WATER POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
January 18, 2017
Present: Jim Miller, Todd Eubanks, Rich Regan, and Amy Atamian & John Fisher.
Also Present: Katherine Stauffer; Eugene Burke, Matthew Bernardino and John Oatley of Veolia Water; Jim Baulsir and Jerry Valenti for the Redding Beer Company: The Tap Room.
R. Regan called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm in the Hearing Room of Town Hall.
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES of December 21, 2016 meeting with CORRECTIONS:
Page 1, bottom of page, under questions from commission, number 2) change “Japanese Canadian company” to “Mr. T. Hirada from TJS Aqua Solutions” ;
Page 2, 1st paragraph, 3rd line, change “that which is public” to “since that is public information”;
Page 2, item 3, 2nd line: from “160 after” to “160 gpm after” and change “100 to 160” to “100 gpm to 160 gpm”;
Page 3, Item 7, under Commission Member or Public Comment:
1st sentence, add after “vendor”, “vendor, only releasing public information.”;
2nd sentence: change from “building with meters” to “building meters”;
3rd sentence: change “building meters” to “billing meters”;
8th sentence: change “screened” to “screen”;
After last sentence, add additional sentences: “Veolia water will attend the next screen inspection to be done by Ridgefield Plumbing. Sal Gaetano will coordinate the visit.”
Motion: Approve minutes with changes. No discussion. R. Regan, A. Atamain. Abstain: T. Eubanks.
ITEM 2: REPORT FROM VEOLIA WATER
J. Oatley, E. Banks and M. Berdardini, the Veolia team.
–Thanked J. Miller for coming down and representing the town when TJS Aqua Solutions visited.
— Weekly power washing of the on-line drum screener continues and is going well.
–Organics and Inorganics cleaning of both membrane trains completed.
–Rebate check from Eversource for new dryer install was transferred to the Town of Redding, a total of $300.
–Internal wasting totaled 14,918 gallons
—18,630 gallons of waste sludge was hauled off for disposal. E. Burke noted that the cost for solids removal is lower than estimated, as they originally estimated 5 trucks vs. the actual 3 trucks.
–Doug Hartline checked The Meadow Ridge flow at the Lumberyard Pub syphon. There was no grease build up, no back up and had good flow.
Discussion: Follow up (by J. Miller) about phosphorus: Asked about continuing to do analysis during down time. Veolia responded: has not stopped testing during the off-season and complies with state permit (once a month).Veolia will continue to do internal and external analysis and look for variations. Commission would still like to see results, if indeed for future pump adjustments and potential purchase of online analyzer. Would like to make sure PAC is as minimal as possible.
Veolia can attach reports in future if commission wants to.
–Boiler cleaning will be done at 8 am on 1/19/17.
–Septic company quarterly cleaning: Today 1/18/17: Septic company came and cleaned pump station. Found a lot of debris: rags, grease, wipes, feminine products, mop head pieces and strings. No tee shirts or gloves this time. Cost of pumping: $640 for 4,000 gallons (did 2,500). Discussion about the distance between release and capture and what is flushed ensued. Because the system is pumped often, things don’t disintegrate as fully as in other municipal systems. K. Stauffer asked what can be done to enforce minimal dumping down drains? J. Miller suggested arranged meetings with each resident owner/manager, buildings, etc. and explain how they should maintain their systems, for overall, down the road cost savings. Maybe inspect sinks in facility? Suggest use strainers? Veolia suggested making a best practices sheet: what one should and should not be putting down drains. Maybe take photos along of the refuse (mop heads, strings, rags) on the visits that J. Fisher and J.Miller will go to visit the restaurants by appointment and share information with them.
–G. Burke shared that there was a bill from Meadow Ridge, having called CT. Gas Company (“Call Before You Dig”) to dig to see how the sewer lines run near the GT Bible Church.
–Plant Smell: It was noted that at the plant they are starting to get a little breakthrough smell. This should serve as a forewarning. Veoila noted that activated carbon scrubbers could be used. Once carbon is used up, the units can be recharged, which can prove dangerous. Or they can be exchanged –take old carbon out, put new in. There really is no other way of knowing whether working except for observation/smell. These have not been replaced in over 10 years. Cost? Already started looking. Specialized chemical companies do this. Budget issues were brought up by J. Miller. BOS has been alerted if there are potential extra costs. This is a tough budget year. Commission requested numbers as soon as possible.
–TJS Aqua Solution: J. Miller asked about the visit. E. Burke made copies of all public information for them and shared during the visit and they seemed satisfied. Commission did what was authorized to do. R. Regan stated that the commission has an obligation to transfer knowledge.
–Problem with Generator: E. Burke reported the transfer switch failed. Waiting to find out results of final report…why it happened. Will share with members at a later date.
Veolia was asked to stay for next agenda item.
ITEM 3: REDDING BEER COMPANY: the Tap Room, 7 Main Street, the Former Aranci 67 building (across from the GT Saloon)
Tap Room reps: Jim Baulsir and Jerry Valenti.
Intention: Seek approval of utilizing the systems of the sewer district in order to discharge waste water. Seeks to share information on what kind of waste a typical brewery makes: one that provides good wastewater control methods.
The output is small: A 3.5 barrel system (31 gallons per barrel). Utilizes 32,000 gallons of water per year. End result: produce 170,000 gallons of waste water (equals 465 gals per day).
Background: Both J. Baulsir and J. Valenti are members of the Brewers Assoc. They included information for the commission. 95% of their product is water. Water is valued resource. They promise to be good stewards of resources. They intend to reduce quantity of water. They intend to not use harsh chemicals, which include reducing caustic. They are in favor of utilizing hydrogen peroxide instead. They intend to limit sanitizers to correct amount needed. They informed the commission that the biological content waste is yeast; that waste will be handled as a solid and taken out and thrown in solid waste stream. The spent grain will not end up in the water systems. Instead, it will be collected and given as farm animal feed.
Questions from the commission: food production and consumption. Reps said only packaged food items will be served and nothing will be prepared on site. Projected utilizing food trucks outside. The venue or customers can bring food in if they want. Seating for around 50 people. The Tap Room reps are waiting for Federal and State of CT TTB license approval, around 30-45 days.
R. Regan asked: What is authorized discharge for previous restaurant? Where is regulation sheet?
Jim Baulsir pointed out that water use allocation (per regulations) is 25 gal per dining seat; 15 gal per bar seat.
R. Regan clarified: We charge based on water meter (on incoming), hence, a big differential between in-coming vs. out-going water. 1,250 per day is allocated to them for the space.
Response: Permit will be based on what comes in: 200,000 gals per year. 220 gallons maximum per day; 3 days per week.
Veolia chimed in that there are concerns: PH (because of peroxide); submittal of anticipated discharge amounts (no nitrogen, just BOD) will be different day by day because it’s a batch operation; Veolia plant would like to see operating plan; cleaning is a concern: is biocide being used?
Commission is asked to review sheet that was distributed at meeting and also test assumptions.
J. Baulsir discussed cleaners: Cleaning and sanitization. For cleaning: use Caustic solution. For Sanitization: use acid. Going to use alternative cleaners: hydrogen peroxide; other standard cleaners.
Avoid phosphorus altogether.
J. Miller shared calculations: 500 gallons per day, which is under permit. Suggested they either reduce volume permitted or leave volume the way it is.
Veolia asked about percentage of chemicals in water vs. regular household use, as an issue that is coming up in other towns and what, perhaps would that surcharge look like? …if over-toxic?
Commission redirected question to continued permit process:
Tap Room reps met with George Town Fire Marshall, also Doug Hartline (Redding Health Dept.), and Aimee Pardee (Redding Zoning). Appears they do not need to meet with Planning Commission. WPCC is last group they were required to meet with in town. As far as the application process, the state is last.
No need for building permit. Using all existing structures. No circuitry changes, moving stove out…only installing some stainless steel vessels. Not a bar…but a brew pub…For families to meet and greet, play games and host special events.
A. Atamian asked about selling beer to other venues. Response: They are selling 60% over the counter. They would like to sell kegs to “self distribute” –small kegs to outside facilities. Perhaps seek out other distribution mechanisms. This is business test case.
T. Eubanks suggested that Veolia review and reach out and share impacts on treatment plant and then have the commission to ask for data. Tap Room will email the Board a draft, with cleaning agents, for example.
Commission decided to put Tap Room reps on agenda for next month: Feb. 15th and make decisions then. Commission wants to make sure obligations are met. Submit info and reach out via email where needed. Commission thanked them for coming.
Tap Room reps departed 8:56.Veolia reps departed at 8:57.
ITEM 4: DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON FINANCIAL STATUS
K. Stauffer shared financial statements. Total at bottom of spread sheet: $52,794.29, which represents number before reimbursables were paid, so actual is around $46,000. Balance is $98,710.73. April is next billing. Sent out $87,000 of bills; received to date $15,000 back. All credits are done. About $20,000 in credits from last quarter; Another $10-15,000 this quarter.
Bills to be paid this month: Aquarion Monthly: $189.12; Aquarion Meter Readings: $17.6; Aquarion Meter Readings: $48.59; Eversource: $2,857.34; Frontier: $284.68; Hocon Gas: $414.68; Transcanada: $4,319.53; Veolia Monthly, Dec. 2016: $27,843.26; Veolia Meter Readings: $454.04
For consideration: Veolia Monthly January: $27,181.42 and Veolia Reimbursables, Nov.: $15,944.50.
MOTION: Pay everything except Veolia monthly for Jan. 2017 and the Nov. 2016 reimbursement, which is subject to R. Regan’s review. R. Regan. T. Eubanks. Unanimous.
ITEM 5 & 6; COMMISSION MEMBER AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Question: J. Miller pointed out that trends in Veolia’s spread sheets are trending back….going in the wrong direction. K. Stauffer will send E. Burke an email about his charts.
Question: J. Fisher asked about the EPA report (of Oct. 13, 2016) which sounded like there are problems, noting improper class operators. E. Burke and M. Bernardini are class 2 operators. However, Veolia is okay with this. But report does not say that. R. Regan agrees that it is written this way.
J. Miller noted that the inspection was done with knowledge to allow E. Burke and M. Bernardini to work the plant as Grade 2 operators, working as Grade 4. We do have a copy of that agreement. Katherine will find it and re-distribute to commission.
Letter on mop ends: J. Fisher reminded K. Stauffer to send mop end photos to him and J. Miller and T. Eubanks.
ITEM 7: Motion to adjourn. R. Regan. T. Eubanks. 9:08 pm.
Submitted by Alice Smith