While Mattapoisett’s August 8 encounter with an EF-1 tornado was widely chronicled, including property damage at the Water Treatment Plant, Vinnie Furtado said during Tuesday’s meeting of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee that the Town of Fairhaven was also hit.
“When the tornado went through Mattapoisett, it also affected our well, the Tinkham Lane well. We’ve been having a heck of a time with the insurance company making things right,” said Furtado, the chairman of both the MRV Water District Commission and associated Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee. “We had fence damage, too, we had roof damage … we’ve been having a hard time.”
The Tinkham Lane well itself was not damaged; minor damage at that well earlier this year led to a boil order as far away as Marion.
In comparing notes, Mattapoisett Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Henri Renauld reported more favorable support from the town’s insurance carrier.
“Insurance has been great with us,” said Renauld, acknowledging supply-chain programs that vendors are having. Right now, his challenge beyond backorders is getting set up for the repairs project and aligning with Eversource.
Most recently, Wareham-based ABS Fence issued a change order that will result in Mattapoisett’s plant getting a better gate at a lower cost. Renauld said the town has already received $21,507.26 from insurance toward that project. He was waiting on a backordered heating system and reported difficulty getting a one-night, 1,000-kilowatt generator.
In his Treasurer’s Report to the commission, Jeff Furtado announced a total of $79,606.93 in paid invoices for November – the commission approved.
The MRV has set aside $736,000 for spending related to the Koch membrane project, and Renauld said that while waiting for official loan approval he has received two invoices from the company for $109,750 and $219,500 ($329,250 total.)
Suggesting that Koch is “most likely waiting for these checks to start,” strongly suggested the MRV using the funds.
The MRV has received a letter of approval for a $2,100,000 loan, but Renauld said it is important that the commission make the initial investment to keep the timeline and get the project done.
Jeff Furtado asked if there are any other immediate expenses that the commissioners should consider before closing the discussion. Renauld said he is expecting quotes on infrastructure at less than $50,000.
The commissioners voted to pay Koch the invoiced portion of the capital set aside for the purchase of the membranes. Blair Bailey, who serves the MRV as legal counsel, suggested reaching out to bond counsel to advise them of the plan.
For the district operating budget, the commission approved a total assessment of $2,390,187, a 1.4% increase over last year.
Meghan Davis revisited the previously discussed subject of a Water Management Act (WMA) registration statement that would author a bylaw for all MRV member towns where it concerns water-withdrawal rights.
Noting that the MRV has authority to issue administrative penalties for water violations, Renauld, Vinnie Furtado and Tata & Howard engineer Jon Gregory suggested taking the matter before member-town officials before considering a regional action.
Davis acknowledged the need to reconvene as a subcommittee, talk with member-town select boards, then report back to the MRV. Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco reminded the membership that the timeline for Annual Town Meeting is tight.
In his update on the Water Treatment Plant filter upgrade project, Tata & Howard engineer Jon Gregory said he is waiting on a draft for SRF 2024 (funding) and reportedly submitted a budget-evaluation form for the project’s second contract (installation.)
Anticipating full design (based on local specifications) by the end of next week, Gregory said he will review and get feedback to Koch and proceed from there. He called the process a significant step. Gregory will also update the MRV regarding its project status on capital lists.
One tricky point will be a temporary bypass system while the plant is down and the filtering system is being replaced with state-of-the-art technology.
Gregory, Renauld, Davis and Vinnie and Jeff Furtado participated in a recent conference call with the state Department of Environmental Protection to discuss the process. Gregory said one takeaway is the need to keep a close track on secondary contaminants such as manganese levels.
“It seems they’re on board with the plan,” said Gregory.
Meantime, Renauld said that divers vacuumed tanks, and Well Number 6 was taken offline to clean and make ready for its crucial role in the bypass during installation of the new filtering system that is to take place next winter.
Tata & Howard is ready to draft the MRV’s annual report and anticipates a draft in time for the commission’s January 9 meeting. At that time, Gregory and Renauld will update the five-year capital plan.
In his Treatment Plant operations update, Renauld said the plant is running well and that an oxygen leak was repaired.
Rochester Water Commission Chairman Fred Underhill attended the meeting to explain his town’s request that the MRV share river-monitoring data to support Rochester’s study on water levels in its major bodies of water.
Gregory, who helped Underhill work out a technological kink to access the meeting, said there is a MRV stream gauge located in a spot that would benefit Rochester’s project.
“This is not only important to Rochester as far as I’m concerned but to the River Valley,” said Underhill. “The important part right now is how much water is pulling into Snipatuit and Quittacas and can we put a handle to that?”
Gregory said he will put together a packet of information that dates back to 2011, calling it “a large pile of data” that will be sent to Rochester Town Planner Nancy Durfee.
The recent regional meeting of water officials was considered “very productive” by David Pierce, who also thought the dialogue was “very helpful.” Davis was “pleasantly surprised” that representatives from Middleborough and Wareham were able to attend and discuss their challenges.
Vinnie Furtado agreed with Pierce and Davis but expressed disappointment in a lack of attendance at the virtual meeting by member-town elected officials.
“I was personally and professionally disappointed that it wasn’t better attended,” he said. “Considering the importance of what we do and that we control the public water supply for four communities, I would have expected more than that. … It was just disappointing that no one – no one – came. … I think you’ve got to be better than that.”
Member Sandy Keese suggested an earlier push for next year.
In his Treasurer’s Report to the MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee, Jeff Furtado announced invoices, a balance of $130,079.96 and deposits featuring $58,726.70 (Fairhaven and Marion assessments.) Withdrawals as of November 30 totaled $11,176.94. The committee voted to accept the report.
The next meeting of the MRV Water District Commission/Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee is scheduled for January 9, 2024.
MRV Water District Commission/Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee
By Mick Colageo