WMAC Meeting Minutes August 20, 2009
Attendees: David Crosby – Chair, Ann Carney, Dave Hearne, Paul Lauenstein, Rory McGregor – Secretary, Len Sekuler – Vice Chair, April Singleton, Bob Weeks
Guests: Eric Hooper – DPW Superintendent
1. The minutes of the July 23 meeting were approved as amended.
2. Jack Sulik has advised David Crosby that he intends to resign his position on the WMAC.
3. We reviewed Nancy Hammett’s draft report on the Water Conservation Plan for Sharon. The choice of the year 2007 as the baseline for tracking future progress on water conservation initiatives is arbitrary, but is consistent with development of a demand forecast by the Dept of Conservation and Recreation for a new Water Management Act (WMA) water withdrawal permit for Sharon.
Sharon’s water withdrawal permit has not been reapproved since the year 2000. It should have been reviewed by DEP in 2005. The current WMA permit expires on February 28, 2010. The permitting process looks ahead over a 20 year window, but requires reapproval every 5 years. Sharon has operated within its permitted limit of 649 to 668 MGY (millions of gallons per year) with decreasing pumping over the past several years. DEP has most likely not been concerned about the lapsed approval for this reason. However, workload and limited staff in their office are also contributing factors.
Paul Lauenstein suggested that we look at water consumption at Avalon Bay as an effective test case for evaluating seasonal water consumption patterns. Except for their swimming pool, they have no requirement for outdoor watering, so consumption is totally for indoor use. This would help to give us insight into the summer water use that could be ascribed to lawn irrigation throughout the rest of the town.
Eric Hooper explained that the Water Management Act identifies 3 factors to consider in the water permitting process: environmental, economic and societal. The objective is overall sustainability. So water conservation alone cannot be the only consideration in setting reasonable goals.
David Crosby will provide WMAC comments on the report to Nancy Hammett. Concern for statements that may compromise Sharon’s position in the permitting process will be reviewed to make sure the context is correctly explained. Additional statistical information will be added if possible.
4. Eric Hooper reviewed the proposed water rate increase that he will recommend to the Selectmen next month and the impact on users and revenues. The bill for the median user consuming 63,000 gallons annually will go from $212.93 to $262.33, a 24% increase. The low level user consuming 32,000 gallons or less will experience an increase from $87.45 to $107.78, a 23% increase. Reasons justifying the increase were discussed and are itemized in last month’s WMAC minutes. Future rate increases will be dictated by infrastructure needs, several of which have been deferred due to limited funds, and rising operating costs, such as the electricity bills and chemical treatment costs over the past year and a half. WMAC will continue to evaluate both and recommend adjustments in rates on an annual basis to meet the water system needs.
5. Eric Hooper reported that pumping through July is significantly below the prior year. Nitrates at all wells are down correspondingly, due to dilution from the increased rainfall. No drilling has been started at either the NStar or Farnham Road sites due to wet ground conditions. Chlorine analyzers will be installed at all wells before end of year to comply with a state directive to measure residual concentrations and employ a feedback loop for emergency shutdown when necessary. There is an opportunity to replace AC pipe on Massapoag Ave along with gas pipeline work that is coming up next summer; this will force the DPW to defer work that had been planned for the Brook Road area. No progress on an emergency backup connection.
Weston and Sampson is ready to begin calibration of the Hydraulic Model, having collected field data that provides flow rates at various points in our water system. Each residence will be assumed to use the same amount of water until resources become available to assign usage values to individual homes or neighborhoods based on actual usage. Eric Hooper suggested that we invite W&S to our next meeting for an update on the Master Plan.
6. Eric Hooper will coordinate with Dave Masciarelli to provide a tour of the town water system to WMAC and the Selectmen on a Saturday morning next month, possibly Sept 12th.
7. Paul Lauenstein raised the issue of the recent water emergency in the town of Milford MA. He pointed out that the problem in Milford originated with fecal material in the water storage tanks due to leaky roofs, and asked whether Sharon had plans to prevent similar emergencies. Eric Hooper reviewed the procedures which Sharon has in place for maintaining the tanks. He also recounted the water testing that is done on a daily, weekly and monthly basis that would mitigate against such an event happening.
8. Next meeting is Thursday, Sept 24th, at the Community Center at 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Rory McGregor