HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-16 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Minutesr
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WATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUT r
NG, MASS.
October 16, 2002
,r ~A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7 onWednes ay,
October 16, 2002, in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Richard Moore, Committee members Steven Oston, and John
Wood, and DPW Director Ted McIntire.
Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 3-0 to approve
the minutes of July 17, 2002 as corrected.
It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 3-0 to approve
the minutes of August 21, 2002 as corrected.
It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 3-0 to approve
the minutes of September 18, 2002 as corrected
RA Connection
Ted McIntire explained that the draft Environmental Impact Report was submitted on September
16, 2002 and the public comment period will end on October 25, 2002. Comments will be
received from the Water Supply Citizens Advisory Committee to the MWRA, the Ipswich River
Watershed Association, and other public and private entities.
Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Project
Ted McIntire, Peter Tassi and Dan Howland had a tour of the Seekonk, MA water treatment
plant. They have incorporated a new type of membrane filtration system that Camp Dresser &
McKee and DPW staff was interested in discussing with the manufacturer and treatment plant
personnel. Camp Dresser & McKee is working on the draft report of the feasibility study and is
expected to submit that draft to the Town during the month of November.
Water/Sewer Bills
The Department has received many complaints on the water and sewer bill mainly due to the fact
that the issuance of bills and due dates have not been continued on a three month cycle. The bill
that has normally been issued on November 1" was issued on September 10, 2002. Because of
the flexibility of our radio read system, the desire to issue water and sewer bills that represent
recent history and the request from the finance director to make bills due on the fifteenth of the
month, it was decided to issue the bills on September 10th.
Minutes - WSAC October 16, 2002.doc
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Revay Well
Ted McIntire explained that the Town has a water supply well located at the end of Beverly
Road, off Lowell Street, which has shown low levels of solvents. It is expected that these
contaminations have resulted in uncontrolled spills at the AGFA facility on West Street in
Wilmington and the Massachusetts Highway Department facility located at the corner of Lowell
Street and Causeway Road, Reading. Ted McIntire and Peter Tassi attended a meeting
sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection at their Northeast Regional Office in
Wilmington on October 10, 2002. Present at the meeting in addition to DEP staff were
representatives and consultants from AGFA and Mass Highway Department. It was the intention
of DEP to have representatives of these two facilities bring plans on how they were going to
clean up the spill sites, migrations' of the contaminants and the Town of Reading Revay Well. In
fact they did not bring this information to the table and a follow up meeting has been scheduled
for November 15, 2002.
Bedrock Wells
Bedrock wells testing in the town forest area has proven to be unsuccessful and there will be no
further testing. The other area where testing had been planed was Bare Meadow in the northeast
section of town off Pearl Street. Camp Dresser & McKee has been requested to evaluate
potential costs for development of bedrock wells in this area and recommend a phased program.
It is expected that development in this area will be substantially more expensive due to the fact
that is will probably require the construction of a small packaged treatment plant.
Water Table
Ted reported that the water table is approximately 21/2 feet below last years level at this time.
Water Main Projects
Summer Avenue - The construction of a 12" water main in Summer Avenue from Woburn Street
to Hopkins Street and on Hopkins Street from Summer Avenue to Main Street is expected to
start this week. Contractor expects to complete construction from Woburn Street to Melbourne
Avenue and complete the rest of the project in the Spring.
Ash Street to Walkers Brook Drive - DPW staff met with Weston and Sampson Engineers
regarding the design and permitting of a 12" water main cross country from Ash Street to
Walkers Brook Drive which would connect two existing 12" mains and increase fire flows in the
Walkers Brook Drive area.
Water Conservation Plan
The Committee discussed the Water Conservation Plan in regards to how it was going to be
administered, what the Town wants to incorporate in the plan and the commitment that uses that
users need to make on incorporating conservation efforts. It was recommended that we take a
look the draft Environmental Impact Report and identify what the Town committed to, what was
Minutes - WSAC October 16, 2002.doc
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mentioned as potential programs and how to design a RFP to address all of the issues. Some of
the recommendations to be included in the Request For Proposals were: identify previous
experience; evaluate the success of other programs; include an evaluation on cost effectiveness
for the Town and users; concentrate on the top ten users; educate the population; hire a
consultant to prioritize the programs and address the payback to the Town and the resident; and
the opening statement should identify the goals of the Water Conservation Program.
Next Agenda
Elect Chairman and Secretary.
It was moved Steve Oston, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 3-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 9:42PM
Minutes - WSAC October 16, 2002.doc
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