WATER POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Virtual Zoom Meeting
March 17, 2021
MINUTES
Present: Amy Atamian, Todd Eubanks, Dave Pattee, Kirby Klump, Vanessa McPherson
Also, Present: Eugene Burke, Jeremy Nixon of Veolia. Katherine Stauffer, WPCC Administrator.
Amy Atamian called the meeting to order at 7:36PM
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 18, 2020 MEETING.
Motion: Approve the minutes from the February 17, 2021 minutes: T. Eubanks, motion. K. Klump, second. Approved unanimously.
ITEM 2: NICOLE VANALSTYNE – PRESENTING PROPOSED USAGE AT 8 MAIN ST HAIR SALON
Ms. Vanalstyne did not attend the meeting.
D. Pattee asked that K. Stauffer reach out and ask what kinds of chemicals will be used. This information will be brought to next month’s meeting.
ITEM 3: REPORT FROM VEOLIA WATER PLANT MANAGERS
Health and Safety
Veolia Water monthly safety training topics conducted in November 2020 included:
• Hot Work and Welding safety
The project has completed 21 years with no safety incidents.
Noteworthy Operational Information / Maintenance and PM
• Weekly power washing of the on-line primary
• Membrane organics recovery dip completed
o V. McPherson asked how often the recovery dip happens. E. Burke stated that it happens every 6 months.
• Addition of Sodium Bicarbonate
o This raises the alkalinity and is being added as needed. Also is cheaper in comparison to the caustic.
• Toilet repair completed
• UV system startup – April 1st
• Poly Aluminum Chloride system start up – Phosphorus removal – April 1st
Regulatory & Compliance
• There were no permit violations for Redding in the month of February 2021
Alarms
• None
CBYD
• None
Points for Discussion
• Aeration level transducer
o Took two weeks longer than expected to arrive but Naugatuck Veolia crew will be installing the equipment at no cost to the WPCC.
• Compressor system review
o March 1, technician came out for preventative maintenance and got the offline compressor back up and running. The compressor stopped working because oil separator had excessive scale buildup that needed to be cleaned.
o Air demand study that was done showed that the air demand was 32 CFM. After some research about the study, that 32 CFM demand was not actually accurate, that was a high point, the average air demand is 16-20 CFM.
o The air compressors need to be completely integrated with the SCADA system which they are not, When NIC installed the SCADA system, they had to manipulate the compressor system to 20 CFM. This prevented the compressors from working properly. J. Nixon is going to reach out to NIC to be sure that the system can be manipulated back so that the compressors function correctly.
o Discussion continued
• Compressor air dryer
o A new dryer is needed. J. Nixon suggests that a stand-alone dryer be purchased instead of one that is included with a new compressor system.
o D. Pattee asked about the lead time on the new dryer. E. Burke will find out.
Motion: Approve purchase of new compressor air dryer from Kaeser Compressors for $2,954.01. D. Pattee, motion. V. McPherson, second. Passed unanimously
• Trojan UV supplies quote
o The current UV lamps are getting towards the end of their 10,000 life span and a new set should be purchased.
o New lamps should be purchased about every 2.5 years.
Motion: Approve purchase of new UV lamps from Trojan UV for $2,154.85. T. Eubanks, motion. V. McPherson. Approve unanimously.
• Backflow preventer – waiting on eyewash station
o Waiting on one more part that is coming from overseas. Due to COVID-19, this may take longer than normal.
• Influent pumps – review quotes and options
o Pump will be purchased by a company and the Naugatuck crew will install it at no cost to the WPCC
o Influent pump had a ground fault failure. The pumps usually have an 8-10 year life span, this one is 14 years old.
o The cost of replacement versus repairing is a matter of a couple of hundred dollars. Veolia recommends that a replacement be purchased.
Motion: Approve purchase of new influent pump from Carlsen Systems for $5,052.00. D. Pattee, motion. K. Klump, second. Approved unanimously.
• Recirculation pumps – status
o Aeration tanks will have to be emptied in order to look at the recirculation pumps. The plan is to have the Naugatuck crew look at the recirculation pump in the offline tank and learn the process and fix the issue of that one, then be able to pull up the pump
o V. McPherson asked about the function of the recirculation pump. J. Nixon stated that it takes water from one tank and sends it to another keeping it fresher and recycling the water to help the biological process
o D. Pattee asked whether the pumps are on a stand. J. Nixon stated that they are on a guide rail.
• Drum Screener
o The quotes were provided by Veolia: Municipal Maintenance, Kovacs, and Northeast Water.
o D. Pattee stated some discrepancies between all three of the quotes. All three vary in terms of amounts and work to be done. E. Burke will get some clarification.
o A. Atamian asked if there is any routine maintenance done on the drum screener.
• Upcoming PFAS Study from CT DEEP
o The State of CT has chosen some locations at random to do PFAS testing. PFAS are microplastics and foams that propel water. They are not biodegradable and do not break down. They can have serious impacts on human health.
o This could affect permit requirements down the line, but this is a preliminary letter.
• Redding Permit Renewal application completed and submitted.
Other Discussion:
None
Veolia left at 9:16 PM.
ITEM 4: DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON INVOICES AND FINANCIAL STATUS
Motion: Approve all invoices, except Veolia Monthly – March 2021 $29,171.53, totaling $48,443.73. T. Eubanks, motion. D. Pattee, second. Approved unanimous.
APPROVED INVOICES:
• Aquarion Monthly:$234.73
• Eversource: $ 5,544.89
• Frontier: $326.63
• Hocon Gas: $1,271.60
• Hocon Gas: $1,270.66
• Hocon Gas: $15.00
• Oak Ridge Hauling: $160.37
• Veolia Monthly – February 2021: $29,171.53
• Veolia Reimbursable – January 2021: $10,448.32
Other Discussion:
• K. Stauffer suggested that Mulvaney Plumbing go to each property with a well and a Town of Redding meter and check to see that all meters are functional. They were first installed in early 2000 and have not been inspected since. T. Eubanks stated this was a good idea, the rest of the commission agreed. K. Stauffer will call Mulvaney Plumbing and facilitate this.
• K. Stauffer announced that this will be her last meeting as the administrator for the WPCC. She has accepted the position of assistant assessor for the Town of Redding.
ITEM 5: COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS
• V. McPherson asked when the Veolia contract expires and if she can see a copy of it. K. Stauffer will send it out to the commission.
ITEM 6: PUBLIC COMMENT
NONE
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM.
ACTION ITEMS:
Veolia:
• Fix lock on odor control building
• See if there is another contractor to take care of the lab services
• Coordinate purchases voted on at this meeting.
Katherine:
• Call Nicole Vanalstyne regarding hair salon
• Send copy of Veolia Contract out to commission
• Call Mulvaney Plumbing to set up meter check.
Submitted by Katherine Stauffer