Nyack Water Board Meeting

May 15, 2025 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 John Phillips Commissioner Elizabeth Turk Commissioner Latoya Aguillard Assistant Secretary Thomas Lynch Superintendent Jim Moran H2M Absent: Commissioner Pearl Gray, Secretary Barbara Kunar Upon motion by Chairman McDowell, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the Board accepted the minutes of April 2025 as written The Cash Flow Statement for April 2025 was presented to the Board for review. The Statement of Revenue and Expenditures for April 2025 was presented to the Board for review. Water Budget Forecast- The Village of Nyack Water Board approved the water budget forecast by former Village Treasurer Jennifer Hetling. The Board reviewed a memo submitted by H2M architects + engineers and presented by Jim Moran (H2M). A) Watermain Projects: a. Phase B: i. J. Fletcher Creamer (JFC) began construction on Monday 11/18/2024. H2M is providing an inspector onsite full time to watch over and document the JFC construction crews progress. ii. JFC Progress: 1. Doscher, Hobe and Patterson – Watermain installed, and all services installed. 2. Central Avenue – Watermain installed, and all services installed. 3. Benson Avenue – Watermain installed, and all services installed. 4. First Avenue – Watermain installed, and all services installed. 5. Francis Avenue – Watermain installed, and all services installed. 6. Marion Street – Watermain installed, and all services installed. 7. Jefferson Street – Watermain installed, and all services installed. iii. Fifth Avenue Water Main Replacement – 1. During the week of March 3, 2025, JFC began pre-digging on North Broadway and has two 12” insertion valves installed to facilitate the installation of 5th Avenue. On March 10, 2025 JFC began the installation of the 5th Avenue water main starting from North Broadway. 2. On May 9th, JFC began installing new services on 5th Avenue. JFC is tentatively scheduled to be completed with the services and tie-in work with 5th Avenue during the first week of June, 2025. 3. Following the completion of the water main work, JFC will begin all restoration work to curb, sidewalks, private property and leveling of water main trenches. 4. H2M will work with the Village and the Town of Clarkstown regarding final pavement and cost sharing. b. Phase C: i. With Phase B wrapping up, consideration should be given to how the Board of Water Commissioners would like to proceed moving forward with the Phase C portion of the project. The following questions could be asked: 1. Does the Board want to continue as planned, rearrange the roadways that were moved and create the new Phase C and finalize design / approvals? 2. Does the Board want to pause and revisit later? 3. Does the Board and Superintendent Lynch want to reassess the roadways to be a part of Phase C. Determine if others are of higher priority and if replacements should be designed in lieu of the current proposed? B) Operations Related: a. Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Exceedance: i. H2M continues to prepare a comprehensive Corrective Actions Report that details in depth the corrective actions taken to date and what contributed to the decision-making process. This document would be generated to provide to the NYSDOH, RCDOH and EPA during any future correspondence or audits. ii. H2M and Superintendent Lynch have obtained two hardware quotes from IXOM and PSI Water Technologies (PAX) for TTHM removal systems that are proposed to be installed within the Low Service Reservoir (LSR) to help reduce water age and TTHM production. 1. Budgetary Costs (Hardware Only) a. IXOM System: $235,275.00 b. PAX System: $281,141.00 i. Note: PAX system includes four (4) mixers and has a guaranteed THM Removal Rate of 60% iii. H2M and Superintendent Lynch are awaiting a quote from DN tanks (vendor who would install either system) for the cost to modify the LSR and install all the equipment. iv. Superintendent Lynch has reached out to Orange and Rockland to determine power availability to the LSR (3-phase power is recommended). In addition, H2M and Superintendent Lynch will be obtaining a quote from an electrician to replace all electrical paneling in the shed at the LSR. The current electrical system is knob and tube and requires replacement. C) Plant Actions: a. Flocculation Basins: i. Superintendent Lynch has/had ordered the replacement flights for Sedimentation Basin Nos. 1 and 2. To date, the replacement flights have arrived and been installed into Sedimentation basin No. 2. Sedimentation Basin No. 2 has been repaired and place back into active service. ii. Superintendent Lynch has repaired sedimentation basin in April 2025. The plant is currently operating with both Sedimentation Basin Nos. 1 and 2 in service. b. Finish Water Pump No. 3 Check Valve: i. Superintendent Lynch has identified that the check valve associated with finish water pump no. 3 no longer seals properly when the plant is offline allowing backflow of the distribution system into the finish water Clearwell. The check valve should be evaluated and replaced as necessary budget permitting. c. 6th Avenue Pump Station / Hospital Tank: i. During the week of February 10th, the 6th Avenue suffered a failure of the South Pump within the 6th Avenue Pump Station. Precision Pump was called in to assess the pump. Upon assessment, it was determined that the pump needed to be removed and brought back to their shop to be rebuilt due to bearing failures. As of February 20, 2025, Precision Pump has indicated to Superintendent Lynch that the pump is able to be rebuilt and will be returned in the coming days. Attention to potential partially closed valves on the suction side of the pumps needs to be investigated. As of February 28, 2025, the 6th Avenue pump has been rebuilt, reinstalled and is operating as intended. ii. In mid-April 2025, H2M performed an ROV based inspection of the Hospital Tank. During that inspection, an possum was found floating in the storage tank. Superintendent Lynch notified RCDOH and the directive was to drain the tank and clean. During the investigation of how to remove the tank from service, Nyack Water kept in constant communication with the Nyack Hospital, Rockland County Emergency Services and Rockland County Department of Health. Nyack Water determined that the tank could not be shut down as the Nyack Hospital would be without adequate water pressure to operate. In an emergency, Supt. Lynch had a portable booster pump brought to site. iii. In coordination with H2M, Supt. Lynch approved the installation of VFD’s within the 6th Avenue Pump Station. VFD’s are to be installed the week of May 12th. When the pumps are in VFD mode, High Pressure Zone will operate off a pressure transmitter that is set to 100 psi. This will allow the booster station to cycle on and off throughout the day while the Hospital Tank is offline. Once the VFD’s are installed and tested, Nyack Water will coordinate with regulatory and the Nyack Hospital to remove the tank from service and run strictly off the Pump Station. At that point, the Hospital tank will be drained and cleaned. Following satisfactory bacteriological sampling and approvals from RCDOH, the Hospital Tank will be returned to active service and the pump station returned to level-based operation as it does currently. iv. In addition to the installation of VFD’s, Superintendent Lynch has authorized Neal Systems to install a new Cellular based communications system (like College Tank zone) to allow for remote operation of the pumps and accurate relay of tank level back to the plant. In the future a Hach CL 17 chlorine analyzer should be installed and tied into the communications system to relay chlorine residual back to the plant. Currently liquid hypochlorite is injected at the 6th Avenue Pump station. (Note that the old ABB chart recorder operates off old Verizon copper lines that will be cut off in the future. Additionally, the chart recorder’s auto control board has burnt up and is obsolete and necessitating the replacement.) v. Consideration should be given to rebuilding the 6th Avenue South pump in the same fashion as the North Pump. The South pump has leaking packing, corrosion and output issues similar to that of the North pump prior to rebuilt. d. South Highland Pump Station:  i. Consideration should be given to removing the vertical turbine within the South Highland pump station to have the wet well inspected and cleaned. ii. Superintendent Lynch asked the RCDOH about adding liquid hypochlorite injection within the South Highland pump station in lieu of tablet dosing. RCDOH has requested a full engineering submission to proceed with considering approval. H2M will await approval from the Board to proceed. D) Sludge Lagoon a. H2M continues working to prepare a new SPDES permit for the discharge of the Sludge Lagoon into the Hackensack River. H2M has engaged NYSDEC to obtain clarification on aspects of the permit and on the required sampling of the Sludge Lagoon that is to accompany the permit submission. i. H2M has received some direction from NYSDEC on sampling required for the SPDES permit. Sampling requirements has been sent to Superintendent Lynch, but recent plant issues have not allowed this to proceed. ii. Required sampling for SPDES permitting has been taken and sent to the Lab for analysis. Once those results are returned, H2M can continue interfacing with NYSDEC and working through the application. iii. Consideration should be given to a more in-depth dredging of the sludge lagoon. Budgeting should be determined as to how to adequately address the sludge lagoon which is currently full to capacity. E) Plant Upgrade for PFAS Removal: a. H2M received response comments from NYSDOH on January 6, 2025. H2M had reviewed and issued return responses to NYSDOH on January 27, 2025. H2M is now awaiting any additional comments or approvals to proceed toward bid and satisfying additional requirements for the grant. b. On March 24, 2025, H2M received official approval from NYSDOH to move forward to bidding and construction. c. H2M continues working with the Village/Munistat/Hawkins/EFC to secure an agreement for the grants and approvals to move forward toward Bid. H2M and the Village have been in constant communication with EFC and providing applicable information back and forth to execute (close) the grants. Since this is an EFC base project with BIL-EC and WIAA funding, Wicks Law will apply. This will be a minimum of four (4) contracts. H2M has spoken with the Village about utilizing a PLA (Project Labor Agreement) to simplify this process. Village Administrator Stewart has authorized H2M on behalf of the Village to proceed with the PLA evaluation. Superintendent’s Report: Nyack Hospital Water Supply Meeting 5/1/2025-A meeting was held with representatives from Nyack Hospital and partner agencies to address the contamination and required remediation of the 40-foot water tank located at sixth avenue. The tank is a key component of Nyack Hospital’s water supply system. • The tank cannot be isolated without jeopardizing the hospital’s primary water service. • The tank has been found to be contaminated and must be drained and sanitized. • Work is scheduled to begin on May 27, 2025. Remediation Plan • A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) for the pump house has been ordered and is expected to be delivered within the next two weeks. • Once delivered, the VFD will be installed at the Highland Ave/Oak Cemetery pump station to maintain system pressure for the hospital during remediation. • After VFD installation and system testing, Nyack Water will begin the process to drain, clean, and refill the tank, estimated to take 2–3 days. Preventive Measures Already Taken • Screens have been replaced or repaired to prevent further intrusion. • Debris, including beer cans and bottles, found in discharge areas has been removed and screens replaced. • Chlorine levels have been tested and are within acceptable range. • No negative lab results have been returned to date. • Bacteria test results are pending. Next Steps • Nyack Water will contact the Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) to review and obtain approval for the proposed sanitization plan. Interim Water Supply Plan (During Tank Downtime) • Nyack Water reports the tank provides 105 psi to Nyack Hospital; the hospital claims 130 psi. • During downtime, the hospital will receive water via “Low Service” from Dickinson Reservoir. • In case the reservoir requires quick replenishment, Veolia maintains an interconnection on Route 303 (PCM property). Hospital Backup Plan • A 2½” water fitting will be installed at the hospital loading dock to accept tanker truck deliveries. • Three trucks, each holding 6,000 gallons, are prepared to deliver water capable of reaching up to the 6th floor. • Daily hospital usage is approximately 14,000 gallons. • Nyack Water has the capability to refill the trucks as needed. Highland Street Pump House – The Highland Street Pump House continues to show elevated levels of Trihalomethanes (THMs) during weekly testing. In response, Superintendent Thomas Lynch has recommended lifting the pump station structure to investigate potential issues beneath the concrete foundation—such as broken pipes or other underlying conditions that may be contributing to the persistent THM levels. While the Village of Nyack Water Department currently have several quotes for installing a mixer at the site, Superintendent Lynch believes that inspecting the area beneath the pump station may be a more cost-effective and targeted first step before proceeding with mixer installation. The estimated cost for lifting and inspecting the pump station is approximately $11,000. A Motion made by Chairman McDowell, seconded by Commissioner Turk, and carried by the board, to approve this inspection. At 5:47PM, upon motion by Commissioner Bullock, second by Chairman McDowell, and carried, the Board moved into executive session to discuss personnel issues. At 6:03 PM upon motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried the Board moved out of executive session. Subsequent to coming out of executive session upon motion by Chairman McDowell, second by Commissioner Bullock and carried, the Board approved the reimbursement of $4,425.87 to Chairman Elizabeth Turk. This reimbursement is in response to a mishap and negligence associated with a recent water main replacement, which led to the flooding of Chairman Turk’s basement and damage to several personal items. Our next meeting will be Wednesday June 18th 2025 There being no further business, upon motion by Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner Phillips, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 6:07PM. Respectfully submitted, Latoya Aguillard Assistant Secretary