WMAC MEETING MINUTES – AUGUST 7, 2008
Attendees: David Crosby – Chair; Paul Lauenstein; Jack
Sulik; Bob Weeks; David Hearne; and Len Sekuler
Others: Eric Hooper – Superintendent, Sharon DPW; Blake
Martin, Weston & Sampson; Barbara Cook, Weston & Sampson
- Approve Minutes of July 10
The minutes from the July 10, 2008 meeting were approved as amended and
will be posted on the Town of Sharon website.
- Water Master Plan Scoping and Scheduling
Eric Hooper expressed interest in reviewing the condition of Sharon’s
water infrastructure, including the condition of the wells and water
mains, and developing a maintenance strategy. Blake Martin of Weston &
Sampson agreed to prioritize this part of the master planning process,
saying that the normal life expectancy of wells is 40 to 60 years. Mr.
Martin said that the condition of the wells can be inferred from daily
operation statistics routinely gathered by Water Department Supervisor
Dave Masciarelli. Mr. Martin added that if any of the wells need to be
videoed, fall would be a good time to do it.
Len Sekuler expressed interest in using wastewater to recharge Sharon’s
aquifers. Mr. Martin pointed out that investigating both wastewater and
stormwater recharge opportunities are part of the scope of the master
plan. He added that Weston & Sampson analyzed wastewater and
stormwater recharge as part of their recent Taunton River watershed study.
Mr. Martin said identification of potential sites for recharging
wastewater and stormwater, referred to as ecological receptors, is also
needed for the WEAP modeling process. Mr. Martin said that currently DEP
requires a minimum of two years of travel time to well intakes from
leaching fields located in Zone IIs, but that may be reduced to just one
year, which could increase the number of potential wastewater recharge
sites.
David Hearne expressed an interest in minimizing the cost of installing
sewer pipes by installing them at the same time as water main upgrades.
Blake Martin explained that sewer pipes must be kept at least ten feet
away from water mains, so they cannot share the same trench.
Barbara Cook suggested that the demand management and water conservation
aspects of the master plan could be deferred until after the water
conservation plan currently being prepared by Nancy Hammett is completed.
Eric Hooper said that he met with the WEAP people earlier in the day, and
discussed data needed for the WEAP model. Stream flow data from the RIFLS
stream monitoring project only goes back one year. The USGS gauge in the
East Branch of the Neponset River has data going back many years, but its
flow includes runoff from Canton and Stoughton, as well as Sharon.
Household metering data is collected once every six months on a rolling
basis, making it difficult to ascertain town-wide demand for any given
month or season. Rainfall and groundwater monitoring well data for Sharon
go back eight years.
David Crosby said the Economic Development Committee is looking to the
WMAC for direction on the possibilities for, and limitations of, water supply
and wastewater disposal associated with developing the town center. Eric
Hooper said wastewater disposal would be more of a constraint than water
supply.
Paul Lauenstein asked if the online material would include spreadsheets in
addition to copies of past reports, so that the master plan would be
updatable. Blake Martin said it would.
David Hearne commented on regional water sources, saying the consensus
seems to be that Aquaria is not a viable alternative. Eric Hooper said it
is important to differentiate between joining MWRA to obtain supplementary
water on a regular basis, which is not an immediate priority, and
establishing an emergency backup connection, which is an active,
high-priority project. David Crosby added that Sharon needs adequate water
supply capacity to allow a margin of error.
Paul Lauenstein raised the issue of water rates as a component of the
master plan. Water rates have not been reviewed in over a year. Mr.
Lauenstein pointed out that needed infrastructure improvements have been
postponed in the past year or two due to insufficient funds. He said that
cost estimates for infrastructure improvements recommended in the master
plan will be needed to determine adequate water rates to generate
sufficient revenues to cover all costs. The consensus was that water rates
should be raised incrementally in the near term in anticipation of future
infrastructure improvement costs and to adjust for inflation. A more
thorough rate and cost analysis should be done in conjunction with completion
of the radio meter system and implementation of quarterly billing.
Bob Weeks suggested that the Conservation Commission and the Board of
Health be informed of the master planning process, and also be invited to
provide input and comment.
- Water Bill Insert
Paul Lauenstein requested that the WMAC vote to recommend the draft
water bill insert that he had circulated prior to the meeting. It was the
same insert distributed last winter, with the addition of the EPA
WaterSense logo and the Sharon Water Conservation logo. The committee
voted unanimously to recommend the insert.
- Report of the Water Department
Eric Hooper handed out copies of the monthly reports on well pumping,
groundwater monitoring wells and nitrate levels. Pumping for July, 2008
was similar to July, 2007. Paul Lauenstein said that Sharon has pumped
marginally more water year-to-date this year than last year’s year-to-date
figure.
Nitrates at Well #2, which plummeted to 2.5 ppm in March, have returned to
their typical values of over 4 ppm. David Hearne suggested that an
investigation of past nitrate fluctuations at Well #2 might shed light on
where the nitrates are coming from. Mr. Hooper said he would provide the
committee with copies of Woodard & Curran’s nitrate study,
commissioned in November, 2006, when it is complete.
Groundwater levels dropped steeply since April due to below-average
precipitation in May and June, but heavy rains in July have arrested the
decline.
Eric Hooper reported that ESS has finished developing the test well at the
site on the opposite side of Edge Hill Road from the cemetery. He said
that the results were disappointing, with groundwater at a depth of 30
feet. This depth presumably precludes construction of a well field,
meaning that the Zone I for a well at that site would have to be 400 feet
in radius rather than the 250 feet allowed for a well field. He said this
result was surprising, assuming that the cemetery wells pump up to a
million gallons a day for irrigation. He said he would prepare a
spreadsheet listing the respective attributes of each well site that has
been investigated to date.
Paul Millett will report on emergency backup at the September 11th
WMAC meeting.
- Two Meetings in September
The next two meetings will be held on Thursday, September 11th,
and Thursday, September 18th at the Sharon Community Center at 7:30 p.m.
The September 11th meeting will feature reports on emergency
backup (Paul Millett) and new wells (ESS). The September 18th
meeting will feature reports on nitrates (Woodard & Curran), the
master plan (Weston & Sampson), and water conservation (Nancy
Hammett).