Year: 2014

THE WATER DEPARTMENT OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014 IN OBSERVANCE OF COLUMBUS DAY.  WE WILL RE-OPEN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014 AT 8:00 A.M.

EFFECTIVE TODAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014, THE COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT WATER DEPARTMENT AND THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS HAS LIFTED THE VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS

 MEETING DATE: Thursday, September 18, 2014 @ 5 PM

 Freedom Hall

976 Main Street, Cotuit, MA

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A G E N D A

 MINUTES

 WARRANTS

 WATER QUALITY

 SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 OLD BUSINESS

Open Cape

Security system

West Street Tank – Russ Kleekamp

NEW BUSINESS

  COTUIT WATER DEPARTMENT

  BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS

  MEETING DATE: Thursday, August 21, 2014 @ 5 PM

  Freedom Hall

976 Main Street, Cotuit, MA

 A G E N D A

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• Minutes
• Warrants
• Water Quality
• Superintendent’s Report
• Old Business
•       Open Cape
•       Security System
•       West Street Tank
• New Business
•       5:30: Jaci Barton – BLT
•       Time Table – Building of a New Tank

Following the e. coli testing results received on August 6, 2014 we ran and tested 5 consecutive samples from Station #1 as recommended by the MassDEP.  All subsequent test results were clear and the MassDEP requires no further action at this time.

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply. On August 6, 2014 our water system was notified that a raw water sample collected on August 4, 2014 from Station #1 tested positive for E.coli, which is a fecal indicator. Fecal indicators are used to detect ground water sources that may be susceptible to fecal contamination which may contain harmful viruses or bacteria.

The water delivered to your taps through the distribution system is disinfected with chlorine to kill viruses and bacteria, including E.coli. It is important to note that samples collected on August 4, 2014 in the distribution system did NOT detect any fecal contaminants.

This source is one of five active pumping stations that supplies drinking water to the Water District. In accordance with the federal Ground Water Rule (GWR) requirements, we are notifying you of the situation and conducting additional sampling to evaluate the extent of potential fecal contamination and will take further actions as necessary.

This is not an emergency, you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions at this time.

• The USEPA requires us to provide you with this notice and the following information on fecal indicators: “Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.” These symptoms can also be caused by issues unrelated to drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, or, if you have specific health concerns, you may want to discuss such concerns with your doctor. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or online at http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/pathogens.cfm.

• Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and Businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Pumping station #1 was immediately taken off line and is being re-sampled. As a precaution, we are increasing the level of chlorination throughout our system to ensure the safety of our water supply. The original sample was a raw sample taken prior to any treatment currently being used by the Cotuit Water District. Because the indicator was in an untreated sample you do not need to boil your water. We are undergoing repeat testing and evaluation to confirm that the level of treatment is adequate or if additional corrective actions are necessary to reduce the risk of potential fecal contamination in our drinking water supply. Some consumers may notice a slight discoloration or odor/taste in the water, as the disinfection level of chlorine has been temporarily increased until the investigation is complete.

We continue to monitor for the presence of fecal contaminants in the entire source and distribution system to ensure the safety of the water supply.

We are working closely with MassDEP during this process. They will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the steps taken and determine if any further action is required. If necessary, you will be notified again if you need to take any corrective actions. This notice does not affect persons using private drinking water wells.

For more information and further updates, please visit our website at www.cotuitfiredistrict.org or contact Christopher Wiseman, Superintendent at 508-428-2687.

6/17/14

The monthly meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was held at Freedom Hall at 5:00 p.m. with all members present, except Mr. Campbell who arrived at 6:05 p.m. Superintendent Chris Wiseman was also present.

The 5/13/14 minutes, the 6/11/14 regular minutes and the 6/11/14 executive session minutes were approved.

Public comment was allowed.

At 5:15 pm, Phyllis Miller and Kris Clark, representing the Town’s Land Acquisition & Preservation Committee, spoke about the committee’s mission to identify parcels of land that might be purchased to add additional protection of watershed areas on the Cape. The Department agreed to conduct some research in our zone I and II areas. She departed at 5:30 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m. Dan Vortherms, from Open Cape Corporation, presented an update on the fiber optics proposal for the Department’s security system. He departed at 6:00 p.m.

At 6:00 p.m. Russ Kleekamp, from Green Seal Environmental, presented a detailed description of the scope of work involved in the de-commissioning the Main and West Street storage tanks and the construction of one new storage tank. He departed at 6:30 p.m.

Jaci Barton and Mark Robinson, both representing the Barnstable Land Trust thanked the Board for their support in the Trust’s quest to purchase the acreage surrounding Lowell Park and provided an update on the project.

Discussion was held on the four final candidates who were interviewed on 6/11/14 for the office manager position. Mr. Barnicle made a motion to offer the position to Ms. Jennifer Leger for an annual salary of $42,500. Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and it was voted unanimously.

The warrants were signed.

There were no coliform detections during the month.

The following information was included in the Superintendent’s report:

PUMPAGE                        2014                       2013

May Pumpage                 19,888,000           18,047,000

……………There were three new service installations and one replacement service.

……………An informational meeting will be held by the DPW at Freedom Hall on Wednesday, the 18^th at 5:30 p.m. to update the residents on the paving project from Ocean View Avenue to the end of Main Street that will completed in the Fall.

……………An advertisement for the field operator position has been placed in the newspaper and on line. Five applicants have applied to date. The deadline for applicants is 6/30/14.

Sprint’s cellular site contract was briefly discussed. Mr. Kiely stated that he would finish his review of the contract and the Board would vote on it at next month’s meeting.

Mr. Wiseman presented the bid amounts for the annual service connection installation contract. The low bidder was Bortolotti Construction with a bid of $31,385.70. The second bidder was Roderick Construction with a bid of $48,826.90. Mr. Campbell made a motion to award the service contract to Bortolotti Construction for fiscal 2015 year. Mr. Barnicle seconded the motion and it was so voted.

Discussion was held on the on-call duty situation that the Department is faced with, now that two field operators have left the Department. Mr. Barnicle made a motion to pay Mr. Wiseman for the on-call weeks that he covers, as this had been done in the past. Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and it was so voted.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 5:00 at Freedom Hall.

The meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Frederick Kiely, Chairman