Staff provided operational updates at the July 24 Board of Water Commissioners meeting, reporting year-to-date financials, new hires and promotions, project schedules for two treatment plants, and ongoing work to investigate contamination near a collector well.

Finance and staffing: Finance staff reported operating revenue at about 99.6% of budget for the 12th month ended in June and operating divisions near expected expense levels. The board introduced Mark Bork as the new deputy director of water distribution and announced James Lavakia as the distribution manager. Open positions include a watershed maintenance worker, a utility inspector and an Engineer III vacancy created by Jeremy’s promotion.

Treatment plants and capital work: At the Lakeland study plant, staff said the high-service station conversion to chlorine dioxide is restarting work after being on hold; conduit, coatings, containment and HVAC plans were expected to be finalized and put out to bid. A 5,000,000‑gallon‑per‑day finished-water pump (described as the only pump on the high service) was reported installed and returning some operational flexibility; Royal Water Pumps ordered three replacement pumps, two still in production.

Merrimack River plant and contamination: Staff told the board that greensand filters at the Merrimack River plant have had short run times; an independent vendor is reviewing data and requested additional sampling to inform recommendations. State environmental staff (DES) contacted the utility after monitoring wells near the plant area showed elevated PFOA levels in some private wells. Consultants have been engaged to collect data and prepare a response plan to DES. Staff said DES had indicated a willingness to explore financing for studies and that, in the near term, the state had offered to consider whole‑house filters for affected homes. Staff also said they would expand sampling of monitoring wells and noted a possible short supply-connection option on Quality Drive to supply affected properties.

Watershed and operations: Lake level was reported down about 8.3 inches, better than typical seasonal lows cited by staff. Watershed crews planted ornamental trees on campus, hauled roughly 1,500 cubic yards of lagoon sludge, and are preparing to haul Lagoon 5. The board was told the old low reservoir site will be graded and refilled for storage-yard use; completing that work should remove the site from dam registration and associated fees. Staff also described three recent boat rescues and routine dam-safety monitoring.

No formal board votes were recorded on these operational items; staff said additional studies and specifications would be returned to the board for future action.