Water-Treatment Chemicals Spike in Price

In his July 12 Tata & Howard report to the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission, engineering consultant Jon Gregory alerted the commissioners as to the economy’s effect on pricing even where it concerns the chemicals for the water-treatment plant based in Mattapoisett.

            Gregory characterized chemical price bids per gallon as “extremely large numbers compared to what we even could have forecast in November and December. We’re kind of handcuffed by that,” he said, recommending the MRV take it month by month until further notice.

            The Town of Marion also put out bids and received only one on propane. “It’s not just here, it’s pretty much across the board, it seems,” said Gregory.

            Nonetheless, the MRV is proceeding with procurement specifications for the plant’s new, state-of-the-art, ultra-filtration equipment, and part two, specifications on construction, connection designs and demolitions.

            The membership is looking to organize a site visit, and a project team wants to get the piping portion a little further along and get “a real-time view of it.”

            “This is really going to ramp up in the coming months,” said Gregory.

            Unfortunately, he reported, the filtration project did not make the cut for the loan consideration the MRV seeks. Infrastructure funding in Massachusetts requires submission of a project-evaluation form. The difference, according to Gregory, would be from 3.5 to 4 percent down to 2 percent interest. He suggested the potential for a lower-interest loan justifies filing another project-evaluation form.

            “We feel the district may be in a better position this year,” he said, noting that a new submittal would add the UV disinfection piece, a byproduct of the 2021 boil order.

            The commission voted to authorize Tata & Howard to resubmit a new project-evaluation form.

            In giving his Treatment Plant Operations Update, Henri Renauld told the commission, “It’s holding up, that’s all I’m going to say.” Renauld alluded to the current drought as a challenge, as the plant puts out 6,000,000 gallons a day.

            The commission has narrowed its search for an outside bookkeeper and will plan to bring two interested parties into the next MRV meeting to be interviewed.

            Chairman Vinnie Furtado reported an insurance renewal with HUB International at $29,747.

            Commission Treasurer Wendy Graves reported $82,343.35 in July invoices.

            The MRV’s auditing approval was tabled.

            Gregory provided a river-monitoring update to the Water Protection Advisory Committee, informing the members that the original level loggers are “past their point,” and two new level loggers have been purchased for a total of $1,581. The level logger at Snow’s Pond is still operating but is no longer able to export its data so that piece will soon be swapped out.

            Under Old Business, Vinnie Furtado reported to the committee that member Nathaniel Munafo, the Marion DPW director, had trouble accessing the committee website. Furtado said he contacted the host earlier on Tuesday and learned that files on that site might be lost. Furtado put in a request ticket with Blue Host, waiting on a resolution. “It may have to start from scratch,” said Furtado, who may reach out to Fairhaven’s IT team for assistance. Gregory also could not access the site.

            Under New Business, the committee voted to authorize Vinnie Furtado to write two letters to engineering groups stating that plans for a solar project and plans for a two-lot subdivision at 572 Snipatuit Road pose no impact on the MRV.

            The next meeting of the MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, August 9, at 3:30 pm with the MRV Water District Commission meeting to immediately follow at 4:00 pm on the same Zoom call.

MRV Water District Commission/Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee

By Mick Colageo

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