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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-07-21 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES July 21, 1999 A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:45 P.M. on Nve' dnesday, 5b July 21, 1999 in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell St., Reading, Ma. In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood and Committee members Richard Moore, William Freeman, Robert Salter, DPW Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Peter Tassi, DPW Director Ted McIntire, John Symonds (Chronicle), Doug Reed and Lauren Calia (Woodard & Curran). Water Storage Tank Siting Study Doug Reed presented an overall summary of the Towns requirement and the process that Woodard & Curran went through in their study to site a tank to replace the 525,000 gallon standpipe on Auburn Street. He indicated that the non technical issues would be important in the decision making for the siting of the tank. Woodard & Curran looked at average day usage and peak day demand and assumed a fire event would occur when a peak day demand occurs in order to determine the tank size. A population increase of 5% was used instead of an estimated 2% in order to meet the demand change related to the landfill development and normal population increases. Mr. Reed indicated that storage is only part of the picture, the distribution system must be able to deliver the water. The Insurance Service Office (ISO) recommends minimum flows in certain areas based on location, building structures, etc. State law requires that the system must maintain 20 PSI at all times, even during a fire event. Woodard & Curran will include the DEP recommended total storage capacity of average daily demand which is 2,000,000 gallons for the Town of Reading. The overflow elevations of existing tanks determine the height of the new tank - all tanks need to have the same overflow elevation. He indicated that locating a third tank at Auburn Street or at Lothrop Road does not make a big difference for fire flows and daily demands. The distribution system would be the limiting factor on the ability to deliver the water, not the tank. He indicated that this was a limited distribution system computer model and not a comprehensive model. He indicated that there is a need to do actual flow tests for pipe runs that have been recommended for replacement in this limited study. Woodard & Curran need to address the landfill development and Spence Farm development and related population projections and additional water demand in their Executive Summary. Bill Freeman questioned the use of 50% for engineering and contingencies as he felt it was too high. Doug Reed indicated that the cost estimate is based on a conceptual design at this time and he `included 10% for inflation, approximately 15% for engineering and 25% for contingencies. During preliminary design," the consultant would get into the subsurface conditions and other evaluations and could better estimate costs and apply appropriate contingencies. Woodard & Curran will include total project costs for the Auburn Street Option, as they have for the Lothrop Road Option under table ES.2-Water Distribution System Tank Costs. Minutes - WSAC July 21, 1999.doc Page 1 of 3 The process to be followed from this point on would include revising the report by Woodard & Curran, present the report to the Selectmen, followed by a public meeting held by the Board of Selectmen with a presentation by the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee and Woodard & Curran. The Selectmen would make the final decision as to the siting of a new tank, and the Town of Reading would go out for a Request For Proposals, and hire a design consultant. If the decision was to construct a tank off of Lothrop Road, it would require a ground tank, if the Auburn Street site was chosen, an elevated tank would need to be constructed. The Committee thanked the representatives from Woodard & Curran for their information. Rate Study Richard Moore recommended that the Town look into a constant billing cycle similar to the gas company, every other month now and then get actual readings/billings after the radio read capability is on line. Initially bills would be issued based on an average monthly usage, reading would continue on a quarterly basis. DPW staff will contact the gas company and gather information for this option. Meeting Minutes It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Bill Freeman and approved by a vote of 3-0-1 (Salter abstaining) to accept the minutes of May 19, 1999 as written. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Bill Freeman and approved by a vote of 3-0-1 (Salter abstaining) to accept the minutes of June 16, 1999 as written. Elections Ted McIntire opened nominations for Chair of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee. It was moved by Robert Salter, seconded by Bill Freeman, and approved by a vote of 4-0 to nominate Gail Wood as Chair. It was moved by Robert Salter, seconded by Bill Freeman to close nominations. Motion passed by a vote of 4-0. It was moved by Robert Salter, seconded by Bill Freeman to elect Gail Wood as Chair of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0. Gail Wood opened nominations for Secretary of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee. It was moved by Bill Freeman, seconded by Robert Salter, and approved by a vote of 4-0 to nominate Richard Moore as Secretary of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee. It was moved by Bill Freeman, seconded by RobertSalter, and approved by a vote of 4-0 to close nominations for Secretary. It was moved by Bill Freeman, seconded by Robert Salter, and approved by a vote of 4-0 to elect Richard Moore as Secretary of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee. Ted McIntire will notify the Town Clerk of the election results. Bedrock Wells Ted indicated that D.L Maher had_compl.bted their _study _and identification of approximately _9 locations for further evaluation of bedrock well sites. Camp Dresser & McKee will be Minutes - WSACJuly 21, 1999.doc Page 2 of 3 evaluating bedrock as part of their long term water supply for the Town. A decision will be made based of CDM's recommendations. The issue of development of bedrock wells near the Water Treatment Plant will involve an evaluation of potential contamination from North Reading properties and Interstate Route 93. Ad Hoc Water Supply Advisory Committee The next meeting of the Committee is July 29, 1999. Gail commented that Reading appears to be singled out as having a significant detrimental effect on the Ipswich River by the Ipswich River Watershed Association. General Ted will gather additional information on Water and Sewer Rate Studies that have previously been done on communities similar in size to the Town of Reading. The next meeting of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee will be August 25, 1999. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Robert Salter and approved by a vote of 4-0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:45pm. Minutes - WSACJuly 21, 1999.doc . Page 3 of 3