Listed below are the minutes from the meeting on the water system on May 9. The excellent dialogue with the audience was very helpful. We will continue to send out updates as new information is available. If you have any further questions, please contact Rick Barrett or Charlie Priscu.
Please continue to moderate your use of water until we have two wells operational. It will be beneficial if you can only water plants and grass between the hours of 7PM and 6AM
Rick
Minutes of 5/9/18 Meeting on the Water System
Many thanks to everyone who has been involved in this project, including John Murray, Ken Heiden, Austin Godfrey, Bob Edgar, and Chris Allyn. Special thanks to John for his extensive work in preparing forms, evaluating our strategies, and coordinating the project while I was away last week.
Well 1 (next to the tennis court, pump house 1)
This well is now our only operating well. It was drilled in the late 20s and shows no bacteria in tests.
Well 3 (on LTE, pump house 2)
Well 3 has been hyper-chlorinated and the tests are good. The camera test indicated that this well had no structural problems. We have asked the DEP to allow us to activate this well via pump house 2. The well has not been actively used in more than 30 years due to its very modest output at about 27 gallons per minute. (Well 2 produced over 80 gpm and well 1 produces about 35-40 gpm.) If we receive DEP permission to activate this well on the system, we may have to first update the piping in this pump house since the pipes are old and the check valves may not be functioning as would be appropriate. This re-piping was planned for 2018 before all these issues arose. We would also consider drilling the well deeper to increase the water flow. We will also consider fracturing it if drilling the well deeper is too expensive due to mandated regulatory improvements which will be subsequently discussed. Fracturing is not expected to generate as much water as drilling deeper.
Well 2 (on LTE, pump house 2)
This is the well that showed a positive test by Agra for E.coli after the water pressure was turned off for this side of the lake to do a repair. At the same time, the chlorine system was not working in this pump house and this was not reported to Agra by the VSA. A more sophisticated and expensive test for DNA indicated that the bacteria was not E.coli or from the lake or septic. Agra’s tests are an industry standard for tests of this type, but more complex testing at a greater expense by a specialized lab provides more specific results. Tests by Agra after subsequent hyper-chlorination of this well indicated that there were no adverse bacteria. We will retest shortly to verify this result. It is believed that there is a good chance that the contamination is not from the well itself but from issues external to the well that can be corrected (ineffective check valves, loss of pressure during repairs, chlorine system not working at the time of the repair, notch in the top of the well pipe in the pump house only visible when the well cap was removed for testing). The camera test indicated the well pipe is in good shape. However, any resolution of re-activating this well will probably require a period of extended testing for the DEP’sconsideration.
Well 4 (next to the tennis court, pump house 1)
This will be a new well. It is being drilled on the western edge of the tennis court parking lot. The drilling rig has started to drill the well. However, we have been involved in a regulatory morass. The DEP adopted new rules and regs within the last year running to more than 140 pages to cover water system issues such as drilling new wells. All the professionals that we are dealing with have had limited exposure to these new procedures and view them as being very complex and burdensome. We have had to hire a specialized engineering firm (ELP) to prepare the many documents now required. This is in addition to the environmental firm (EWMA) with hydrogeologists on staff which has been assisting us in formulating a strategy, including examining wells 2 and 3 with a camera and DNA testing. Consulting and engineering costs largely driven by regulatory requirements will probably cost about $20,000.
.Regulatory Issues
The regulatory constraints were not anticipated by either us or any of our consultants or contractors and have added time and costs. Examples would include:
- The regulations indicate that a new will must be 100 feet from any septic, but the DEP has discretion. After we had sited the new well, the DEP indicated that we would have to be 200 feet from the nearest septic. This required us to change the site of the new well with a revisedsealed survey. We also had to hire a firm to drain the club house’s septic tank, send a man downinto the tank with a camera to determine that the location of the laterals was more than 200 feet from the new well.
- We submitted all requested forms to the department which normally inspects our system. These forms were sent to the Administrative Department which requested additional forms. These forms were than sent to the Technical Review Department which requested more forms. All these forms became so complex and required a seal from an Engineer that we had to hire ELP to prepare them.
- The Technical Review Department required that we be able to test the chlorine levels in the water after it had been in a pipe for 5 minutes. This will require 100+ feet of new 12 inch pipe installed next to pump house 1 for the water to flow through before going into the distribution system. It is estimated that this addition piping will add $20,000 to the cost for each pump house. Lakeshore is being required to bring our entire system up to current specs.
Online Q&A from Residents who Could not Attend
Pathogens
- The DNA testing by MicrBiotics indicated the bacteria is not E-Coli, three other bacteria which could be a problem, or from septic or the lake as previously discussed. The full bacteria analysis is posted on the web site. It identifies all bacteria that are present. Chlorine treatment is designed to eliminate any bacteria.
- The potential source is previously discussed.
- No other wells test positive for coliform or E.coli.
Piping Issues
- All the pipes in pump house 2 were due to be replaced in early 2018 at a cost of about $5,000 before the issues arose with well 2, including replacing the check valves. This was due to age and rust and concerns about the check valves. This re-piping will be done if either well 2 or 3 can be activated.
- Pump house 1 was completely re-piped about 5 years ago. Since the new well 4 will be connected to this well house, the piping will be redone and brought up to code in pump house 1
- Lakeshore and Agra regularly monitor the entire water system. Agra annually exercises all the valves and water hydrants in the system and gives Lakeshore a report.
- The DEP evaluates our system annually and renders a report.Loss of Pressure
- When it is necessary to replace piping in the system, it is necessary to turn off the water to the impacted area and pressure is thus inevitably lost. This is why Lakeshore gives a boiling water notice until the water is tested after a pipe repair. The chlorine system would then address any bacteria that enters the system during a repair.
- Unfortunately, the chlorine system was not working during the repair that triggered this problem. The current policy is to verify that the chlorine system is working during a pipe repair.VSA System
- All VSAs were notified after this incident to emphasize that they must contact Agra and Ken when any chlorine readings are out of the limits.
- New instructional signage has been posted in each pump house.
- A training session is held at every annual VSA dinner.
- Ken monitors VSA performance and provides any necessary remedial instruction.
- Lakeshore has looked at automating chlorine readings vis a microprocessor and a phone connection. It would have cost about $10,000 per pump house to install and would have required regular maintenance. The VSA function was considered a valuable community activity that builds community participation and awareness.Questions from Audience:
What’s the timeline for well 4?
- Four weeks, assuming the weather is good: 1 week for drilling, 2 weeks to lay pipe and to re- pipe the pump house, and 1 week for testing and DEP review. It was recommended that the community be asked to hold down water usage until well 4 is online.
Are all wells being drilled down to bedrock?
- Yes, all are drilled down to bedrock. Well 3 has 50’ of casing which is the pipe in the well. Once a well is drilled to bedrock, no additional piping is required. The remainder of the well is not piped since you are drilling through rock. New wells require 50 feet of casing regardless of when rock is hit. Well 2 has 27 feet of casing.
What interruptions of service is expected?
- If well 3 is approved, no interruptions of service will probably be expected. Well 3 is not an upgrade and hopefully should not trigger the 5-minute chlorine testing rule. If well 3 is not approved, there may be a 1-2 day interruption of water availability.
If well 2 is reconnected, does the 5-minute chlorine testing rule apply to it? - We’d argue that it is not being modified and the rule should not apply, although the DEP haswide discretion. If we dig well 3 deeper, the 5-minute rule will apply.
What is the status of our financial reserves?
- There is a $100,000 contingency reserve available for emergency expenses such as the water project, but it would need to be rebuilt over time. $70,000 has been budgeted in the capital reserve for this project. Due to new and extensive regulatory requirements and the attendant necessity for engineering consultant services, the cost to finish the new well and all the aforementioned outside assistance will be $90,000+. The cost to drill well 3 deeper and provide for the five-minute contact time would be roughly another $40,000. We would have 2 years under our permit to drill well 3 deeper so this cost can be delayed.What is the quality of our water?
- It is considered to be excellent. It is moderately hard, which can produce scale around faucets, etc., but it not a problem for human consumption.Submitted by Rick Barrett