Veolia reports May exceedances for TSS and E. coli; clarifiers cleaned and generators repaired

Ross Gambino of Veolia presented the monthly operating report for May and described plant work and compliance items.

Gambino said the plant had four staff on duty, completed safety and equipment inspections (walking surfaces, fire extinguishers, eyewash stations), and handled roughly 3.6 inches of rain during the month. The team drained and cleaned both secondary clarifiers, removed a four- to five-foot mat of sludge from two inlet tanks, and placed a second sludge pump back into service after a coupling failure.

He reported monthly exceedances for total suspended solids (TSS) and E. coli and said phosphorus results from the last week were not yet available. "As of right now, we're okay, but I don't have the last week's information," Gambino said. He also detailed recent pump-station generator work: one generator is now functioning after FM Generator repairs, another had a hydraulic hose fixed, and a third is awaiting parts.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about manhole covers that read "drain" instead of "sewer" following Route 20 resurfacing performed by MassDOT and its contractor; Gambino said the contractor provided the covers and agreed to contact MassDOT to request replacements for clarity where needed.

Gambino included photographic documentation of a damaged new cast frame and cover found after crews repaired a manhole and said DOT had temporarily plated the site. He also noted a reduction in hauled sludge loads from 23 to 16 for the month and confirmed chemical supplies on hand.

The commission did not take any enforcement action at the meeting; staff will follow up on the phosphorus results and the contractor-issued manhole covers.