2007 Annual Report

2007 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TOWN OF EASTON WATER DIVISION

MISSION STATEMENT
The Easton Water Division is dedicated to providing, protecting and preserving today’s water supplies for tomorrow’s consumers. Our commitment is to supply quality water that complies with all State & Federal standards, provide education and excellent customer service, and to be the leaders of our profession.

I respectfully submit the following report and pumping record for the year 2007.

The greatest amount pumped in one day was 4,240,000 gallons on July 3, 2007.

Total 2007 Precipitation was 41.01 inches.

The Water Division responded to 2,352 service and emergency calls:
Connected 41 new services for a total of 7,175 active services
Replaced 41 meters
Renewed 21 services
Repaired 10 service leaks
Repaired 12 broken water mains
1 – 6” main, 10 – 8” mains, 1 – 12” main

In 2007, new subdivisions and water main improvements added to our system:
76’ of 4” water main
350’ of 6" water main
7,963’ of 8” water main
10 new fire hydrants
45 new valves

We now have a total of 161 miles of water mains, 1,452 hydrants and 3,153 street valves in our system.

The Water Division read 85,864 meters during the past year. All reading data is analyzed to help meet state regulations and also used as a tool to help notify customers of potential leaks within their plumbing systems. We processed 28,805 routine water bills, 266 property transfer bills and 341 miscellaneous bills. 

This completed the nineteenth year of our Backflow Prevention Program. Since 1989, we have conducted 451 surveys of facilities to ensure appropriate backflow prevention devices. This year 21 commercial buildings, 1 institutional buildings and 0 industrial buildings were surveyed. We have 283 testable devices in the system, 162 double check valve assemblies, 112 reduced pressure zone backflow preventers and 14 non-required devices. This year 365 backflow prevention device tests were performed.

In order to meet the requirements of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, we have taken the following samples for analysis:

664 bacteriological
7 nitrate
1 routine chemical
7 secondary contaminants
9 volatile organic compounds (VOC)
2,335 pH
1,750 chlorine residual
16 Trihalomethane
16 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
1 Gross Alpha Particle Activity
1 SOC
33 lead/copper
8 perchlorate
1 iron
1 manganese
1 conductivity

 

The contract for the cleaning and painting of the 2,000,000 gallon Bay Road Reservoir was awarded to Hemi Enterprises Inc. of South Attleboro MA late last fall.  The storage tank was taken offline on March 21, 2007 to start the project.  Due to inclement weather and equipment failures the contractor could not complete the project within the 80 calendar day requirement.

To meet peak summer demands the tank was filled and put back in service on July 10, 2007.  The outside of the tank had been primed; the inside had finish coating with the exception of the roof.  On September 17, 2007, the tank was taken offline and drained.  The contractors returned onsite to complete the project and the tank was put back in service on November 21, 2007.  All additional cost incurred for work over the contracted 80 days were charged to Hemi Enterprises.

We continue to survey the water system for leaks using conventional and digital correlation technology. We have completed 22 system-wide leak surveys to date. This program enables us to maintain low unaccounted-for water.

Due to the maintenance of our Bay Road storage tank, we were unable to conduct our annual unidirectional system wide flushing program.  Unidirectional flushing is a technique that removes mineral and biological deposits in water lines by moving water through the mains at high velocity in a single direction.  This program is our most effective tool in maintaining water quality and delivery of safe water to your tap.  We will perform our next flushing program in April 2008.

The Water Division renewed 44 services on Central Street.  By performing the renewals we were able to abandon the 8” water main installed in the early 1900s.  All services are now connected to the 12” ductile iron water main installed in 1977.  Projects like this improve water quality as well as reduce maintenance cost.

Aquaria LLC installed a 20” pipeline from Dighton to Brockton.  The pipeline is to supply Brockton with water from New England’s first desalination plant located in Dighton MA.  As part of their terms of agreement with the Town, they replaced a section of 6” and 8” water main on Turnpike Street from Washington Street to Depot Street.  This 5,900 foot section of new 8” ductile iron water main replaced the older 1915 vintage cast iron main.  This project was at no cost to the residents of Easton and greatly increases water quality as well as fire protection.

The staff continues to educate our peers, students, and the public on water conservation and the operations of the Water Division. We continue to give numerous presentations to Water Works organizations, providing tours and training to Brownie and Girl Scout troops, as well as holding the Annual Open House.

The meeting room at the Easton Water Division office at 417 Bay Road continues to be in high demand, as one of the only town meeting rooms.

We conducted our Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on April 21, 2007 with 418 residents participating at a cost of $8,711.51 to the Town. I would like to thank the Easton Lions Club for their continued effort in assisting in this event with the collection of TV’s, computer monitors, and white goods. Our collection day for 2008 has been scheduled for April 26th.

The Water Division hosted its 23rd Annual Open House on Saturday, May 5, 2007 with the highlight being the Award Ceremony of our Annual Water Conservation Poster Contest. Hundreds of posters are judged from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. This contest could not be possible without the excellent cooperation of the Easton school system—especially, Dr. William Simmons, School Superintendent, Dr. Michael A. Green, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent, Christine DiVirgilio, Achim Krasenbrink, Susan Masse, Kathie Hayes, and Betty Minuskin of the Art Department. This contest provides a perfect medium to educate the students to the value of water and the need to protect it.

The Water Division continues to remain leaders in the water works industry. Our employees are dedicated and committed to their jobs. As a manager, it is certainly rewarding to have employees of this caliber and I would like to personally thank all of them for their continued efforts: Shirley Tufts, Janice Jacobson, Karen Gallo, John Fresh, Jr., Raymond Keyes, Richard Mueda, Joshua Ford, Joseph Richard, Michael O’Toole, Jeffery Cloonan, Mark DeCouto, Brian O’Neill and Scott Swale.

“With Water Works Pride”
John J. Marsh
508-230-0850
jmarsh@easton.ma.us

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