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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-03 Sewer Committee Minutes Ad Hoc Committee on Sewer Systems AD HOC SEWER COMMITTEE SEPT 3, 1996 � Councilors attending: Tim Woodcock, Don Soucy, Jim Tyler, Pat Blanchette Staff attending: Ed Barrett, Jim Ring, Brad Moore, John Murphy Others attending: The meeting convened at 1. Status of Sewer Projects Jim Ring said the largest of the separation projects, Fourteenth Street, is well underway and has experienced no problems. The Linden Street project, with a great deal of ledge removal involved, is also underway. The Clyde Road project will start soon and should only take 1 1/2 months. Upgrades at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Kenduskeag Pumping Station, to allow primary treatment in CSO's, will be completed in late spring of 1997. A grant was previously received from the Army Corps of Engineers for design work for underground storage tanks and that design work has been completed. The City hopes to secure money to continue with the project. There are two other areas, Palm Street and Otis/Fruit Street, that are being looked at for further separation and upgrades. • The location of the proposed storage tanks was discussed, with Jim explaining the pros and cons of the sites, and what could be built on top of the tanks. 2. Update - Draft NPDES Permit, State Discharge License John Murphy recently received the draft and has been reviewing it; it is also available for public comment. John said there are still issues to be worked out. EPA has tentatively scheduled a meeting in Bangor for September 10, at 10 :30 a.m. Two items of contention would impact the operating costs of the plant considerably, according to Brad Moore. These issues are 1) testing; and 2) sampling requirements for the CSO. 3. Discussion of Pending Changes--EPA Performance Testing Brad Moore said that performance testing involves the wastewater treatment laboratory, wher� samples are taken, and that the plant has always done very well. EPA will no longer be providing the service of analyzing the results. Brad will request that the City be allowed to "shop" for a provider to help keep costs down, which can exceed $1400 per year. • 4. Other Items Councilor Woodcock asked if the current data was up to date so that sewer rate projections could be made. It was explained that Ron Heller had recently requested that the committee wait until the end of the month so that FY 96 data could be fully closed out. • Councilor Woodcock also wanted to recognize the Engineering Department, Sewer Plant, etc. for the recent award received from EPA. He said the City's level of credibility with EPA is probably the best in New England. Jim Ring said that the City had worked very hard on achieving that credibility. � �