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Authority outlines meter-replacement push and costly fixes for reservoir taste and odor
Summary
Staff told the Middletown WPCA the department is actively replacing hundreds of failing meters, pursuing collection work, and evaluating expensive treatment (granular activated carbon) and bonding options to address persistent reservoir taste and odor problems; engineering work on pump stations and mains is underway.
Staff told the Middletown Water Pollution Control Authority that a concentrated meter-replacement effort and multiple capital projects are underway to address operational failures and water-quality complaints.
Chief Engineer Brian Robillard and other staff said the department began with about 386 failing meters and had reduced that number but continues to find new failing devices; failures appear tied to communications (radio/touchpad) or batteries. The department is replacing meters, sending door hangers and making direct appointment calls. Staff said the estimating practice (used when meters could not be read) sometimes produced years of estimated usage that are reconciled when a physical reading is recovered.
On water quality, staff described recurring taste and odor problems in a shallow reservoir and said previous measures (flushing, prechlorination, ultrasonics) produced only limited, temporary improvement. The department is evaluating granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment and has engaged a consultant to scope installation and cost; members discussed using bond funds to finance construction and noted that engineering for bonding survived recent budget cuts so a study can proceed ahead of any bond referendum.
Staff also updated the board on multiple capital projects: coordination with DOT for Route 9/Union Street realignment that may require moving a 24-inch water main, pump-station designs for North Main Street and Johnson Street, replacement of sewer main on Cooley and Flower streets, and the Bartholomew Road pump station design. The authority reported progress identifying private service materials (lead vs. galvanized) and a soil pile with elevated PCBs being handled with EPA involvement.
Board members welcomed the engineering steps and asked staff to refine cost estimates; staff noted that long-term fixes will require substantial investment and possible future bonding.
