570.00. Mr. Barker moved that the Town accept in its entirety Change Order No. 3 Items 1 -14 with a credit of $1,198.85. It was seconded. Mr. Griffin moved to table further action until Town Counsel has the opportunity to review and report back to us on C.O. U. The motion was seconded and voted 3:0. Mr. Barker stated I haven't heard any good news. When will you be prepared to come back with an update on the progress. Mr. Willis replied with regard to the lime system, the best I can tell you is 4 - 6 weeks. Superintendent Louanis stated he thought three weeks from tonight would be a reasonable meeting date to check on progress. Mr. Fallon stated he would like a written report on CDM's progress by next Monday night (May 23). In addition to that, he requested the Department have a report on everything that transpired at the plant on Friday (May 20). The Board adjourned temporarily at 10:30 P.M. to meet as the Board of Survey. The meeting reconvened at 10:35 P.M. The Board reviewed the memo from Mr. Bergeron regarding his Survey of Services provided by other communities to condominiums and private ways. Board of Public Works Meeting of May 16, 1983 Page 11 It was moved, seconded and voted 4 :0 to accept Mr. Bergeron's memo as a point of information and to continue the Departments policy as it now stands. Mr. Barker thanked the Department for their efforts. The Board reviewed the Dept. FY84 Program Chart as a point of information as to how the Department will be run for the next 18 months and accepted it as a point of information 4 :0. Mr. Fallon stated he would like to see the bidding on the new equipment moved up. awe". Superintendent Louanis stated we will take a look at this. Mr. Fallon stated "the efficiency in this Department leaves me in Mr. Barker suggested the specifications for new equipment be put on the Word Processor. Mr. Fallon moved to go into Executive Session at 10:55 P.M. not to reconvene in open session for the purpose of discussing legal matters regarding contracts. The Chairman polled the Board as follows: Mr. Griffin - aye Mr. Barker - aye Mr. Fallon - aye Mrs. Wood - aye The Board signed the Payroll and the Billroll for the period ending May 13, 1983. The meeting adjourned at 10: 55 P.M. Respectfully submitted, A" Secretary Reading, Massachusetts Water Treatment Plant Improvements PUNCH LIST #5 - MAY 13, 1983 Per CDM 5 -16 -83 Section 11C - Chemical Feed Systems 1. Pulsation Dampener Gaskets (2) - These will be replaced by Wallace & Tiernan on Thursday or Friday. Section 11G Ammoniation System 1. Ammonia Scale To Be Altered - These will be replaced by Wallace & Tiernan on Thursday or Friday. Section 13D - Instrumentation 1. Tank Level Signal Converter To Be Replaced - This will be removed and replaced. Will be shipped the end of the 2. Filter Level Indicators To Be Replaced week. - Shipped today from Bridge- water to Foxboro - to be General installed at the end of the week. 1. Readjust Door Hardware (4) - By Friday May 20. 2. Repair Fluoride Fill Line Leaks & Replace Clamps Guaranty Items x 1. Repair Gear Reducer of Sludge Collector - This is being shipped to Buffalo. 2. Sample Pump For Aerated Water To Be Replaced - R.H. White will contact the supplier. TOWN OF READING n • MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, so OFFICE OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS MUNICIPAL BUILDING READING, MASS. 01867 GAIL F. WOOD, Chairman JOHN L. FALLON, JR., Secretary DOUGLASS L. BARKER ARTHUR POLYCHRONES ROBERT P. GRIFFIN E. ROGER LOUANIS, Superintendent May la, X9$3 The undersigned, Board of Public works of the Town of Reading, in comglianc* with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 80, as amended by Chapter 63 of the acts of 1933, hereby certify that the list* herewith contain the nines of persons against whom we have made betterment assessments together with the location of the land benefited by the improvement and the mature and amount of such betterment assessment. Sewer laterkl .(70t ) ....................$336.00 Total..t ................. #336.00 Such list is certified to you for the purpose of coaami.ting same to the Talc Collector as provided by law. WITNESS our bands thief sixteenth y of may 1983 A.D. Chairman Secretary mi.