SHARON WATER MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (WMAC) MEETING MINUTES FOR JUNE 22, 2006
Prepared by Paul Lauenstein
Present at meeting:
WMAC Chairman Michael Birschbach; WMAC members Paul Lauenstein, Richard Mandell, Rory McGregor, Len Sekuler, Jack Sulik, Cliff Towner; DPW Superintendent Eric Hooper
1. Approval of 5/18/06 minutes
2. Report of the Water Department
Well Pumping
New meter on Well #5
Water audits
Water table
Nitrates
Iron/Manganese filtration at Well #6
New well sites
Emergency backup
3. Water rates
4. Election of officers
5. Water bill inserts
6. Rebate Policy
7. Jack Sulik moving to Stoughton
8. Next meeting: Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 7:30 PM
Detailed Minutes for the 6/22/06 WMAC Meeting
1. Approval of 5/18/06 minutes
The minutes of May 18, 2006 were unanimously approved with minor changes.
2. Report of the Water Department
Eric Hooper reported that Well #6 has not been used yet this year, adding that Wells #2 and #7 have been running below capacity due to reduced demand for lawn irrigation caused by heavy rain in May and June.
Eric Hooper said the Water Department replaced the old, unreliable Venturi master meter on Well #5 with a new mag master meter that should be more accurate.
Paul Lauenstein remarked that, in addition to Well #5, adjustments to the metered pumping reported for Wells #2 and #7 had also been made on the 2005 Annual Statistical Report. He said those wells also have Venturi meters, and asked if the Water Department had any plans to replace those meters with mag meters.
Eric Hooper replied that the Water Department will consider replacing those meters only after seeing how the new mag meter works on Well #5.
Michael Birschbach commented that a neighbor had received a $600 water bill due to a slow toilet leak. He asked if that home had received a water audit.
Eric Hooper replied that there has been no response to the postcards mailed out by Energy New England offering free water audits. He supposed this was due to the record rainfall in May and June.
Eric Hooper said that the schools would be audited in July after the end of the school year.
Richard Mandell commented that an audit of summertime usage with the schools empty might not reflect conditions with school in session.
Eric Hooper replied that the timing of the audits was up to the schools. The focus of the school audits would be on irrigation, valves and flushometer toilets. Eric Hooper added that maintenance of the schools’ plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems is the responsibility of the School Department.
Water table
Eric Hooper commented on the monitoring well graphs distributed earlier, saying that the water table is high because of all the recent heavy rains.
Eric Hooper commented on the nitrate graphs distributed earlier, saying that Well #2 continues to show a long-term gradual increase in nitrates despite the recent down-tick attributable to dilution by the heavy rains. However, it is still under 5 ppm. The other two wells with significant nitrates, Wells #3 and #4, each show a slight downward trend. The nitrate level of Well #4 of about 3.5 ppm may be a predictor of the nitrate level that could be expected at the proposed Canton Street site, since the Canton Street site is downstream of Well #4 in the same aquifer.
Eric Hooper reported that re-testing the biological filtration method for removing iron and manganese from Well #6 could not be accomplished until Well #6 could be run continuously. That would not happen until demand from lawn irrigation caused sufficient pumping from other wells to dilute the discoloration caused by running Well #6. He said he expected to begin the process sometime in the next two weeks.
New well sites
Eric Hooper reported that he visited the Canton Street site with a representative of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to anticipate what kinds of issues might arise in obtaining a permit to site a new municipal well there. Eric Hooper mentioned that there is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) nearby. Also, there is an issue with respect to proximity to the railroad tracks.
Cliff Towner said that the trains carry only passengers, so there are no tanker cars full of chemicals.
Richard Mandell commented that railroad tracks also pass near the Islamic Center well site that Eric Hooper has been favoring.
Eric Hooper responded that 80% of the town’s well capacity is located close to railroad tracks.
Eric Hooper reported that no more meetings have taken place between the Selectmen and Sharon Memorial Park regarding the idea of using the cemetery’s wells for municipal water and providing the cemetery with all the water it needs in return. Eric Hooper added that the cemetery wells appear to have ample capacity, around 1.5 million gallons per day.
Cliff Towner commented that the town’s future need for water should be projected.
Eric Hooper replied that a major development at Rattlesnake Hill could require as much as an additional 50 million gallons per year and there are other developments besides that one. He said that current demand is around 580 million gallons per year. With 100% build out, that might increase to 650 million gallons per year. He said that in order to achieve redundancy for assurance of uninterrupted water supply, both a new well and/or a permanent connection to MWRA for supplementary water would be needed.
Cliff Towner said that past experience shows that pumping over 600 million gallons per year stresses Sharon’s environment. Adding demand from new developments such as Rattlesnake Hill, Avalon Bay and Simpson will exceed the capacity of Sharon’s wells to provide an uninterrupted supply of good quality water.
Jack Sulik disagreed, saying that another 100 million gallons a year would not matter.
Rory McGregor expressed concern about the impact of increasing Sharon’s well pumping on the water table and the wetlands.
Cliff Towner said the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp that purifies and stores Sharon’s drinking water has already been compromised. Dehydration is causing the Freetown muck that has accumulated from thousands of years of fallen cedar needles to change state from black peat to gray powder. This reduces its ability to remove toxic contaminants picked up by rain as it falls through the atmosphere. Cliff Towner added that formerly perennial streams now dry up in summer.
Jack Sulik disputed Cliff Towner’s assertions, saying that the cedar swamp is not under the influence of the town wells.
Eric Hooper said there is nothing unusual about Freetown muck. He said it is the fifth most abundant soil type in Norfolk county. He added that both Freetown muck and Swansea muck are prevalent in Sharon’s Atlantic White Cedar Swamp.
Cliff Towner pointed out that the pond behind the Heights Elementary School has been dry for most of the year since well pumping increased in the 1980’s.
Eric Hooper said that even though the Sharon Conservation Commission said it would not support location of a new municipal well at the Islamic Center site because of its potential impact on the nearby wetlands, we should evaluate it anyway. He said it is important to diversify Sharon’s water sources, adding that water from the Islamic Center site is low in nitrates.
Michael Birschbach asked what should be done.
Eric Hooper replied that pumping capacity should be tested at both the Islamic Center site and the Canton Street site. Eric Hooper added that permitting will be an issue at the Sharon Memorial Park site near Edge Hill Road.
Paul Lauenstein asked why negotiations with Sharon Memorial Park had stalled.
Cliff Towner said that both sides would win if the town were to take over the cemetery’s wells, get them permitted, pay the operating costs, and provide free water for the cemetery in exchange for supplementary water for Sharon’s municipal water supply.
Mike Birschbach asked Eric Hooper if the Water Department would look into that.
Eric Hooper repeated that the cemetery’s proximity to an ACEC presented a permitting problem.
Mike Birschbach replied that each potential well site has issues, but the town needs another source of water, and local groundwater is far less costly than MWRA water.
Len Sekuler asked how much water the cemetery is pumping.
Eric Hooper said that is unknown. He added that Canton built a new well near the East Branch of the Neponset River which it cannot use in summer when flow gets too low in the river.
Cliff Towner said he believes the Canton Street site has the most potential.
Eric Hooper disagreed, saying that the Islamic Center site has better quality and more capacity. He allowed that the Canton Street site is viable, but not preferred.
Emergency backup
Eric Hooper said he met with Larry Barrett, Superintendent of Stoughton’s DPW, to discuss three possible sites for an emergency backup connection. They included Chemung St., Plain St. and Cobb’s Corner. Eric Hooper said they agreed that the Chemung Street location is probably the best of the three. Larry Barrett agreed to project the impact of an emergency withdrawal using Stoughton’s computerized hydraulic model. Larry Barrett said that Stoughton would require an official request from the Sharon Selectmen.
Paul Lauenstein asked if land were available at the Chemung Street site to locate the valves, meters and pumps needed for an emergency connection.
Eric Hooper said space is available on the Sharon side of Bay Road across from Chemung Street near Violet Circle. He said there is also land available up Bay Road from Cobb’s Corner. He added that the site would have to be on the Sharon side of Bay Road.
Paul Lauenstein asked if Eric Hooper had discussed problems caused by mixing well water with surface water from MWRA, Eric Hooper said he no longer considers that a major issue. He agreed that mixing MWRA water treated with chloramine with town water treated with chlorine can lead to sloughing of iron-eating bacteria from the inner walls of cast iron pipes, resulting in discoloration of the water.
Cliff Towner commented that an emergency connection to Stoughton would be very good news for Sharon, providing access to a significant amount of water on very short notice should a water emergency arise.
Len Sekuler asked what equipment would be needed.
Eric Hooper replied that a pump and a generator in a vault would be needed.
Cliff Towner commented that an above-ground facility would cost less and be easier to maintain than an underground vault.
Len Sekuler asked how big it would have to be.
Eric Hooper replied that it would be the size of the pump houses at the town’s wells.
Cliff Towner pointed out that the town owns the right of way along Bay Road.
Jack Sulik repied that siting a structure in the right of way would defeat the purpose of the right of way. Eric Hooper added that setbacks are required that would eliminate the possibility of building a pump house in the right of way.
3. Water rates
Eric Hooper said that Sudbury’s water rates were the highest he had found so far. He reported Sudbury’s rates as follows:
40,000 to 60,000 gallons per year: $6 per 1,000 gallons
60,000 to 80,000 gallons per year: $7 per 1,000 gallons
80,000 to 100,000 gallons per year: $9 per 1,000 gallons
100,000 to 120,000 gallons per year: $11 per 1,000 gallons
over 120,000 gallons per year: $13 per 1,000 gallons
Eric Hooper commented that the Water Department is required to set water rates that cover the cost of operating and maintaining the system and not more. The objective is to raise enough revenue to efficiently provide adequate quantities of clean safe water, not make a profit. Eric Hooper said he is inclined to maintain current pricing for 6-month usage below 45,000 gallons (i.e. the first 3 price blocks of $2.60, $3.00 and $3.40), and only raise the top block (currently $7.00 per thousand gallons for amounts over 45,000 gallons in 6 months).
Jack Sulik argued for an increase in the minimum charge of $30, saying that water bills for light users don’t amount to very much.
Paul Lauenstein said an increase in the water rates is overdue. He pointed out that inflation has eroded the value of each revenue dollar by over 10% since the last price increase five years ago, and added that recent large increases in electric rates must be paid. He said that replacement of 100 year old pipes in the center of town had to be deferred last year due lack of funds, and other capital improvements such as an iron/manganese filtration facility, an emergency connection to Stoughton, a radio meter system, and a new well would require substantial amounts of capital.
Cliff Towner asked if elderly residents of age-restricted apartments pay their own water bills.
Jack Sulik replied that the entire complex receives one bill, which is divided among the residents. He added that it is possible to avoid charging elderly residents of apartment complexes at the highest block rate.
Cliff Towner suggested that Eric Hooper should propose special pricing for elderly residents of apartment complexes living on fixed incomes.
Eric Hooper suggested instead of $2.60 per 1,000 gallons for the first 15,000 gallons and then $3.00 for the next 15,000 gallons, charge a flat $3.00 per thousand for the first 30,000 gallons. He added that it is possible to leave the prices themselves where they are, but simply shift the boundaries downward to effectively raise the price of water.
Cliff Towner suggested that Eric Hooper should propose new rates and then the WMAC would respond.
Jack Sulik said that water rates must be driven by the Water Department budget.
Eric Hooper said both operating and capital budgets must be taken into account.
4. Election of officers
5. Water bill inserts
Paul Lauenstein presented a proof for a new water bill insert to be included in the water bills beginning in August. It focused on the issue of leaks.
Jack Sulik suggested using $7.00 per thousand as a basis for calculating the cost of water lost to leaks because a steady leak often pushes water usage into the highest price block. The WMAC voted unanimously to recommend the insert to the selectmen, subject to Jack Sulik’s change.
Eric Hooper said it would be impossible to insert dye tablets for diagnosing leaks along with the inserts in the water bills.
6. Rebate Policy
Paul Lauenstein suggested a slight change in the criteria for awarding rebates for washing machines. The existing policy of limiting rebates to machines that use less than 15 gallons per load is excluding a cluster of units that use a fraction of a gallon over 15 gallons per load. Furthermore, gallons per load is not explicitly shown on the Energy Star web site. Instead, the Energy Star web site shows Water Factor, which is gallons per load divided by volume in cubic feet.
Paul Lauenstein moved to recommend basing the washing machine rebate on an Energy Star Water Factor of less than 6.0, with a rebate of $200 for washing machines of 3.0 cubic feet or more and $150 for washing machines of less than 3.0 cubic feet.
This motion passed unanimously.
7. Jack Sulik moving to Stoughton
Jack Sulik announced that he is planning to move to Stoughton. He said that only residents of Sharon are allowed to serve on the WMAC, but he would ask the selectmen to waive this requirement so that he could continue to serve on the committee.
8. Next meeting: Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 7:30 PM