Work Session
February 6, 2012
Members present included: Mayor Grenier, Councilors Rozek, Remillard, Morgan-Allain, Ducharme, Otis, Théberge, Nelson, and Higbee
Others present included Chris Dwinal, Wright Pierce Engineering, Michael Perreault, Patrick MacQueen, several Civics Class students
Mayor Grenier opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and introduced Chris Dwinal who was asked to review ongoing projects with the sewer plant upgrade, waste water treatment and water separation.
WWTF Upgrade Status
Mr. Dwinal explained that when Wright Pierce came on board, the waste water treatment plant was 20 years old and due for an upgrade. Due to the geography of the City, much flow goes through the main pump station which is Watson St. When there is additional water from spring runoff, a portion of untreated water goes over and directly in to river. He presented a timeline that depicts projects from 1979 when the city had no separation to now and into the future.
Initially, with no particular plans for development in the City, there was not a lot of work needed to update the waste water treatment plant but as plans for the Federal prison came into play, a more comprehensive plan was needed. In an effort to create additional capacity in the sewer system to accommodate flow from the prison, in 2007 an Inflow and Infiltration study was completed along Route 16 where it is known that there are capacity limitations in pipes. Rather than digging up Route 16 to increase the size of the pipes, it was decided that the focus would be on removing extraneous water from the system.
Knowing that the City is poised for growth, starting with the opening of the Federal prison, Wright Pierce has been working on Phase II of the design of the treatment plant upgrade. The design is nearly complete and that will give contractors enough detail to bid on the project which will likely go out to bid this month pending final approval of DES.
In 2010 the AVRRDD had evaluated the idea of building a treatment plant to treat leachate coming from the Mt. Carberry Landfill. They reconsidered and had Wright Pierce do an evaluation of what plant upgrades would be needed to fulfill their needs. They then paid for those upgrades and the WWT plant is now treating the leachate and additional revenue is coming into the sewer fund.
In 2011 Berlin Station wanted to look at sending their waste water to the treatment facility. They paid for an evaluation and with the information that was gathered, the City is prepared to receive and treat their dilute waste water. WP assisted with the rational for a special sewer rate that could accommodate users with high volume and low pollutants. The City’s ordinances now have such language.
Mr. Dwinal went on to say that this year marks the beginning of a two year Phase II upgrade of the treatment plant at a cost of $13 to $14 million. The plant is now 33 years old and there is a need to expand capacity to take in new users and there is an ever increasing regulatory environment.
The City signed a contract to do Phase II of the I & I Project as well that will focus on Kent Street and upper Riverside Drive. This project will go on through the summer and it is an effort to increase capacity for sewer that will be taken up by the prison.
In 2010 the City received an administrative order from the EPA that focused on Watson Street CSO (combined sewer overflow). The CSO is licensed and allowed; however as regulations become stricter, the EPA wants the City to come up with a planned scope and schedule to deal with the CSO. This was submitted to DEA last year and the City will have to hire a lab to do an analysis of the river prior to receiving permission to add flow to its permit. In 2013 the Waste Water Treatment Plant’s NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit expires and the work done now will determine what a new permit will look like.
Councilor Rozek questioned the priority of doing work in the McGee Street area when in other areas of the City, there are manholes “dancing in the street” in a rain event. His concern is that dollars are spent in the city’s best interest. He commented that after Hurricane Irene, he pulled 3 manhole covers on McGee Street and found a six inch pipe that had one inch of clear water in the invert. He questioned the priority of this area. Councilor Rozek also asked if there was measurable gain from the pipe lining project that was done at the college.
Mr. Dwinal stated that the area was chosen based on two studies that had already been done and in an effort to increase capacity for the Federal prison, north of the 12th Street Bridge. This project will be replacing some pipe and separating homes that flow sump pumps into the sanitary system. He noted that due to the slope of McGee Street and seeing that there are only two homes there, one inch of water is likely a lot of water. Mr. Perreault commented that rather than study what was gained by 3,000 feet of pipe repair, he preferred to continue with the I & I work. Mr. Dwinal added that this project also has a focus on Kent Street where there is no separation at all. As we find ways to solve the CSO, flow meters will be moved around the city to determine the next focus area.
Mr. MacQueen emphasized that I & I is a big problem for the City in that a typical day at the treatment plant would see 1 million gallons per day. The design of the plant is 2.64 million gallons. On a rainy day, flows go up to 11 million gallons. Mr. Dwinal added that there are periods of time when we are treating 11.5 million gallons and 20 million gallons are going into the river.
Councilor Rozek concluded that he is happy that we are aggressively pursuing this problem and the manholes dancing in the street will be addressed.
Other
Mayor Grenier noted that he received a letter from Stephanie Allen Lilly that he would like to add to the agenda under 4c. There were no objections.
There being no further Work Session business on the agenda, Mayor Grenier concluded the Work Session at this time.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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