741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Water Pollution Control Authority

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Ed Lynch

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

6:30 PM

Council Chambers - Hybrid

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Lynch at 6:30 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Board Member Terry Jones

Present

Board Member Stanley Juber

Board Member Monir Tewfik

Board Member Sharon Wadecki

Board Member Edmond Lynch

Alternate Member Jeremy Norris

Excused

Alternate Member Tony Capon

Alternate Member James A. Ball

Non-voting

Sharon Wadecki was present via Zoom.

Also in attendance:

Naomi Rodriguez, Chairman Town Council

Mauricio Duarte, GU General Foreman Water Operations.

Jennifer Kelly Lachmayr, PE BCEE, Senior Vice President/Area Leader New England Arcadis

US Inc.

Sarah Lufler, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity.

III.

APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Not needed.

IV.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS

None.

VI.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from March 26, 2024, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Wadecki Lynch

Norris

AYE

EXCUSED

VII. COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE

Operations Report.

Chairman Lynch attended a Groton Utilities lead water service survey meeting, and there will be

a presentation from their designated contractor later in the meeting.

Chairman Lynch told Mauricio Duarte, General Foreman Water Operations that the bid waiver

request not to exceed more than $25,000.00, to Groton Utilities for Ledyard Multi-Use Pathway

inspection, and installation of a tapping sleeve valve for one fire hydrant by Groton Utilities'

Distribution crew (hydrant to be re-located by others) was approved by the Town Council.

Chairman Lynch asked when the hydrants will be removed. Mr. Duarte replied that they are

currently waiting for the 5" PVC pipes to arrive, so far only some sitework has been completed. Mr.

Duarte expressed a concern that in areas where the contractor will be making cuts to the existing

grade, there is a possibility of the water service not meeting the appropriate depth and the

possibility that the trail will need to be excavated when doing future tie-ins.

Microbiological and physical water sample results are within CTDPH limits. Work is continuing

to reduce THMs in the Gales Ferry and Ledyard Center systems. GU is preparing for the first

six‐month‐set of lead and copper testing in Ledyard Center and Gales Ferry (bottle set‐up,

notification of customers, etc). Cross connection inspections have been completed for Ledyard

and Gales Ferry. GU has been monitoring the Multi Use Trail/Sewer Installation project in

Ledyard Center.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Service Correspondence.

None.

Aged Reports/Finance.

No surprises.

Year to Date Water/Sewer Report.

Nothing stands out other than water usage is down due the abundance of rain.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

PSR - Steve Banks.

Chairman Lynch said there was a problem in the Highlands with the pressure relief valve as

there is water draining into the valve box where the pressure reducer is. Mr. Duarte said the

problem only occurs when it rains. The pressure relief box is on the property line and he is

working with the property owner to put a swell around it which should fix the issue.

Praestol 133 is not an effective polymer for the facility. Atlantic Coast Polymer ACP 67B is the

best product to use. Unfortunately, due to several industry factors, it is expensive and getting

more so every day. Steve Banks, WPCA Supervisor, will continue to explore other options.

Flows are steadily decreasing from wet weather in December and January. The WPCA is waiting

for revised quote from Weston& Sampson for phase II. This also includes project oversight. Low

alkalinity/PH in basins is being addressed. There are issues with Stenner chemical pump

delivering potassium hydroxide to basins. These issues are being troubleshooted.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

DEEP Water/Sewer Grant Requests for Proposal.

Chairman Lynch said that DEEP is looking for water/sewer grant request proposals. He asked if

the Town has a dedicated grant writer. Mr. Juber said that historically it was the town Planner

who wrote the grants for the WPCA.

DISCUSSED

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

RESULT:

Motion to RECOMMEND to the Town Council approval of a five percent water rate increase

effective July 1, 2024, as recommended and contained in the water and sewer rate table attached

to the WPCA legal notice dated April 11, 2024, in accordance with Ordinance #400-001 “An

Ordinance Establishing a Water Pollution Control Authority”.

No further discussion.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Wadecki Lynch

Norris

AYE

EXCUSED

Review of Trail/Sewer line bids continued.

Received an update from the engineering consultants for phase II. There is a significant

reduction in the amount of engineering because the line will be going over an existing line in the

street. The WPCA recommends that Mayor Fred Allyn III sign the amendment, which the Mayor

has the original copy of.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Review Lead Survey Study.

Presentation.

Jennifer Kelly Lachmayr, PE BCEE, Senior Vice President/Area Leader New England Arcadis

US Inc presented an Overview of LCRR Requirements and Lead Service Line replacement

program.

Ms. Lachmayr said she was presenting at the request of Groton Utilities and thanked the

Authority for having her. Ms. Lachmayr said she is the Program Director of Arcadis US Inc and

has been in the business for 35 years. Arcadis works throughout New England on lead and

copper programs.

The WPCA is required to submit a lead service line inventory and a replacement plan by

October 16, 2024. She added that it is allowable to have unknowns in the inventory and the

WPCA would have a couple of years to "wrap it up". Mr. Jones asked if the legislation was State

or Federal, Ms. Lachmayr answered Federal although each State promulgates the rules

themselves. For example, the Connecticut final date of inclusion is 1989 vs. 1986 for the Federal

date. The State may add its own stricter requirements.

Quick overview of Ledyard system:

1,141 unknown service lines.

A large number of connections will require investigations.

In Ledyard the service lines are partially owned by both the customer and the Utility but

nonetheless it is the WPCA's responsibility to provide information on the inventory regarding

the service line material.

Chairman Lynch expressed concern that in the past some customers refuse to let the Utility

inspector into their homes. Ms. Lachmayr said that what the State will evaluate is a percentage

of the system, not necessarily every single connection. Probabilistic models can be used to

determine the unknown materials in the system. She added that if lead is found and the owner is

refusing replacement, the Utility is required to document three attempts to perform the

replacement.

Ms. Lachmayr offered advice on how to explain to customers why the survey is being conducted.

She said it is important to start out by explaining that the water is high quality drinking water,

and that compliance was maintained with established lead and copper limits within the water

system. Secondly, the lead inventory is being performed as a requirement of the Environmental

Protection Agency and the State of Connecticut. End the explanation by stating that the WPCA

is committed to providing safe drinking water to all residents and works hard to keep that

commitment.

The Department of Health has a template that is required to be completed by October 16, 2024.

An overview of a few of their requirements:

A galvanized service line downstream of a lead gooseneck will require replacement.

Anything with lead will need replacement.

If lead is found, the customer needs to be told within 24 hours.

Once a lead replacement is complete the customer needs to be provided with the required steps

to flush the lines.

Make the inventory public facing. Starting on October 16, 2024, access to the inventory must be

provided. This can be as simple as a spreadsheet but it must be searchable by the customer

address. Often Towns will create a page on their website which will allow access to the

self-reporting forms, show customers how to test their service line, contains frequently asked

questions/answers amongst other important program information.

Mailings can be used but with the expectation that only approximately 10% of customers will

reply making field-work necessary.

Chairman Lynch asked for clarification that a filter only needs to be on the drinking water. Ms.

Lachmayr confirmed.

Mr. Ball asked what the time frame is for paying for the lead service program, it was answered at

least three years under the LCRR and if the LCRI goes into effect then it would be seven years.

Ms. Lachmayr offered to work with Chairman Lynch to fill out the State application for lead

funding.

Ms. Lachmayr asked if the WPCA was interconnected with Mashantucket Pequot, Chairman

Lynch answered no.

Chairman Lynch thanked Ms. Lachmayr for her time.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Final Water Rate Report Review.

Cost of service Report. Mr. Jones asked what does the Cost of Service charge of 16.73 for

unmetered represent? What about a 2" Fire Sprinkler for $9.53, is that the only charge this

customer will receive? Chairman Lynch said he believes the chart is showing what the rate

structure is currently.

Discussion of the rate structure resulted in a few suggestions. One idea is to reduce the minimum

water from 3,333 gallons to 2,000 gallons per month. Another idea would be to eliminate the

gallon minimum and to charge for the first gallon plus used.

Mr. Ball said it would be helpful to know how much flushing is done by season and what

fraction is of the total usage. Chairman Lynch asked Mr. Duarte to get that information. Mr.

Twefik said that flushing is performed to maintain the chemistry of the water and the integrity of

the pipes, therefore flushing is necessary.

The Authority would like to see the flushed water used in something like pools rather than go

into the ground. This would be better for the environment.

Mr. Ball requested a spreadsheet to include commercial vs. residential charges and addresses for

apartments and multiple use. Chairman Lynch will request this information.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Review of Groton Utilities Data on New Rate Structure Proposal.

Any Other Old Business to come before the Authority.

None.

IX.

NEW BUSINESS

Habitat for Humanity Proposal.

Before introducing Sarah Lufler, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Chairman Lynch

explained that the proposed site is on Colby Drive and is not a part of SCWA region of service,

therefore the WPCA will serve Habitat water and sewer. He added that it is his understanding

that this would be the largest proposed habitat for Humanity development in the State of

Connecticut, which Ms. Lufler confirmed.

Sarah Lufler, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity presented an affordable/housing

conceptual plan. She started by saying that Habitat owns approximately 13 acres between Colby

Drive and Colonel Ledyard Highway. It was donated many years ago by the Simon Konover

Company. Habitat has been working on a conceptual plan that would propose building 35-40

homes on Colby Drive which would be sold with affordable mortgages. There would be

combinations of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms, both single and multi-family homes. Ms. Lufler said to

push the plan into motion she is seeking the WPCA's approval to proceed with the conceptual

development. Ms. Lufler asked for comments from the Commissioners. Chairman Lynch said

the WPCA definitely has the water capacity and he doesn't expect the sewer to be very

impactful. Mr. Juber asked about a pump station, Ms. Lufler said the plan would be to put a

pump station at the bend of the road. Ms. Lufler asked about fire hydrants, Chairman Lynch said

to budget for approximately four hydrants but the number of hydrants would be dictated by the

Fire Marshal. Ms. Lufler said that although affordable apartments and rentals are wonderful,

there is something special about home ownership. Chairman Lynch said that towards the end of

the approval process with Planning and Zoning Habitat will need to sign a water main extension

agreement with the WPCA. Mr. Capon asked what the time frame is. Ms. Lufler said that 40%

of the planning will need to be completed by October 2024. The plan is to build the houses in

phases with about 4-5 phases with 6-8 houses in each phase. Mr. Juber commented that it could

be 10 or more years of work, Ms. Lufler agreed. Chairman Lynch thanked Ms. Lufler for her

time and wished her luck on the venture.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Any Other New Business to come before the Authority.

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 8:18

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Wadecki Lynch

Norris

AYE

EXCUSED

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.