Water & Wastewater Commission

Water/Wastewater Commission Meeting Minutes October 19th, 2022 Legislative Building, City Hall Campus 700 Main St, Fitchburg MA 01420 ______________________________________________________________________________ A meeting for the City of Fitchburg Water/Wastewater Commission was held on Wednesday October 19th, 2022 at the Legislative Building, City Hall Campus, 700 Main St. Fitchburg, MA 01420 The meeting commenced at 5:15 PM Members present: George Seiner, Commission Member Michael McLaughlin, Commission Member Mark Piermarini, Commission Member Rick Healey, Chairman Others present: John Deline Jr, Deputy Commissioner Water Division Mark McNamara, Deputy Commissioner Wastewater Division Absent: Stephen Bodurtha, Commission Member Colby O’Brien, Commission Member Nicholas Erickson, Commissioner of Public Works & City Engineer Item #1 Approval of meeting minutes: Motion to approve minutes from September 21, 2022 meeting was granted by unanimous vote. Item #2 Public Forum: None Item #3 Water Division  Staffing – Water Division personnel usually includes around 25 people. This includes myself, treatment personnel, engineering and administration. Our distribution crew typically has a crew of 9 people. We are down to just 3. We have advertised, and we are just not attracting qualified workers due to pay scale. Every day is a challenge to say the least. Only doing emergency work  when necessary. On top of this, we have 2 current employees that are out long term for various reasons and another who is having surgery mid-November and will return in December.  DCAMM Emergency Waiver, on call services support – Purchasing has reached out to the state and we were given a waiver to hire on-call personnel in case of emergency situations. We have also reached out to a few companies on pricing. We may have to request another waiver for treatment personnel if assistance is needed.  Treatment Plants/ Raw water quality variability & charges - We are having an issue at the treatment plant regarding seasonal turnover. With the fall turnover happening, we have been seeing a high level of manganese in the water which unfortunately is passing through our filters. This is not a health hazard, but we are seeing little flecks in the water and also some discoloration. Hopefully after the seasonal turn over things start to settle down. We will be doing some flushing tomorrow in the areas that are seeing this. MA DEP is aware of the situation. Item #4 Wastewater Division  CSO 007, 011, 039, 048 Separation/Rehabilitation: Polito – Crew 1, Trench excavation work (sewer spot repairs) were completed on Drepanos Dr. Inland Waters – Crew 1, Pre-cleaning and inspection for upcoming CIPP installation on Laurel St., Payson St., Crown St., Nashua St., Main St., Clarendon St., Delisle St., Cross St., South St., Drepanos Dr., and Franklin Rd. Sewer and drain construction was completed in September on Milk St., Birch St. Passway and Drepanos Dr. Cleaning, Inspection, Testing and Sealing of Sewer Mains and Laterals has been completed as well on Charles St., Clarendon St., First St., Middle St., Water St., Walnut St., Blossom St., Main St., Henry St., and Marion St. Pre-CCTV Inspection for Lining has also been completed on Laurel St., Payson St., Crown St., Nashua St., Franklin Rd., Main St., Clarendon St., Delisle St., Cross St., Drepanos Dr., and South St.  CSO 010, 032, 045, 083 Separation/Rehabilitation Design Phase: Work completed in the month of September include: Task 4 - Completed geotechnical report. Task 6 - Developed proposed conditions based on hydraulic model results. Task 7 – Continued developing sewer design for CSO 010 area based on hydraulic model, flow meter data and existing conditions. Task 8 – Continued developing drain design for CSO 010 area based on hydraulic model, flow meter data and existing conditions. Task 9 – Attended Fitchburg Conservation Commission Hearing for Project and received negative determination. Task 11 – Began developing contract specifications and design plans for MassDEP SRF submittal on October 14, 2022. Task 12 – Began Developing SRF application for MassDEP submittal on October 14, 2022. Upcoming work for this month includes: Task 6 – Modify proposed conditions based on hydraulic model results and recommended storm water improvements from the MVP Grant. Task 7 – Continue developing sewer design for CSO 010 area based on hydraulic model, flow meter data and existing conditions. Task 8 – Continue developing drain design for CSO 010 area based on hydraulic model, flow meter data and existing conditions. Task 9 – Attend Fitchburg Conservation Commission Hearing for Project (negative determination of applicability received at September 7th meeting. Task 11 – Finalize draft contract specifications and design plans for MassDEP SRF submittal on October 14, 2022. Task 12 – Submit SRF Application for MassDEP submittal on October 14, 2022.  Staff update- New plant Superintendent (Ryan Burns) former Sr. Operator has assumed the duties on October 17, 2022. We are going to be advertising for a Gr. 6 Sr. Operator for his vacancy. We also have two vacancies in the maintenance department.   EPA/MassDEP – An inspection of the Wastewater Treatment Facility on July 20, 2022 and we received their report on September 20, 2022. It was a favorable report, and didn’t list any issues or problems that needed to be addressed. Item #5 Other Business:  Chemical prices have increased significantly. This is affecting the budget this year and we will have to address this before it becomes an issue. For example, chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) has increased 117% since last year. The northeast chemical consortium released a statement today costs for all chemicals, production, labor, fuel, energy and raw materials have all increased and will continue to do so. There is talk of looking at prices this year for chemicals instead of waiting until next year.  The Water/Wastewater Commission will next meet at 5:00 pm on Wednesday November 16, 2022 at the Legislative Building, City Hall Campus 700 Main St. Fitchburg, MA. Meeting adjourned at 5:39 pm