Water & Wastewater Commission

FITCHBURG WATER & WASTEWATER COMMISSION MINUTES November 8th, 2017 J.A. Provencial Building 1200 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg, MA 01420 A meeting for the City of Fitchburg Water/Wastewater Commission was held on Wednesday November 8, 2017 at the J.A. Provencial Water Treatment Facility Building 1200 Rindge Rd, Fitchburg MA, 01420. The meeting commenced at 4:37 pm Members present: Lenny Laakso, Commissioner DPW Rick Healey Mike Mclaughlin George Siener Others present: John Deline Jr., Deputy Commissioner of Water Jennifer Lambert Principal Clerk Water Office Members absent: Jeff Murawski, Deputy Commissioner of Wastewater Item #1 Approval of last meetings minutes: Motion to approve minutes from October 11, 2017 meeting was granted by unanimous vote. Item #2 Public Forum: None Item #3 Water Division:  John first gave the commission an update on the progress of the Water Main Project. Contractors are currently on Highview St, which is the last of the streets being done. They ran into some ledge on the corner when heading up Highview, but temporary lines have been set and are in use. With the weather possibly dipping into the freezing temps, the Contractors have covered the temporary lines and left a little water running to avoid frozen lines. We are hoping within the next week or so, as long as there are no additional problems that the main lines will be set. Contractors will go back to other areas in which new mains were set and finish clean-up such as patching and removal of debris.   Mr. Deline next spoke to the Commission about the ACO (Administrative Consent Order) that was issued by MA DEP regarding past Sanitary Surveys and also our recent Sanitary Survey Inspection in the fall of 2016. The consent order describes violations past and present and sets time lines on items that need to be dealt with and fixed by a certain date. If violations are not dealt with by order of the consent decree, stiff penalties will accrue daily until violation is corrected. While there are numerous violations, there are also many items in this order that we have already dealt with and completed. A draft copy of Consent Order was given to Commission Members, original order still needs to be signed by Mayor Dinatale.  An update was given by John on the operational issues here at the Falulah Plant and the Tracer Study. Chlorine contact time along with Fluoride will be measured. Color numbers have not been correct so Falulah Plant was shut down for a week. Regional plant provided water while this plant was shut down. We are hoping to start plant back up next week. This also is an item on DEP’s list of items that they gave us an extension on.  Our Oak Hill tank will be drained come the middle of December for repairs by the Tank Company, and inspection by Weston and Sampson Engineering. This is one of the items that DEP gave us an extension on to fix.  John gave the Commission an update on a part of the main water line that is broke on the Water St. Bridge. An insertion valve that was put in, keeps leaking by and water slowly trickles out. We are looking to fix this and are currently speaking to Mass DOT about this situation. With winter coming and the possibility of it freezing and causing a bigger problem we are trying to find a resolution.  Weston and Sampson Engineers are currently doing an application for State Grants for Energy Efficiency Improvements. We are looking into putting a turbine on Narrows Rd and also new lighting over at the Regional Plant. We are hoping to get these monies, as this would be a great improvement to what we have to pay out of pocket. Item #4 Wastewater Division:  Due to Mr. Murawski’s absence, the Wastewater Divisions agenda items will be discussed at our next Commission Meeting. Item #5 Other Business:  Set next meeting date and location. Meeting adjourned at 5:12 P.M.