Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Town reports water and wastewater operations; staff to bring draft drought/rationing ordinance
Summary
Public works staff reported water production and wastewater discharge figures, described recent repairs and SCADA changes, and town staff said draft ordinance amendments to allow rationing and penalties will be brought back for council review.
Vince, who presented the utilities report, told the council the town’s water treatment facilities met demand with an average daily production of about 125,000 gallons per day and a monthly finished volume “just under 3,500,000 gallons.” He said the wastewater plant met demand as well, with an average daily discharge of about 113,000 gallons and a monthly discharge “a little over 3,100,000 gallons.”
Vince said crews addressed several leaks, completed numerous maintenance tasks, updated SCADA alarm services and repaired a generator that had been out of service. He also told the council the town is working with Valley Automation to install a cellular connection for its SCADA server at the wastewater plant and will use Comcast as a backup. “Comcast will now be the backup, but cellular will be the primary because we've gone through too many instances of losing... our alarms and other information,” he said.
Council members raised drought and conservation concerns. One councilor said parts of the service area are already “trending towards the drought area” and urged staff to prepare for conservation measures similar to those used last summer. Danny Davis, town manager, said he has been working with town staff and attorneys on draft ordinance amendments to give the town stronger tools during a serious shortage.
“I have been working on draft ordinance amendments, with Miss North and then, even earlier today with Mr. Krim, that I intend to bring back at least a framework and a draft for you to consider at the next meeting,” Davis said. He described possible measures under consideration: rationing (limits on gallons per user over a time period), financial penalties and potential loss of service for violations.
Councilors and staff also discussed aging infrastructure identified during sewer-line video inspections. Staff reported groundwater infiltration at an older manhole behind Steeplechase and said crews will schedule repairs on the west side of Route 50, coordinating traffic-control because some manholes sit in or near the travelway.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff said they will return with the draft ordinance and further scope and cost estimates for any pipe repairs or sewer improvements.
