Nyack Water Board Meeting

January 15, 2026 A regular mee ng of the Board of Water Commissioners was held on the above date at 9 North Broadway, Nyack, NY. The mee ng was called to order by Chairman McDowell at 4:30 PM. The following were present: William McDowell Chairman Michelle Bullock Commissioner Pearl Gray Commissioner John Phillips Commissioner Elizabeth Turk Commissioner Latoya Aguillard Secretary Thomas Lynch Superintendent Angela Hamilton 21 Vine Street Dr. Jonathan Jakus 258 High Avenue Carmel Pra 259 Main Street Upon mo on by Chairman McDowell, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the Board accepted the minutes of December 2025 as wri en. The Cash Flow Statement for December 2025 was presented to the Board for review. The Statement of Revenue and Expenditures for December 2025 was presented to the Board for review. Angela Hamilton- Homeowner of 21 Vine Street, addressed the Board regarding ongoing issues with her water filtration system becoming clogged following water main breaks and hydrant flushing. Mrs. Hamilton stated that in 2025 she had both Culligan and Top Notch inspect the issue approximately three months apart. She reported that she was advised to install a whole- house filtration system; however, she has had such a system in place since 2005 and noted that 2025 has been the worst year she has experienced regarding this issue. Superintendent Thomas Lynch acknowledged awareness of the problem and recommended that the Water Department reimburse Mrs. Hamilton for the first filter replacement as a one-time courtesy. Superintendent Lynch also referenced the Village of Nyack Water Department Rules and Regulations, Section #30 – Village and Water Department Not Liable for Damages. Superintendent Lynch suggested that the Nyack Water Department take water samples from both filtered and non-filtered stagnant water at Mrs. Hamilton’s residence to determine the cause of the recurring filter clogging. Upon a motion by Chairman McDowell, seconded by Commissioner Phillips, and carried, the Board approved reimbursement to Mrs. Hamilton in the amount of $310. Dr. Jonathan Jakus- Owner of 258 High Avenue appeared before the Board regarding a high-water bill previously presented to the Village of Nyack Water Board on September 18, 2025. The Board acknowledged and thanked Dr. Jonathan Jakus for paying half of the contested bill. The Board determined that the water passed through the meter and must therefore be billed and accounted for. In accordance with Rules and Regulations, Section #35 – states that “All water supplied through meters shall be charged on the basis of the amount registered on the meter or meters installed at the premises” Therefore a leak forgiveness cannot be granted. Dr. Jakus advised that he would speak with his tenant regarding payment of the remaining balance. Carmel Pratt- The resident of 259 Main Street appeared before the Board and advocated for the use of a reverse osmosis system or a water truck to provide access to clean water during street fairs and other village events. Superintendent Thomas Lynch advised Ms. Pratt that the Village of Nyack Water Department meets all state and federal safety requirements, as documented in the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. Regarding Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) notifications, Superintendent Lynch explained that the issue stems from a formerly high-usage area that has become low-usage, resulting in stagnant water conditions, and noted that, by regulation, such notifications are not limited to that area and must be issued to all Nyack water consumers. Superintendent Lynch outlined ongoing and planned efforts to address TTHMs, including the proposed installation of automatic flushing devices in select areas, which are currently in the engineering and approval stages, to improve water circulation. He also reported that PFOA/PFAS filtration construction is planned, with groundbreaking anticipation in fall 2026. To address Ms. Pratt’s concerns, Superintendent Lynch directed Secretary Latoya Aguillard to schedule a full water sampling appointment at the residence. The sampling is scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2026, with samples to be delivered directly to Laboratory for testing. The Board reviewed the Projects Update submi ed by H2M architects + engineers Presented by Superintendent Thomas Lynch. A) Watermain Projects: a. Phase B: i. J. Fletcher Creamer (JFC) has completed the construc on associated with Water Main Improvements. ii. H2M con nues to prepare the As-Built Drawings for this work. B) Opera ons Related: a. Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Exceedance: i. Next Steps: 1. Regulatory Submission (RCDOH and NYSDOH): a. RCDOH/NYSDOH has completed its review of the documenta on submi ed by DN/H2M and issued a formal comment le er. In collabora on with RCDOH, H2M/DN worked diligently to address several of the ini al comments. However, RCDOH has requested addi onal installa on-related informa on prior to gran ng approval to commence construc on. At present, H2M and DN are preparing a formal response to the comment le er, with the goal of securing approval and scheduling installa on for January/February. b. H2M has received some further clarifica on/comments from RCDOH and is currently working with DN / IXOM to address. b. Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Quarter 4 Viola on:  i. Please note that the Quarter 4 No ce of Viola on (NOV) for TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) exceedance remains ac ve. Any future NOVs related to TTHM levels will con nue to be issued un l the approved TTHM removal system is fully installed, opera onal, and has demonstrated effec veness over several quarters. The rolling average must be reduced below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 80 μg/L to achieve compliance and resolve the viola on status. C) Plant / Pump Sta on Ac ons: a. South Highland Pump Sta on/College Zone: i. H2M has performed a 3D Laser Scan of the pump sta on and is currently preparing design documents and suppor ng documenta on for formal submission to RCDOH. The department has agreed to priori ze the review of this submission to expedite implementa on. 1. Update: H2M is preparing formal plans for the installa on of addi onal liquid chlorine at the South Highland Pump Sta on. Dra plans and the accompanying report have already been developed and are currently undergoing internal QA/QC review. D) Water Treatment Plant i. Superintendent Lynch has been inves ga ng a leak at the plant, first iden fied during the raising of valve boxes on the northeast side. An exploratory excava on revealed that an undetermined amount of water was flowing beneath the building along the piles and concrete grade beams. A subsequent excava on on the southwest side confirmed that the water was origina ng near the raw water line, aerated water line, and se ling water flume. Further inves ga on suggests that the se ling flume and chemical flume are leaking through voids in the cold joints. H2M has contacted DN to discuss a more permanent solu on to address the issue. 1. H2M met with DN Tanks on January 5, 2026, to review the areas of concern. DN to provide Superintendent Lynch with a proposal for temporary and permanent fixes. E) Sludge Lagoon a. H2M con nues working to prepare a new SPDES permit for the discharge of the Sludge Lagoon into the Hackensack River. H2M has engaged NYSDEC to obtain clarifica on on aspects of the permit and on the required sampling of the Sludge Lagoon that is to accompany the permit submission. i. On June 30, 2025, H2M submi ed to NYSDEC the Village of Nyack Water Department SPDES Permit Applica on and associated documents. We note that there will likely be addi onal back and forth between NWD, H2M and DEC rela ve to the applica on addi onal sampling required. On June 30, 2025, H2M submi ed to NYSDEC and RCDOH responses to the NYSDEC No ce of Viola on dated May 19, 2025. 1. H2M and the Nyack Water Department par cipated in a Teams mee ng with the New York State Department of Environmental Conserva on (NYSDEC) on August 19, 2025, to review the submi ed SPDES (State Pollutant Discharge Elimina on System) permit and address specific opera onal inquiries. Following the discussion, H2M and the Nyack Water Department are awai ng a formal comment le er from NYSDEC. Receipt of this le er is required to proceed with securing the new SPDES permit. 2. Update: H2M and the Nyack Water Department received comments from NYSDEC on October 21, 2025. In response, H2M is preparing the necessary documenta on to address the agency’s feedback. The response will also include required public no fica ons and water quality sampling to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. 3. Update: As part of the responses to the NYSDEC, Superintendent Lynch has performed required water quality sampling to accompany the response to DEC. Nyack Water is awai ng these results. ii. Superintendent Lynch has engaged with Joan Roth at Rockland County about reestablishing wash water and sedimenta on water discharge to the Rockland County Sewer district. Superintendent Lynch has spoken with Joan and provided data sampling to date. Addi onal sampling has been obtained from the sludge pit following filter backwashing. Those results as well as a completed discharge applica on will be provided to Rockland County for considera on. Superintendent Lynch / H2M are awai ng a follow up mee ng with Rockland County Sewer District to further discuss. 1. Update: On December 2, 2025, Superintendent Lynch and H2M met with Joan Roth and Mike Saber of Rockland County Sewer District No. 1 (RCSD) to discuss the poten al discharge of filter backwash water to the district. The mee ng was produc ve, with RCSD expressing recep veness to issuing a new permit specifically for the discharge of filter backwash water. As part of the process, RCSD will conduct laboratory analysis on a composite sample taken directly from the filters during backwash to iden fy any cons tuents that could impact the district’s treatment opera ons. If the results are favorable, a formal applica on will be submi ed to RCSD for approval. Prior to submission, one addi onal step will involve coordina ng with Chris Wagner at the Town of Clarkstown to confirm that their sewer system can accommodate a flow of 60,000 gallons per day. F) Automa c Flushing Devices: a. At the request of Superintendent Lynch, H2M prepared and submi ed to RCDOH (via the Tyler System) on November 6, 2025, a le er report along with the necessary submi als and a markedup distribu on map. These materials were provided for approval to implement and deploy automa c hydrant flushing devices designed to address stagna on in areas of the distribu on system, par cularly at system dead ends. H2M and the Water Department await review and comments on request. b. Update: Awai ng RCDOH review response/comments. G) 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 awai ng any addi onal comments or approvals to proceed toward bid and sa sfying addi onal requirements for the grant. b. On March 24, 2025, H2M received official approval from NYSDOH to move forward to bidding and construc on. c. H2M con nues 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 communica on with EFC and providing applicable informa on 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 u lizing a PLA (Project Labor Agreement) to simply this process. Village Administrator Stewart has authorized H2M on behalf of the Village to proceed with the PLA evalua on. d. H2M has performed a cost analysis to be provided to our subconsultant who will review and assist in the prepara on of the PLA evalua on. i. Update: H2M has prepared and delivered the Feasibility Study to both the Village and the Water Department. At the direc on of Administrator Stewart, the study was forwarded to the Rockland County Building & Construc on Trades Council for review and acceptance. The Trades Council has since reviewed and accepted the study, and on December 16, 2025, provided the Dra Project Labor Agreement. The next step will be for a resolu on to be passed and for the agreement to be executed by the Mayor during the January 8, 2026, Village Board Mee ng. Once executed, the agreement will be returned to the Trades Council for their signature. Following acceptance of the Project Labor Agreement, H2M will revise the bid documents accordingly, with bidding scheduled for January 2026 pending final review from NYSDOH / EFC for approval to bid. ii. Update: Awai ng confirma on from Village Board that the resolu on adop ng the PLA was adopted before modifying all bid documents. H) New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) – Comprehensive Performance Evalua on a. During the week of September 15, 2025, representa ves from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) conducted a Comprehensive Performance Evalua on (CPE) at the Nyack Treatment Plant. The evalua on focused on reviewing opera onal procedures and inves ga ng disinfec on byproducts (DBPs), specifically TTHM exceedances. Notably, this marks the first CPE performed at the facility since the year 2000. NYSDOH will issue a formal report detailing findings related to filter performance and chlorine contact me, which will inform future compliance and opera onal improvements. b. On October 23, 2025, H2M and the Nyack Water Department received a preliminary findings le er from NYSDOH and are currently awai ng the formal report. Notably, the preliminary findings mirror the observa ons and recommenda ons previously issued in March 2024, when the filters were evaluated for efficiency. The preliminary findings are summarized as follows: i. Gravity Filters – Inspec on / Rehabilita on of the four (4) filters. This would be inclusive of replacement of le underdrains and filter media. Also suggested the installa on of an air scour system. ii. Chlorina on System – It is recommended that the chlorine injec on point for the finished water clear well be relocated to a posi on upstream of the clear well to increase chlorine contact me. Superintendent’s Report: Service Truck Status- Superintendent Thomas Lynch updated the Board on the status of service vehicles. The Village of Nyack Water Department is awai ng delivery of two 2025 Ford Maverick XL AWD trucks, including a achments and accessories Totaling $61,779.30. These vehicles will be added to the fleet to replace exis ng trucks deemed unsafe to operate. ii. Superintendent Lynch also presented a diagram for two utility beds with four basket bottoms to be installed on the two Ford Lightning trucks. The equipment upgrade will allow each distribution crew member to have a dedicated vehicle. iii. Superintendent Lynch further advised that the Village of Nyack water vacuum truck requires replacement. He proposed searching the Auctions International website to obtain a replacement vehicle through auction. Upon a motion by Commissioner Phillips, seconded by Commissioner Gray, and carried, the Board authorized Superintendent Lynch to search for a replacement vacuum truck on Auctions International with a maximum bid limit of $50,000. Plant Painting Status- Superintendent Thomas Lynch reported that the Water Department’s water treatment plant operators and distribution crew completed painting work in the basement and laboratory areas of the plant. Superintendent Lynch commended the crews for their excellent work. Operator Training Status- Paul Mitchell, Water Treatment Plant Operator, is scheduled to complete his laboratory course in March. ii. Superintendent Thomas Lynch reported that all distribution crew members and water treatment plant operators have been enrolled in NYMIR Municipal Insurance training modules. This training ensures consistent instruction and adherence to standardized guidelines outlined in the modules. iii. Superintendent Lynch also advised that he has been requested to redraft the Assistant Grade IIA job description for submission to Rockland County Personnel. #3 FWP & Check Valve Status- Superintendent Thomas Lynch reports that a new flow meter is needed, as the current system requires two employees to shut down operations. He is exploring replacement options that would allow the system to be shut down with the push of a button. ii. Superintendent Lynch also reported that a check valve is leaking, allowing water to flow back into the plant. The blow-off line has been removed from the LSR and is now directed back to the clear well when the valve is shut down. Currently, the valve cannot close fully and require replacement. Superintendent Lynch is awaiting a quote for replacement.  At 6:14PM, upon mo on by Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner Turk, and carried, the Board moved into execu ve session. At 6:31 PM upon mo on be Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried the Board move out of execu ve session. Our next mee ng will be Thursday, February 19, 2026 There being no further business, upon mo on by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the mee ng was adjourned at 6:35 PM. Respec ully submi ed, Latoya Aguillard Secretary