Nyack Water Board Meeting

October 17,2024 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 Elizabeth Turk Commissioner John Phillips Commissioner Pearl Gray Commissioner Latoya Aguillard Assistant Secretary Thomas Lynch Superintendent James Roberts H2M Chris Wright H2M Absent: Secretary Barbara Kunar Upon motion by Commissioner McDowell, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the Board accepted the minutes of September 2024 as written. The Cash Flow Statement for September 2024 was presented to the Board for review. The Statement of Revenue and Expenditures for September 2024 was presented to the Board for review. The Board reviewed the Projects Update submitted by H2M architects + engineers and presented by Jim Roberts: 1) Watermain Projects: a. Phase B: H2M will be conducting Phase B Pre-Con Meeting with J. Fletcher Creamer on 10/18/24. b. Phase C: Drafting plans for submission to Health Department. c. Phase A: H2M continues efforts to redo as-builts done by GCE. Additionally, H2M is in the process of satisfying all requirements of EFC to close out the WIAA Grant. 2) Operations Related:  a. Operations assistance with Steve Wondrack have been Advancing i. Focus has been on optimization and standardization (SOPS) for the purpose of general operational efficiency but more specifically related to reducing DBP/THM production. ii. Dickenson Reservoir Improvements b. Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Exceedance: i. Superintendent Lynch has provided H2M with the updated Quarterly TTHM results inclusive of Q3 2024. It should be noted that all compliance sites outside of the Boon Center are in compliance with regulatory limits. 1. On September 27, 2024 H2M prepared an updated Corrective Actions – Interim Progress Report to NYSDOH, RCDOH and EPA, for Supt Lynch. ii. Assessing Plant Operations and Chemical Usage: 1. Data challenges are being worked through with Supt Lynch. Supt Lynch has shared with H2M real time daily operations of Plant operations via Google Docs. iii. H2M working on other analysis/reports as outlined in the primary action items. 1. H2M began Jar Testing on Tuesday August 13, 2024. Jar testing continues and is expected to be performed over a period of 8 weeks. Preliminary results are indicative of an over dosage of coagulant at the plant. Jar Testing continues twice a week. To date, Coagulant dosing has been reduced 25% (~15 PPM) starting on September 26, 2024. This resulted in stable/slightly reduced turbidity measurements. Plant personnel continue to monitor and record turbidity readings on an hourly basis. c. LSL Inventory and next steps i. Lead Service Line Inventory: 1. Inventory list has been provided to NYS as required on October 16, 2024. Superintendent Lynch to advise on additional support required for public notification required within 30 days as next steps. d. H2M/Plant Actions: i. Chlorine Addition: H2M has been working with Supt Lynch to reduce pre-filter chlorination dosage while increasing secondary chlorination dosage (plant clear well) to maintain distribution system residual. Over a period of 6-8 weeks, pre-filter chlorination has been reduced by approximately 1.0 part per million (ppm). This has resulted in an approximate 30% reduction in TTHM production in the Plant clear well. Secondary chlorination dosage has been increased to maintain safe distribution system residual between 1.5-1.7 ppm.  ii. HACH Chlorine / Turbidity Equipment: HACH Technicians have calibrated all of the equipment currently installed within the plant. HACH is to send a senior technician to evaluate the existing CL17 Chlorine Analyzer and Turbidity Meter for proper operation. Replacement quotes have been provided to Supt Lynch should replacement equipment be required. iii. Gravity Filters 1. Gravity Filter backwash time has been reduced from 8 minutes to 6 minutes. This is an overall reduction is amount of wash water discharged to the sludge lagoon. Additionally, gravity filter backwash parameters have been revised. Each filter will be backwashed after 48 hours of run time maximum or if an increase in turbidity is measured before the 48-hour max. This adjustment translates into one filter discharging to the sludge lagoon daily and an overall reduction in waste water being discharged. iv. Flocculation Basin No. 1 1. Superintendent Lynch had the reduction fitting and associated equipment associated with Floc Basin No. 1 repaired by Precision pump. Equipment failure occurred due to maintenance related items. H2M is to begin working on designing chlorine addition at the South Highland Pump Station to aid in low Chlorine residual in the College Pressure Zone. This requires approval from RCDOH.H2M has been communicating with several vendors to size and source equipment to provide a small outdoor enclosure designed to house all the chlorine injection equipment. H2M currently has in hand a proposal for a chlorine injection system that is proposed to be installed on the roof of the So. Highland Pump Station. i. Note: Chlorine Tablet Dosing addition at the Low Service Reservoir has been revised to take place Monday thru Friday. This includes the addition of three (3) chlorine tablets per hatch daily. The premise behind the rationale is to equalize the chlorine profile within the LSR and remove the peaks and valleys by only dosing two times a week. The RCDOH has given the Water Department emergency authority to supplementally dose chlorine on an interim (temporary) basis during the warm months. RCDOH is looking for the Department/H2M to provide a permanent solution to supplemental chlorine injection. This is listed above as a Chlorine Booster Station to be added to the So. Highland Pump Station. The Board would need to authorize H2M to proceed and to purchase the necessary equipment to install. C) Capital Equipment Concerns and Improvements: a. Continue to lend support on technical issues and reporting. b. new operations resource continues to meet with Supt Lynch to review objectives relative to developing Standard Operating Procedures, etc. c. College Tank / Zone: i. Equipment installed for chlorination measurement, feed, and tank level measurement at College Tank Pump Station. ii. Neal Systems has completed all work at the So. Highland Pump Stations. All communications and automatic controls have been corrected and are working as originally intended. d. There are a number of items related to capital maintenance that need to be prioritized and budgets and funding addressed. Summarized here and in detail below: i. Flight Scrapers. One has been repaired, Second needs repair $15k 1. Superintendent Lynch has updated quotes and seeks approval from Board to proceed with ordering and schedule in house replacement. a. Sedimentation Basin - Flight Scrappers: i. Sedimentation Basin No. 1 - Coppola Services, Inc. were on site at the Plant on July 16th to repair flight scrapper. This included reinstalling the head shaft, properly align sprocket and install new drive chain. Replacement track slides will need to be fabricated and installed. In addition, a few replacements flights will need to be procured and installed. Superintendent Lynch repaired the jammed-up flight scraper due to a lodged 6x6 piece of wood that sheared the flight scraper pins. i. Sedimentation Basin No. 2 – Coppola Services, Inc. inspected the existing flight scrapper and found that 24 out of 30 flights were broken and need to be replaced. In addition, replacement track slides, drive chain and track repairs will need to be made. Currently Sedimentation Basin No. 2 flight scrapper is out of service until repairs can be completed. ii. Chlorine Booster Equipment So. Highland PS $50k iii. Flow Testing at Plant $5k iv. Calibration equipment for Plant Chem Dosing $17k 1. Note: Calibration equipment has been ordered and installation is pending. Superintendent Lynch has purchased and is awaiting delivery of new Potassium Permanganate HDPE tanks to replace legacy tanks at the end of life. New tanks will be provided and equipped with flooded suction for the pumps and allow calibration equipment to function. D) Sludge Lagoon i. Superintendent Lynch has begun a pilot program for removing sludge from the lagoon and maintenance to remove the plant growth from the lagoon. ii. H2M is evaluating these operations in the context of renewed SPEDES permit application  E) Plant Upgrade for PFAS Removal: a. H2M submitted revised plans, specifications, and report to NYSDOH in February and is waiting for comments and/or approval. H2M received comments from NYSDOH on July 9th and resubmitted responses to NYSDOH on September 16, 2024. F) Master Planning Efforts: a. Asset Management i. Draft Plan submitted for Superintendent Lynch and Board for comment/review. H2M to prepare a final copy of the report upon agreement with the Water Department. We would request either approval or authorization to finalize in order to advance with Capital Improvement planning-upon motion by Chairman McDowell and Second by John Phillips and carried the board approve for James Roberts to apply for Grant ii. Following finalization H2M will work with Supt Lynch on Capital Improvement and maintenance plans related to identified prioritized topics. Central Nyack Civic Association Board, members Cheryl Stroud (6 Vine Street) and Bobbie Gardner (20 Laurel Road)- raised important questions regarding the disparity in water rates for Village of Nyack customers compared to those in South Nyack, Central Nyack, and West Nyack. 1. Rate Discrepancy: o Village of Nyack water customers are charged an inside rate of $0.07920 per 1,000 cubic feet ($79.20), while South Nyack, Central Nyack, and West Nyack residents pay an outside rate of $0.09504 per 1,000 cubic feet ($95.04). o Chairman McDowell explained that the Nyack Water Department is required to pay 35% in property and school taxes to the towns of Orangetown and Clarkstown for infrastructure such as mains, pump houses, and the water treatment plant. In contrast, the village does not incur taxes for water supply. 2. Equity Concerns: o Bobbie Gardner expressed concerns about fairness, noting that residents of the Village of Nyack also share the water supply and suggesting that rates should be uniform across all areas. 3. Water Pressure Inquiry: o Cheryl Stroud raised questions regarding water pressure issues in Central Nyack. 4. Request for Presentation: o Cheryl requested that a representative from the Water Board attend an upcoming Civic Association meeting to address: ▪ The rationale behind current rates ▪ Concerns about perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), and Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Next Steps:  Commissioner John Phillips will attend a future Civic Board meeting to provide detailed explanations on the above topics. The date and time of this meeting will be determined after further research. Jay Snyder's recent correspondence concerning his unusually high-water bill at 32 Tallman Avenue. - Mr. Snyder contacted the Village of Nyack Water Department about a bill that was approximately seven times higher than what he was charged for the same quarter last year. He expressed interest in a "smart meter" for real-time readings, but was disappointed to learn that the available option is an outdated version of a smart meter. Assistant Secretary Latoya Aguillard followed up with our meter reading software company and found that the current subscription-based program only allows for meter readings to be monitored four times a year based off Nyack waters quarterly reading schedule. This limited data is insufficient for residents to identify leaks or set alerts for usage thresholds. Latoya Aguillard will update Mr. Synder on this matter. Torres T Landscaping-Yearly contract renewal for water treatment plant landscaping. 12k (no increase from last year) upon motion by Chairman McDowell, second By Commissioner Bullock and carried the board approved Chairman McDowell to sign contract. Superintendent’s Report: Security Camera’s – Superintendent Lynch contacted Windstream regarding the recent issue with our cameras being out of service. Windstream has informed us that they upgraded the software, as the previous version had become outdated after five years of use. DBP/THM 3rd Quarter report: - Hospital and Nyack Village Hall -are in compliance. Boon Center – Not in compliance Superintendent Lynch reports that there is significant low usage in the area currently being addressed in collaboration with Yeshivath. Efforts are underway to rectify this issue, and is hopeful that the results will improve by the next quarter. Congressman Michael Lawler- Superintendent Lynch reached out to Congressman Lawler’s assistant regarding the essential grant assistance needed for various system improvements. Below is a breakdown of the proposed locations and associated costs:  Location Action Cost 6th Avenue Booster Booster Replacement $31,620 LSR Tank Mixers $100,000 South Highland Booster CL2 Application and Storage Enclosure $90,000 Communication Replacement $35,000 Treatment Facility Chemical Application Calibration $14,000 CWP 2 & 3 Check Valve Replacement $30,000 Sludge Lagoon Cleaning $200,000 Settling Basin Collection $14,794 Settling Basin South Hatch Cover Replacement $30,000 RW Turbidimeter $5,000 Total $550,414 Superintendent Lynch will keep the board informed about any decisions made regarding this request. Jaguar Easement- Is in the final stages of approval. Distributions Crew trucks- Superintendent Lynch has implemented a new strategy by separating our distribution crew into individual trucks. This approach has proven helpful in efficiently covering daily jobs and various areas within our distribution system. Repair needs- The discussion regarding the cost and approvals for payment plans and milestone payments has been tabled until our revenue shows positive growth. We will revisit this matter as soon as our financial situation improves. At 6:24 PM, upon motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Gray, and carried, the Board moved into executive session to discuss personnel issues. At 6:32 PM upon motion be Commissioner Turk, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried the Board moved out of executive session. Our next meeting will be Thursday, November 21, 2024 There being no further business, upon motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 6:34 PM. Respectfully submitted, Latoya Aguillard