HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-18 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Minutesi
WATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
September 18, 1996
A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:50 P.M. on Wednesday,
September 18, 1996 in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell St., Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Stewart Chipman, Committee Member
Richard Moore, DPW Director Ted McIntire, and DPW Water Treatment Plant Supervisor, Peter
Tassi.
Committee Reorganization
Ted McIntire opened up nominations for Chairman. Richard Moore moved that Gail Wood's
name be put in nomination for Chairman, the motion was seconded by Stewart Chipman.
Nominations were closed and the Committee voted 3-0 to appoint Gail Wood as Chairman of the
Water & Sewer Advisory Committee.
Richard Moore moved that Stewart Chipman's name be put in nomination for the position of
Secretary of the Committee, it was seconded by Gail Wood. The nominations were closed. The
Committee voted 3-0 to appoint Stewart Chipman as Secretary.
Minutes
It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2-0-1 to
approve the minutes of July 17, 1996 as written. Richard Moore abstained.
Well Supply Investigation
Ted Morine, Hydro Geologist/Vice President of D.L. Maher Company, North Reading, Mass.
joined the meeting.
Mr. Morine presented an overview of the geologic setting of Reading and New England indicating
that the highest yield for water is in the sand and gravel deposits. He indicated that they initially
look for land forms on the surface for areas that suggest coarse gravel in the area.
Under the Water Management Act of 1987 production wells in excess of 100,000 gallons per day
must be approved by the State. Reading presently has a maximum withdrawal of 2.59 miillion
gallons per day from it's existing nine (9) wells. Eight (8) of these wells are located in the Ipswich
River Watershed. The other well is located in the Aberjona Watershed area. At this time there
appears to be a possibility of developing a well off of West Street in the Enos Circle area and
another location off West Street near Causeway Road within the property under the jurisdiction
of the Reading Municipal Light Department. The Town of Reading had also investigated areas in
the vicinity of Camp Curtis Guild. The depth was too shallow to bedrock (40' deep) and would
not yield water in sufficient quantities. Ted expects the areas adjacent to West Street to be
shallow with minimum yield. He indicated that two test wells will cost in the area of $3,000 to
$7,000 for drilling, pumping and quality testing.
Stewart Chipman noted that the Town of Lynnfield had developed wells adjacent to the Haverhill
Street area. Ted Morine indicated that the Town of Lynnfield did not have sand and gravel areas
available but they did a Fractured Trace Study for the possibile development of rock wells. They
found six (6) locations, and after testing five (5) sites were developed. The Town of Lynnfield
received permits from the State because there is no direct withdrawal from the Ipswich River
Watershed. Mr. Morine indicated that the water quality is generally better than gravel packed
wells, but there is no history. He also indicated that pH adjustment would not be necessary. The
Town of Lynnfield is pumping at a rate of 780 gallons per minute, however he indicated that the
Town will probably be approved for 500 gallons per minute. Radionuclides have not been a
problem.
Mr. Morine indicated that the Fractured Trace Study would involve interpretation of aerial
photos, geophysical evaluation, test drilling, pump testing and the drilling of new wells in the area
of test wells. The project will ultimately lead to the construction of a pumping station.
Mr. Morine sees this as a two pronged program with the pursuit of gravel packed wells in the area
of West Street and a Fractured Trace investigation.
The Committee thanked Mr. Morine for his presentation.
Water Usene - Summer 1996
Peter Tassi and Ted McIntire reviewed pumping records from June through mid-September, 1996
including the list of violations.
Open Space and Recreation
The Committee discussed the representation of this Committee from multiple Boards and
Committees versus designating the responsibility to an existing Committee. The Committee
discussed the fact that the Community Planning and Development Commission had developed the
Master Plan for the Town of Reading and they felt that that Committee should be the lead
Committee, with representation from other related Boards and Committees. It was moved by
Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to instruct
Chairman Gail Wood and Ted McIntire to respond in writing to the Town Manager with the
Committee's recommendation.
FY 98/99 Budget
Ted McIntire indicated that the Budget Council had voted to prepare a two year budget with a ten
- year Capital Program. There have been no guidelines submitted to departments to date, however,