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Water superintendent reports minor HAA5 exceedance; board seeks action plan and considers new hydrant design
Summary
Ron Carter, superintendent of the North East Water Department, reported the town exceeded the MCL for haloacetic acids (HAA5) by 0.6 parts per billion at one monitoring location; the mayor asked for an action plan and the board discussed switching to an insert-style hydrant that could cut future replacement costs.
Ron Carter, superintendent of the North East Water Department, told the town board on April 27 that the town was expecting a letter from the Maryland Department of the Environment reporting that the drinking-water system exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for haloacetic acids (HAA5) by 0.6 parts per billion at 735 Red Toad Road for the monitoring quarter ending October 2015. Mayor Robert F. McKnight requested that Carter return to the board on May 25 with an action plan to address the exceedance.
Carter explained that haloacetic acids are disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter. He alerted the board to the anticipated MDE correspondence and the need for a response; the transcript does not record specific remedial steps proposed at the meeting.
Carter also recommended the town change its standard fire hydrant model from the Kennedy Guardian K81 to the Kennedy Insert Hydrant. He said the insert-style hydrant would avoid future excavations when a hydrant is replaced because the aboveground piece can be removed without digging up surrounding concrete. Carter said the town's current average cost to replace a hydrant is about $6,000 and that using the proposed hydrant would reduce future replacement costs to less than $3,000 per hydrant. Mayor McKnight asked that the board discuss the matter again at the May 11 meeting.
Separately, Director of Finance Kendrick Natale reported updates on the meter replacement project (vendor reports about 50 remaining hardware or warranty concerns), the town's new website timeline (expected by end of May), FEMA reimbursement for Snowstorm Jonas (submitted), and an upcoming advertisement for the town's Constant Yield Rate. Commissioner Michael Kline moved to approve Resolution 2016-04-02, establishing a progression scale and job description for a Water Plant Operator trainee; Commissioner Crothers-Moore seconded and the motion was approved by all present.
Carter is scheduled to return May 25 with a plan to address the HAA5 exceedance; hydrant selection and sidewalk/street projects were noted for follow-up at upcoming meetings.
