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

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

 

  1. 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).