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Richmond officials say boil‑water notice lifted after valve failure; wastewater plant VFD replaced
Summary
Town superintendent reported a valve failure and brittle old pipe caused a boil‑water notice lasting about 3.5 days; wastewater plant polymer/VFD problems were fixed by replacing the drive and the press returned to normal operation.
Richmond — Town public‑works staff told the Water & Sewer Commission on July 20 that a failed valve and an old brittle pipe led to a boil‑water notice that lasted roughly three and a half days, and that unrelated equipment faults at the wastewater plant were recently resolved.
According to the superintendent, crews discovered an unrestrained inline valve at the top of a tank installation that blew off when the connection was made; the team dug down, installed thrust blocks and reassembled the connection. After repairs staff took bacteriological samples; one sample later registered positive, requiring retesting and the state’s prescribed follow‑up samples before the boil‑water advisory could be lifted.
On the wastewater side staff said a polymer feed system was malfunctioning and a variable‑frequency drive (VFD) for a pump was not producing output although it was not throwing an error code. The VFD was taken to a specialist vendor, reprogrammed, and returned; the press restarted and the plant has been operating normally since.
The superintendent also noted a gearbox failure for a day‑tank agitator: the gearbox appears to be leaking oil and staff are seeking replacement units with lead times of 5–6 weeks and a cost estimate of about $2,500; meanwhile operators are using a temporary level‑management workaround to keep the tank mixed and the process running.
Why it matters: Boil‑water notices are public‑health events requiring specific sampling and communication with the state. The town’s description of the valve and aging pipe helps explain why the event occurred; plant repairs restored wastewater operations but the gearbox replacement is a near‑term procurement issue that could affect long‑term reliability.
Next steps: Staff will continue follow‑up sampling per state rules, pursue replacement parts for the gearbox with the goal of shortening lead time, and keep the commission informed of repair schedules and any further operational impacts.
