WMAC MEETING MINUTES –
Members in attendance:
David Crosby – Chair
Len Sekuler – Vice Chair
Rory McGregor – Secretary
David Hearne
Paul Lauenstein
Bob Weeks
Others: Eric Hooper – Superintendent, DPW; April Singleton – town resident
1. The minutes of the
2. Master Plan Outline
At the Oct. 23 meeting, Weston & Sampson requested
feedback from WMAC members on how to logically name and organize the folders in
the online master plan database for ease of finding information about
3. Report of the Water Department
Eric Hooper distributed the monthly reports including pumping records, nitrate concentrations and groundwater levels. Total well pumping for October of 35,175,000 gallons was lower than any October since prior to 1995, and year-to-date pumping of 432,069,000 gallons for January through October was also the lowest recorded since prior to 1995. Eric Hooper commented that he intends to have the master meters calibrated earlier than usual this year in order to verify these results. He added that the Water Department has been repairing leaks including a hole in a water main the size of a quarter that accounted for significant losses of water. He also pointed out that unusually high rainfall in July, August and September curtailed lawn irrigation.
Paul Lauenstein pointed out that
Thanks to this unusually wet weather, groundwater levels have rebounded somewhat from the downward trend in early summer. The October nitrate levels at Wells #3 and #4 were approximately 2.6 ppm and 3.8 ppm, respectively, which is typical for these two wells. Well #2, which usually has the highest nitrates, was not pumped in October.
The radio meter system installation is moving forward rapidly. So far 3,048 meters have been installed out of a total of approximately 5,500. All of the meters are expected to be installed by sometime next summer (2009). A few individual homeowners have refused to cooperate with the Water Department’s attempts to install radio meters in their homes. So far the Water Commissioners have been reluctant to shut off anyone’s water to force compliance.
Paul Lauenstein reported that he
had received complaints from people calling to make appointments to have radio
meters installed, who had experienced wait times as long as 18 minutes on hold.
Eric Hooper replied that response times are better during business hours from
The leak detection feature of the new meters helps residents avoid excessive water bills by flagging leaks. Sometimes residents who may have impaired hearing cannot hear the sound of leaks in their homes. Eric Hooper reported that a number of leaks have been detected by the new meters in neighborhoods where they have been installed. This leak detection service engenders goodwill among customers.
Eric Hooper encouraged WMAC members to think about other uses for the new radio meter reading system once it is up and running. In addition to leak detection, such uses might include monitoring unaccounted-for water, billing more frequently, raising water rates in summer, paying bills online, classifying meters to expedite preparation of the Annual Statistical Reports, resolving water bill disputes, and providing water use profiles for water audits.
Eric Hooper reported that he is holding off on installation
of the acoustic leak detection system. He reported that the MLOG devices that
were tested by the Sharon Water Department were not precise in locating leaks.
He noted that the vendor, FlowMetrix, charges a
monthly data processing fee which adds to the cost of this technology. As long
as
David Crosby reported that a new Israeli company called Miya has been founded recently to focus on managing leakage in water supply systems worldwide (see http://greenprophet.com/2008/09/12/2769/water-services-miya/).
The current Fiscal Year 2009 July 1, 2008 through
Eric Hooper said he was working on a draft capital spending
plan, which he would distribute to WMAC members via email for review and
comment. He said major cost items may include Fe/Mn
filtration on Well #6, a new well, and/or replacement of old, tuberculated cast-iron pipes that can compromise fire
flows. The asbestos/cement (A/C) pipe along
4. Irrigation system subcommittee report
Len Sekuler reported that Nancy Fyler, Paul Lauenstein and he had
met on November 12 to discuss
Eric Hooper reported that backflow has occurred in
Nancy Fyler also contacted Ted Moriarty,
an irrigation system expert with Smart Watering Company of
Mr. Moriarty is an authority on irrigation policy and offered to provide consulting services to the WMAC. Nancy Fyler will find out the cost of Mr. Moriarty’s servics.
David Crosby asked what purposes would be served by annual
irrigation system certification. He said that the objectives should first be
clearly defined so that the policies address the need. Len Sekuler
and Paul Lauenstein agreed to propose a statement of
purpose for regulating lawn irrigation in
David Hearne proposed that separate water meters be required
for lawn irrigation systems in
5. Emergency backup
Eric Hooper reported that
6. Next meeting:
David Crosby invited suggestions for the agenda for the next meeting. Possibilities include the Water Department budget for FY ’10, the WEAP model, triggers for water use restrictions in a drought, water efficiency requirements for new development, a new well and emergency backup.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Lauenstein