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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - WC - 03/29/2016 Cohasset Water D E PARTM ENT Commissioners S ffl*ffy!3�E2� MAW IX0 Leonora C.Jenkins Rolf N. Gjesteby John W. Steinmetz Minutes of the Cohasset Board of Water Commissioners 339 King Street - Treatment Plant March 29, 2016 @ 9:00 am Members Present: Leonora Jenkins, Chairman Rolf Gjesteby, Vice-Chairman John Steinmetz, Clerk Recording Secretary: Brenda Douglas Guests Present: Carl Hillstrom, Joe Geary, Bruce Meehan, Brian Joyce, Chief Silvia Lee called the meeting called to order at 9:04. Lee turned the meeting over to Brian Joyce. Brian asked for the meeting because of the pH coming out of Ellms Meadow. It is at 6 currently, and he feels that we need to be proactive in adding something for corrosion control. Currently the pH leaving the plant is at 7.3-7.4. Brian stated that the water leaving Ellms Meadow it was corrosive. The lead & copper sampling which needs to be done this summer will included homes built between 1983 and 1985. Carl said it was during those years that lead solder was used in homes. In January of 1986 it was banned. The Water Department is required to test 20 sites every 3 years. John asked when the water comes out of Ellms Meadow does it mix with the water from the plant. Carl stated that yes it does especially in high volume months. John asked if any homes were getting 100% of the Ellms Meadow water. Carl stated that homes right outside the well on James Lane, during off season would probably be receiving all their water from the well. Carl told the board that they had taken a lead & copper sample from 42 Smith Place. There was no lead but copper was high but not over the limit. Brian said he would like to be proactive by looking for a corrosion control plan. Carl explained that we are adding a polyphosphate here and at Ellms Meadow for corrosion control. Carl spoke with the rep from Carus,the company we get the phosphate from, he stated we should be adding alkalinity. Carl said the rep suggested a different poly blend,possibly 80/20 or 95115. Lee asked if Ellms Meadow had always been this way and Bruce stated that it has always been this way. Brian said that normally we would only be running in the summer months and it would not contribute all that much. Now that we are running in the winter it contributes allot more. John said if there are any health issues that we need to take utmost precautions. John feels that if there are any chances that it may cause corrosion it should be addressed immediately. Lee asked if there is a lot of water in the pond is it easier to treat. Carl and Bruce said it does not 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org make a difference due to the organics. Carl said that they could add the new chemical caustic to the wellfield. Brian then said we would they be able to raise the pH to 7.2-7.5 Carl said yes but then you have to be careful of the THM's_ Brian said where he used to work the pH was at 9, Lee asked if they had problems with it being that high with the THM's. Joe said no due to the fact that they add chloramines. That is a mixture of chlorine and ammonia. Lee asked would have to be done to turn Ellms Meadow back on. Joe said that they would have to get approval from DEP but add caustic to the water at Ellms Meadow. Joe said that in the approval letter, dated July 2011, from DEP for the well it suggest to look into corrosion control. John said that he feels that they have no choice but to shut it down until the changes are made. Carl explained that we have to go thru the same process with DEP as we did with the caustic for the treatment plant. It should be easier this time since the Woodard & Curran engineers have the template. Brains suggestion is to have Woodard & Curran draw up the specs and submit to DEP. Lee made a motion to have Ellms meadow shut down temporarily and have Woodard& Curran come up with a plan for Ellms meadow and the addition of sodium hydroxide and submit to DEP,this was 2nd by Rolf all in favor. Brian then stated that Chief Silvia will be coming by to discuss putting up a building at Scituate Hill site and remove their electronics from the chamber. This would be for their communications. Brian informed the board that he is working with Jack Buckley and his kids to do some testing. Chief Silvia came into the meeting and spoke to the board. He stated that he has been working on a program with Homeland Security. He requested the permission of the board to put a 12x20 building inside the fencing of the Scituate Hill tank. This would be temporary until they can get the land requested from Mass DOT site. Chief Silvia stated that unless this money is used by July 1, 2016, the money will dry up from Homeland Security. Because working with Mass DOT is going very slow. Their plan b would be to put in the concrete vault just inside the fence of the Scituate Hill tank. This way once they get dot approval they will only have to dig a trench for conduit and move. Carl asked if they would put together site plans, the Chief said yes but wanted to get the Commission's approval first. John made a motion to approve the proposal by Chief Silvia by giving access to put a structure at Scituate Hill water tank; this was 2nd by Rolf all in favor. Chief Silvia then thanked the Water Department for all their work. He explained that the new ISO rating went up for the town thanks to our distribution system and fire prevention standards. He stated that the savings are for the business and not the residents. Motion made by Lee to adjourn the meeting at 9.50, this was 2nd by John all in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Brenda Douglas, Recor ' ec t Approved By:--., Date: �1 Jrm Steinmetz, Clerk ohasset Board of Water Commis 'on s 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org