Nyack Water Board Meeting

June 8, 2023 A regular meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was held on the above date at 9 North Broadway, Nyack, NY. The meeting was called to order by Chairman McDowell at 4:30 PM. The following were present: William McDowell Chairman Michelle Bullock Commissioner Eileen Colarell Commissioner John Phillips Commissioner Elizabeth Turk Commissioner Barbara Kunar Secretary Thomas Lynch Superintendent Absent: Upon motion by Commissioner Turk, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the Board accepted the minutes of April 13, 2023. Upon motion by Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner Colarell, and carried, the Board accepted the minutes of May 11, 2023. The Cash Flow Statements for May 2023 was presented to the Board for review. The Statement of Revenue and Expenses for May 2023 was presented to the Board for review. There is a need to increase revenue. H2M will be compiling an assessment of our rates and making recommendations for setting new rates. Water Treatment Chemical Bids were opened on June 1, 2023. The low bids were as follows: Soda Ash Coyne Chemical $ 0.4642/lb Potassium Permanganate Coyne Chemical $ 3.3466/lb Activated Carbon Coyne Chemical $1.2675/lb Sodium Hypochlorite Keuhne Chemical Inc $ 2.57/gal Primary Coagulant Holland Company $ 0.539/lb *Primary Coagulant Coyne Chemical $ 0.5960/ib  *Engineer recommends the award be made to Holland Company as the low bidder. However, in the event there are any difficulties with water quality, delivery or performance characteristics, Coyne Chemicals product can be accepted as an alternate. Upon motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the Board accepted the low bids as recommended by the engineer. Sealed proposals for Waste Alum Sludge Removal were opened on June 1, 2023. The following bids were received: SpectraServ $ 0.280 per gallon Wind River Environmental $ 0.201 per gallon d/b/a EarthCare The low bid was submitted by EarthCare of Beacon, NY. EarthCare is a well- established company in this field and the engineer’s review finds their proposal includes all the requirements of the specifications for bid submission. A copy of the low bidder’s proposal and supporting documents have been submitted to Attorney Schloss for review. Upon motion by Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner Colarell, and carried, the Board accepted the low bid as recommended by the engineer pending approval from Attorney Schloss. H2M architects + engineers projects update: 1. TTHMs Exceedance: • RCDOH review of ADWQR led to the discovery that MCL for TTHMs was exceeded in 3rd and 4th quarter of 2022. • Operational evaluation was prepared by H2M and submitted to RCDOH. • Q1 of 2023 was another exceedance due to rolling average, but it will not require another operational evaluation. • Increased flushing and a closer look at chlorine dosing procedures may be enough to keep levels down and avoid additional exceedances. 2. Emergency Water Main Repairs: • JFC is continuing the repair work while H2M has an inspector to supervise the work. 3. Master Planning efforts are ongoing: • Rate Analysis: Ongoing. This is a focused priority should have something within the next couple of weeks. Will send Secretary Kunar a request for data. • Asset Management: A. H2M is continuing to work on the condition assessment and the sequential ranking of the assets for rehabilitation and replacement. B. Project has been slowed by THM and other operational issues. • Capital Planning: A. Asset condition assessment will be used to inform the creation of a capital plan. 4. Plant Operational Assessments: • Continue to lend support on technical issues and reporting. o Engine Generator o Spill Response Report o Other Compliance related Issues • Helping trouble shoot demand increases and demand management, evaluating flow instrumentation, etc. • H2M in conjunction with the Water Department and Neal Systems has been evaluating the effluent flow being pumped into the system. To reconcile what is believed to be inaccurate flow measurements being registered on the plant totalizers, external flow meters were strapped to effluent (finish water) piping. Preliminary results of this testing thus far show a differential of 19% to 34% increased flow using external meters in comparison to the results recorded on the totalizer. H2M/Neal Systems are continuing the logging of flow data to further compare. 5. Watermain Installation Phase A: • GCE has completed all construction work and will be working with H2M to complete As-Built drawings and work towards Phase A closeout. • H2M is currently realigning roadways to be included in Phase B and C of the watermain project and completing design for submission and approval by RCDOH. H2M anticipates bidding Phase B in June/July 2023 with a construction start of Fall 2023.  6. Plant Upgrade for PFAS removal: • H2M received a comment letter prepared by NYSDOH and subsequently met with RCDOH and NYSDOH on March 31, 2023 to discuss the comments. H2M is addressing all comments and concerns of both regulatory agencies and will proceed to 90% submission thereafter. • H2M has obtained NYSDEC wetland approval pending notice of the project in the Town of Clarkstown local newspaper. The NYSDEC will then provide an approval after the affidavit is received. • Design team and subconsultants continue on schedule. 7. Lead Service Lines: • RCDOH is holding periodic check-ins to discuss the Village’s progress with the LSL inventory investigation. H2M attended the meeting on 6/1/23 and will continue to assist as requested. • Assistance to adding to inventory is ongoing; focus has been on adding in known service lines that were completed in Watermain Phase A installation while Water Department reviews historical records and gets new information from Techs and Meter Reader. 8. Emergency Response Plan, Cybersecurity and Vulnerability Assessment • H2Mworking on addressing Plant’s comments to the report. Focus was previously on the TTHM issue. 9. Other: • Chemical Bid letter was sent to the BOW on 6/5/23. • Waste Alum Sludge Bid letter was sent to BOWC on 6/8/2023. The 2023-2024 Budget (attached) was presented to the Board for review. Due to increased costs (Bond payments, salaries, insurance, etc.) a rate increase will be necessary. Rate increases are being postponed until H2M reviews our data and makes a recommendation for rate adjustment. Following discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner Colarell, and carried, the Board approved the 2023-20243 Budget. The 2022 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report (ADWQR) was mailed to all customers and put on the Village website on May 31, 2023. Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Lynch reported on the following items: 1. Sludge - Pilot Test Offer – A local company may have a more cost-effective method for removing sludge from the lagoon. After the contract with the current bid awardee is complete, the company will demonstrate/test their method for us. 2. Private Hydrant Flushing – Customers, particularly Village Gate Condominiums, who have private hydrants on their property, have requested their hydrants be flushed during our semi-annual flushing. A release form needs to be signed. We will ask Attorney Schloss for guidance. 3. Hydrant Flushing – Flushing is complete. There were some complaints about the daytime flushing but overall it was accepted without incident. 4. TTHM 2ND Quarter Violation Notice – although the tested numbers are dropping our average is still above the allowable limits. 5. Transmission Main Tie-In – The repairs to the main in front of the plant will be complete and must be tied into to West Nyack. This will cause a minimal service interruption. Hand delivered notices will be given to the affected customers. 6. Diesel Generator - We are preparing to use a diesel powered generator as a power source at the college tank until a permanent solution, possibly solar, is found. Our next meeting will be Thursday, July 13, 2023. There being no further business, upon motion by Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner Colarell, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 6:08 PM. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Kunar