HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-01-25 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 25, 2006
-A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee (WSSWMAC) was
held at 7:47 PM on Wednesday, January 25, 2006, in the Lower Level Conference Room, Reading Town
Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Stephen Crook, Secretary John Wood, Committee members Richard Moore
and Steve Oston, associate member Gail Wood, DPW Director Ted McIntire, DPW Water Treatment
Plant Supervisor Peter Tassi, DPW Administration Supervisor John Sousa, George Naslas of Weston &
Sampson Engineers and David Tuttle.
Revav Well / AGFA
George Naslas of Weston & Sampson reviewed the contamination incident cause by spills at the AGFA
property at 80 Industrial Way, Wilmington, MA. Contamination showed up at Revay Well in 2001. A
suit has been filed by the Town of Reading regarding the contamination from the AGFA property, and
has asked AGFA to designate the property as a Public Involvement Plan (PIP) site. Mr Naslas reviewed
a draft memorandum dated January 10, 2006 to AGFA regarding their draft Public Involvement Plan and
locations of depositories. The Town of Reading is requesting that two depositories be set up in the Town
of Reading, one at the Reading Public Library, and the other at the Louanis Water Treatment Plant.
Mr Naslas recommended that the Town consider action that it may wish to take regarding the law suit
filed against AGFA. In addition to requesting mathematical modeling of the aquifer he recommended
that the Town may want to consider requesting hydraulic containment and or treatment in the aquifer and
possibly a financial settlement with AGFA. There is a need to coordinate, through DEP, sampling rounds
at the contamination site and throughout the aquifer.
Mr Naslas will finalize the memo to AGFA regarding the PIP.
Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote 3-0-1 (Oston
abstaining) to approve the minutes of August 10, 2005 as corrected.
John Sousa joined the meeting at 9:30PM.
FY2007 Budget
A Water Division Operating Budget - Ted McIntire reviewed the FY2007 proposed water
operating budget for water supply, treatment and distribution. In the area of personnel, there have
been some changes in personnel, but the staffing level remains at 16.5 full time equivalents. In
the expense area in water distribution there have been increases of approximately $10,000 for
maintenance in two booster stations off of County Rd, and approximately $10,000 to fund water
system leak detection. The major changes in the area of water treatment have been in heating fuel
increases and chemical costs. FY07 shows a reduction of $65,000 from the FY06 budget for
engineering and sampling, which was required in FY06 by the State. The water budget also
shows a substantial increase in debt service from $213,000 to $825,000 which reflects a number
of water distribution system improvements and the new water treatment plant design.
Minutes - WSAC January 25, 2006
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➢ Sewer Distribution Division - Staffing level remains at five full time equivalent with a minor
change of two staff progressing from Laborer to Skilled Laborer classification. The major
changes in expenses are for $13,000 increase in Finance Department services and $162,000
increase in MWRA assessment verses FY06 budgeted.
➢ Water Capital Improvement Plan - Two capital plans were developed for water supply and
treatment, one based on constructing a new water treatment plant at the existing plant site. This
capital improvement program reflects $14,000 for rebuilding pumps. The second scenario reflects
capital improvements in the amount of $670,000 in FY07 to keep the facility operating while
pursuing either 100% MWRA water service or constructing a new plant at either the former or
existing compost sites. Water distribution capital in the amount of $298,000 reflects continuing
the water meter replacement program, replacing the existing water main on Auburn St, replacing
Car #2, inspection of the Bear Hill storage tank and computer system upgrades.
➢ Sewer Capital Improvement Program - Requests in the amount of $309,000 have been made to
continue the removal of inflow/infiltration in the sewer system, computer system upgrade, sewer
station rehabilitation, construction of a sewer main on Franklin Terrace and continue the meter
replacement program.
FY2007 Water / Sewer Rates
John Sousa reviewed a package he prepared outlining assumptions made and rate projections based on
the water and sewer budgets and capital plans to date. The water and sewer rate model assumptions that
were made are as follows:
1. Annual water demand has decreased from 770,000 HCF to 750,000 HCF;
2. Annual sewer demand has decreased from 731,500 HCF to 712,500 HCF;
3. Water Expenses - the Town will purchase a maximum of 219,000,000 gallons of
supplemental water from the MWRA;
4. Water Capital - the new treatment plant will be. constructed at the former or existing
compost site;
5. Reserves - no transfers from water and sewer reserve funds for rate stabilization are
included.
The preliminary calculations for FY2007 rates reflect a projected water rate of $732 (53.2% increase),
projected sewer rate of $6.55 (13.3% increase) for a combined total rate of $13.87, an increase of 31.4%.
John indicated that these projections are very preliminary. Neither the Board of Selectmen nor the
Finance Committee has reviewed Budgets. The Capital Improvement Plan has not been developed by the
Town Manager and there has been no decision whether the Town of Reading will construct a new Water
Treatment Plant or will pursue full water service from the MWRA. Richard Moore indicated that he
would generally recommend a more conservative water demand such as 730,000 HCF. John Sousa will
estimate a summer rate using the MWRA water cost. However, staff will await further direction from the
Town Manager as to the Town's future water supply.before proceeding on fiu-ther projections of water
and sewer rates.
The next meeting of WSSWMAC will be on February 15, 2006.
It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 4-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 10:52 PM.
Minutes - WS4C January 25, 2006
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