Water and Sewer 12/16/24

Printable version

Water and Sewer Minutes 12-16-24 149 KB

Web version

Town of Richmond
Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of December 16, 2024

Members Present:  Lisa Miller, Jay Furr, Erin Farr (remote), Bard Hill, Morgan Wolaver
 

Members Absent: None

Staff Present:  Superintendent Steve Cote; Town Manager Josh Arneson; Assistant to the Town Manager Duncan Wardwell.

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV Erin Wagg

MMCTV Video: MMCTV Erin Wagg

https://youtu.be/9btR3BWbt7g?si=5bfIjV9P7r5KPPtX

Call to Order:  6:00 pm
 

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment:   Go Catamounts!

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda:  None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Timestamp: 0:01

Minutes:

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver

Furr moved to approve the Minutes as written on 12/02/2024. Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

Purchase Orders:  None

Warrants:

Furr moved to approve the Warrants 22-467 as presented. Miller seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Acknowledgement of Richmond Water Resources staff appearing in the media regarding the Vermont Rural Water Apprenticeship Program
Timestamp: 0:04
 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/12/4a_Employees_in_the_news.pdf

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Arneson, Cote, Miller, Furr

Arneson wanted to give kudos to Brad Snow and Mike Coyle who have appeared in the media recently. In VT Digger they spoke about Richmond’s apprenticeship program, thanks for representing Richmond so well. Furr and Miller added that they thought everyone was photogenic, clean and presentable. Miller surmised that Water and Sewer was something everyone takes for granted until you “need it.” Arneson said it highlights the challenges of hiring all levels from entry level to higher; when you hire someone at entry level and take them through training and then it turns into a career for them it’s fun to see. Cote said he is glad to get some acknowledgement, and he appreciates the employees he has right now, and he feels very good about how everyone works together. He added that another article will soon be published in “Treatment Plant Operator,” a national magazine, where both Cote and Snow were interviewed regarding the awards the plant got this summer. Doing things right is important to Cote and keeping Richmond’s water clean.

Review of November 2024 water data
Timestamp: 0:09

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/12/4b_Monthly_Water_Report_November_2024.pdf

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote, Hill, Miller, Furr

Cote explained in October 2024 when Champlin was working on installing the mission system, they had a problem with the totalizer for our gallons, and we contacted the State as soon as there was an issue, and the State said to leave it blank. So, we left it blank for the rest of the month of October. But we have a total for the water pumped out of the well, but the numbers were not the exact amount of water that you may have put into the system. That's the discrepancy, but at least we had a number, and we used that. On the 15^th the new totalizer was in and we started at 0. The State had requested that a line be placed on the water data sheet with an explanation. The State kicked the report back and said “you can’t do that” – so we used 0 again for November (this explains the line on the report). For December the new totalizer is working, and the report should be normal for gallons produced.

The fluoride is rock solid, but our numbers differ from the State’s which are tested by Endyne. As an example, on the 12^th of November our number was one, but Endyne’s was 0.7, and that's the number that the State looks at. Cote found out that Endyne had an issue with their testing machine, so there was a discrepancy. Now that the machine has been repaired and recalibrated the numbers for fluoride are virtually the same, because the numbers get rounded up or down. He can put actual numbers on the report instead of the rounded values, because that’s what the Board members would prefer. Wolaver asked when a number on the test is 1.0 is the actual number is actually 0.97? To which Cote said, “more like 0.96.” The State’s testing values are different from both Endyne and Richmond’s numbers, which Hill mentioned is disconcerting.

We are required to test 4 times per month because of our former problems with fluoride. Cote feels it would be better to show actual numbers from his bench sheet rather than rounded numbers. Miller is concerned that decisions are being made based off inaccurate number readings and finds these inaccuracies concerning. Cote illustrated that values accurate to 4 decimals would be 0.7025, which is right on the money for what the State wants in terms of fluoride readings, but the rounded figures are showing as 0.9. Hill suggested that Cote have a conversation with Endyne as well as the State regarding these discrepancies. Cote continued that the Health Department has no issues with the numbers he has been giving them, which they review out to four decimals. Wolaver wants to know Endyne’s accuracy. Furr said the reason we have this issue is from past high fluoride readings, which Cote explained was because reports were previously not being sent to the Health Department at all. The Health Department is happy with the accuracy we currently have. Cote said moving forward he will present the numbers straight from the bench sheet, with four decimals.

Cote elaborated that chlorine values continue to be a challenge. He reports our worst number is still twice the amount that was previously measured, the State would like us to be at 0.8. Furr injected that the State allows up to five times that, which is a big window. Cote continued that some places have readings as high as 2.0 to 3.0 which is close to pool water. Some cleaning, rebuilding check valves, and other reparations have improved the chlorine numbers. Between 0.8 up to 1.0 is where Cote feels the most comfortable. Before Cote and Snow took over it was common to have a chlorine reading that was 0.3 or even lower. The chlorine numbers are actually split into two: total and free numbers, and those two reading are within 0.1 of each other. Hill wondered if chlorine dissipates which Cote said yes, it dissipates over time.

Update on installation of water meters
Timestamp: 0:30

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote, Furr

Cote said that by the end of the week he thinks they will have 180 meters installed and he is scheduling into January and February. He would like to wrap up the water meter installations by July 2025. Furr asked when the system will be up and running for customers to be able to monitor their water usage and possibly catch water leaks, for example when they are on vacation. Cote replied that the system is not yet set up for each customer to view their respective usage, but he has been able to catch water leaks from his end, because within minutes he can see any customer’s history and have it broken down into 24-hour periods. Wolaver asked how many total meters will be installed, which Cote replied the total number is 350. Hill suggested running an alpha test including security permission protocols using select people’s accounts before Cote lets the system go live. Cote said there will be a water meter app. He added that Zenner has recently had a major software upgrade, which did not cause any disturbance to the system.

Superintendent’s Report
Timestamp: 0:37

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote, Furr, Miller

Cote elaborated that since the new pressure regulator was installed the press has been running fine.

Septage numbers have dropped considerably. Even the biggest hauler P&P septic has dropped to next to nothing, only 10,000 today. Furr asked if we are metering everyone yet. Cote answered no and described that twice a month he takes P&P trucks as they come in and checks them. He has asked to have a septage unit with a meter on it when the plant gets an upgrade. The septage unit does not have a programmable logic controller (PLC) on it and because it was outdated, he couldn’t get a new one, so Dan Pratt has had to reprogram a comparable older one from scratch, which means a person must physically be there to turn the machine on and run it through its cycles while they are unloading.

The effluent tank they cleaned is now full for winter. He anticipates draining it down in the Spring and switching back over to it, then continuing switching over to the other tank once a year. Arneson asked about the aerators, and Cote explained it was his decision to wait and check the aerators in the Spring and replace the ones that need it in the Spring.

The clarifier that has a new shaft keeps tracking off and they can’t yet figure out why that keeps happening. Every time it runs about half a cycle the chain runs off. They have looked at the chain closely, inspecting every link, but it keeps malfunctioning. Everything is installed in concrete and things cannot be moved. But they have some ideas and will look into this more.

Leaky pipes or pipes with duct tape have been replaced and should now be running more efficiently. He sees progress in little things getting done around the plant.

Miller asked if they use any type of filter aid, to which Cote said they add sodium aluminate to the plant and in the dewatering building they use a polymer.

Cote said there is a conference in Boston for NEA and Holt Tanner has offered to pay for Snow and Cote to go down. There will be 2300 exhibitors. This is January 27 and 28, 2025. Furr, Hill and Arneson queried is there an issue in their Code of Ethics policy about taking this kind of thing from a vendor? It’s an educational opportunity, but it’s worth checking since Cote won’t be benefiting personally per se. Wolaver said it’s important to make sure this doesn’t look like a bribe. Arneson thought that the Town was paying for their travel. Hill said in State government this is not allowed. Furr read aloud from the Ethics policy and in Article One prohibited conduct, Section C it clearly states Cote cannot accept this from Tanner. Furr suggested the Town should consider paying for it. Wolaver said it’s a worthwhile conference to attend.

Discuss Items for Next Agenda:

Discussion on Fluoride

Dec water numbers

Update from the Water tank inspector

Arranging a go-live alpha test for the water meters

Adjournment

Miller moved to adjourn. Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Farr, Furr, Miller in favor. Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at: 6:53 pm

Chat file from Zoom:  None