WMAC Meeting Minutes 

February 16,  2012

Attendees:  David Crosby – Chair,  David Hearne, Paul Lauenstein, Rory McGregor – Secretary, Len Sekuler, Sarah Windman

Guest: Eric Hooper – Superintendent, DPW, Rich Powell – Chairman, Selectman, Bill Heitin – Selectman, Joe Roach – Selectman, 35 additional people in the audience

1.  Minutes of January 19 meeting were approved as amended.

2.  Eric reported the 2^nd lowest pumping on record for 2011 – 483 million gallons.  Eric handed around a section of pipe from Well #2 that was calcified, a 2^nd section of pipe from a feed line to a home on Manomet Road that was responsible for a 14.5 gpm leak, and a third section of bent feed pipe to a home with potential leak of similar volume.  The DPW is making increased effort to work with home owners and identify potential leaks, using consumption data from water bills to pinpoint possible problem situations.

3.  Eric reported that the groundwater level is characteristically low at this time of year.

4.  Eric handed out copies of posters created by Sharon students that came out of the water conservation program coordinated by Nancy Fyler.

5.  Bill Heitin requested that WMAC come up with rebate programs for households that demonstrate reduced consumption year over year.  The specifics for such a program are up to WMAC to think through.  Bill is encouraging WMAC to be innovative in our approach and try new ideas that push the boundary of what is conventional practice.

6.  Dave Crosby presented the consensus plan that WMAC has put together over the past several months in which the water rates would transition from the current ascending block structure to a flat structure of $6/1000 gallons for the winter rate and $8/1000 gallons for the summer rate.  The objective is provide all families, regardless of size, with a similar rate so that larger families, which have a lower consumption rate per person, are not unfairly penalized with higher block rates.

7.  Paul Lauenstein recommended preserving the existing block structure because it appears that the success enjoyed in reducing water consumption over the past decade is a reflection of our current pricing coupled with water conservation initiatives.

8.  Len Sekuler recommended a larger differential between the winter rate and summer rate because the consumption of water in the summer is responsible for the maximum stress that is imposed on our water delivery system .  In addition, he suggested that the winter rate could be flat or have a relatively small ascending block structure, while the summer rate could have a more dramatic ascending block structure.

9. David Crosby suggested that we consider a quota system which would benchmark winter consumption for a customer and any water consumed over the quota in summertime would cost a significantly higher rate.

10.  One person in the audience suggested that the recently instituted base fee in each water bill be used to pay for the capital improvements needed in the infrastructure for the water delivery system.

11.  Ian Cooke, executive director of the Neponset River Watershed Association, suggested that WMAC look at innovative approaches that continue to stress both pricing and conservation.  In particular, he recommended that we implement a rebate system of some kind based on incentives to reduce consumption.  He advised the selectmen to challenge WMAC to come up with a unanimous proposal that the selectmen can sign off on.

12.  Additional input from the audience requested that we offer rebates and incentive programs so that we can continue to pursue conservation initiatives.

13.  One person asked that WMAC explain the philosophy of what the base fee in a household water bill covers.

14.  One person wanted WMAC to consider the use of irrigation meters on homes with in- ground sprinkler systems.

15.  There was a request to show more information directly on the water bill, addressing the historical consumption pattern and the potential for savings by practicing conservation.

16.  One person urged caution about making water rate decisiosn based on fairness to family size.

17.  Next meeting is Thursday March 15 at the Community Center at 7:30pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Rory McGregor