Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Operations Treatment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Manchester Water Works directors review plant operations, pump replacements and deputy director's retirement
Summary
Officials reported progress on Lake Massapequa and plant projects, explained turbidity problems at the Merrimack River intake and announced Deputy Director David Miller will retire July 31; board accepted the retirement with regret.
Manchester Water Works staff updated commissioners March 27 on operations at several treatment sites, ongoing equipment replacements and an unexpected turbidity problem at the Merrimack River intake, and the board formally accepted Deputy Director David Miller’s retirement effective July 31.
Why it matters: the plant-level issues affect supply, filter performance and operational costs; leadership succession planning follows an announced retirement by a senior operations manager.
Deputy Director David Miller and other operations staff reported that Lake Massapequa is at or near full pool following recent rain, allowing the utility to run its “wheel” intake and capture storage. Work at the high-service station to accommodate a chlorine dioxide process is underway: two 6,100-gallon bulk tanks have been installed, concrete work completed, and electrical and coating work in progress. New roll-up garage doors and related mechanical work were also reported in the storage area.
Miller said the Merrimack River plant has experienced elevated turbidity and faster filter loading; plant staff have dewatered and cleaned a vertical collector caisson and flushed the 20-inch pipeline to the treatment facility. Miller said the filtered water quality remained “excellent” but the issue causes increased backwashing and reduced filter efficiency. Staff are investigating potential causes, including biofilm growth in the raw-water caisson; Miller said possible responses under consideration include adding a small pre-chlorination step at the pump station or adding a pre-clarification stage ahead of the filters. He said consulting and field work are ongoing to locate a “smoking gun.”
On pumps, staff said three raw-water pumps at the Merrimack River plant are past 20 years of service; one unit (a carryover from an old station) will not return to service and the other two are showing declining efficiency. Staff said replacement rather than refurbishment is the preferred path and that factory acceptance testing is scheduled for new pumps.
Finance and administration staff reported operating revenues above last year’s levels and expenses higher in some areas because the new treatment plant came online. The board was told accounts receivable over 90 days had declined by roughly $65,000 since the February report.
In personnel news, staff announced and the board accepted the retirement letter of Deputy Director David Miller, effective July 31. The board moved and voted to accept the retirement with regret; commissioners praised Miller’s long service and national-level recognition for the utility’s treatment excellence achieved during his tenure.
Ending: Staff said it will continue investigation into the Merrimack turbidity issue, finalize FY26 budget drafts with finance, and post the consumer confidence report by April 1.
