HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-10-14 Board of Public Works Minutes October 14, 1980
IMeeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16,
Municipal Building at 7: 30 P . M.
Present were Chairman Cowell , Secretary Wood, Board Members
Fallon, Barker , Superintendent Louanis, Assistant Superintendent
Bergeron, Assistant Superintendent McIntire, William Redford of the
Engineering Division and John Louanis, Pumping Station Engineer .
It was moved , seconded and voted 4:0:1 to accept the minutes
of the previous meeting with correction.
The Board met with John Willis and Stephen Martin of Camp ,
Dresser and McKee to review progress on the design of the Water
Treatment Plant to date . Mr. Cowell got the meeting underway by
requesting Camp Dresser and McKee to submit information relative
to actual costs that might be incurred if the Town elected to re-
move the sodium in the water to comply with the State standards.
Stephen Martin reported that preliminary cost estimates had been
made and would be followed up by a letter explaining detailed
' costs . The present water treatment cost was approximately $500
per million gallons produced. There are three alternatives to
be considered for removing the sodium: 1. Reverse osmosis at a
capital cost of $3,000,000 and operating coats of $700 per million
gallons. 2. Electrodialysis at a capital cast of $2 ,000 ,000 and
operating casts of $1,000 per million gallons. 3. Ion exchange
at a capital coat of $2,000,000 and operating costs of $900 per
million gallons. Therefore, the total operating cost at an aver-
age daily flow of two mgd would be as follows:
Reverse osmosis . . . . . . . $ 2,050
Electrodialysis. . . . . . . . 2, 500
Ion exchange. . . . . . . . . . . 2, 250
per day compared to the present daily cost of $1,000. Possible
alternatives for the small portion of the population directly
affected by the sodium content of the water are as follows: one,
purchase bottled water; 2. The town might consider building a
small demineralization plant. However , distribution to the
® citizens would be a problem and insuring proper sanitation would
also be a problem. Mr . Willis stated he felt that the additional
cost to remove the sodium down to the state limit of 20/mg/l for
Reading ' s water were prohibitive and could not be justified on an
economic basis. Mr . Martin then proceeded with a detailed explan-
ation of the progress prints submitted to the department on Octo-
ber 6. A general discussion ensued and questions were presented
by the Engineering Division and members of the Board. Some of the
items high lighted in the discussion were concerned with whether
or not the existing plant would be able to supply water to the
Town during the construction period . The engineer pointed out that
the design made it possible to operate one half of the plant while
construction was in progress on the other half. Of course , care-
ful coordination would be necessary . Also , the design of the rapid
sand filters with the prior removal of the existing media and re-
placement with 24" of anthracite, 12" of sand and B" of gravel.
This would increase the filtration capacity of the plant so that
one half would be able to handle the demands of the Town during
construction . A detailed discussion of the chemical storage and
operation as outlined pointing out safety factors and problems
that would be redesigned and incorporated in the final plan ensued .
Also a discussion of the proposed new pumping station and its
function and construction problems related to the existing plant
to maintain proper supply for the Town during construction followed.
The Superintendent suggested to the Board that an outline of
a presentation be given to the Finance Committee to use at Town
Meeting, perhaps as follows:
I . Need for Improvements
A. Treatment improvements required by law
B. Supply requirements
C. Groundwater system yield within design of new treatment
plant.
II . Recommended Improvements
A. General discussion of water treatment
B. Table of estimated capital cost
C. Table of estimated operating cost
III . Funding
A. Total cost
B. Town cost
C . State funds
Also it might be helpful to have an analysis of the water before '
and after the proposed project and photographs of the existing
plant and sketches of the proposed plant. Mr . Cowell requested
that Mr . Willis and Mr. Martin be available to meet with the JI
Minutes - continued October 14, 1980
1 Finance Committee on October 23d at approximately 8:00 P.M. to
asaist the Board in their presentation to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Willis assured the Board he would be ready and available to
support the Board in their efforts to expend funds. However,
they wished to bring up a problem in regard to special fees in
connection with the design of the treatment plant. It is
necessary by state law to have borings and subsoil investigation
for any new public building and this is over and above the con-
tract with the Town. The Superintendent suggested the matter be
tabled until the meeting of October 20th so that the proposal
could be reviewed and reported on to the Board for their deter-
mination. It was moved , seconded and voted 4:0 to follow the
Superintendent' s recommendation.
The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending October
10 and the Billroll dated October 17, 1980,
Chairman Cowell requested the Board take a short recess and
' requested further that the Board reconvene in Executive Session ,
not to reconvene in open session, for the purpose of discussing
matters relating to personnel. It was moved and seconded to
grant the Chairman ' s request and Mr. Cowell took a roll call vote,
as follows:
Mr. Barker - In favor
Mr. Fallon - In favor
Mrs. Wood - In favor
Mr . Cowell - In favor
Meeting adjourned at 10 :30 P . M.
Rene p� submitted,
Secretary