HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-17 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
May 17, 2000
A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:40 P.M. on Wednesday, x
May 17, 2000, in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Committee members William Freeman, Gerald
McDonald, and Robert Salter, DPW Supervisor of Water Treatment Peter Tassi, and DPW
Director Ted McIntire.
Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Gerald McDonald, seconded by Robert Salter and approved by a vote of 3-0
to approve the minutes of April 12, 2000 as corrected.
Gail Wood Joined the meeting.
Ipswich River Basin Hydraulic Model
Ted explained that there was a presentation at DEP which was attended by Ted, Peter Tassi,
and John Gall from CDM
John Gall indicated that the withdrawal from the Ipswich River Watershed according to the
report was 2.4 million gallons for the Town of Reading, which was based on records from
1989 to 1993. This withdrawal is now averaging about 1.9 mgd. Surrounding towns have
grown substantially more than Reading, so population numbers have changed. In addition
Hillview Golf Course is not identified in the study as having any withdrawals. John also
indicated that the demands used did not forecast weather changes and its effects on the Ipswich
River Watershed. He felt that it was a first cut on what may happen during certain conditions.
John handed out information supplied by Kerri Mackin, Executive Director of the Ipswich
River Watershed Association, which was a portion of her presentation to the Board of
Selectmen. John indicated that the South Middleton gage along the Ipswich River receives
flow from about 44 square miles. Kerri Mackin would like 22 cubic feet per second at the
Middleton gage, which is based on 0.5 cubic feet per second per square mile within the
watershed itself
John handed out a chart from the U.S.G.S. report which identified low flows within the
Ipswich River. John felt that Reading could now incorporate its proposed management plan
(MWRA Water Use, Conservation Plan) and plot the effects of the plan on the Reading area of
the Ipswich River using the U.S.G.S. model. He indicated that the Town needs to identify
what certain minimum flows provide - canoeing, fish, etc. - and what the objectives should be
for the river. The work by the U. S.G.S. is basically done. He also indicated that if all of the
Reading withdrawal from the basin is stopped, the flows at Middleton would not meet the
minimum flow requirements as outlined by Kerri Mackin.
Town staff and John Gall met with MWRA staff and the reception of the MWRA to the Town
Resources Commission, the Water Supply Citizens Advisory Committee, the Ipswich River
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Watershed Association, the MWRA, and the Executive Director of the MVVRA Advisory
Board.
The program, as outlined by the Adhoc Water Supply Advisory Committee and with the
support of the Board of Selectmen, is to purchase an average of 0.6 mgd for the MWRA to
reduce the withdrawals from the Ipswich River to about 1.4 mgd. John has also talked to the
MWRA and posed the issue of "banking" usage to carry over to subsequent years if actual
withdrawal is less than 0.6 mgd for a particular year.
Peter Tassi, Ted McIntire, Russell Dean, and Peter Hechenbleikner met to discuss various
water projects and staff will be developing a time line and make a presentation to the Board of
Selectmen. The presentation will include the MWRA service, Treatment Plant rehabilitation,
and a conservation program. Indications are that the presentation will be scheduled for June
20, or June 27, 2000.
Maytag Appliance Pilot Program
Ted McIntire attended a meeting at Joshua Eaton Elementary School held by Maytag
representatives. The pilot program is going to be at the Summit Terrace Condominium
Complex in Reading. There are 66 units in the complex and Maytag will be installing
measuring devices for hot water, cold water, and electric usage. Usage of existing washers and
dryers will be measured and on August 1", Maytag will supply new Maytag Neptune washers
and dryers to all units. Cold water, Hot water, and electric usage will be measured for the same
period of time and results compared.
Response Action Outcome Statement (Gasoline Spill)
The RAO Statement is the final action on the spill site and cleanup process by Cumberland
Farms. Peter Tassi indicated that the Town has several issues with the statement as follows:
the shed on the site needs to be removed; monitoring wells need to be abandoned properly; and
the wetland restoration issues identified in an Order of Conditions by the Reading
Conservation Commission had to be addressed. Karen DeFrancesco, Conservation
Administrator, is bringing this to the Conservation Commission regarding the wetland issues.
Peter Tassi is preparing a response letter to the ROA which will be sent to DEP.
FY01 Water/Sewer Budgets
There were no changes in the WSAC recommended budgets other than the bi-monthly water
and sewer billing was not supported.
Other Issues
The water system hydraulic model is being worked on by Weston & Sampson and the Water
and Sewer Rate Study Request For Proposals is being prepared by David Lee.
4-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:17pm.
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