Call for Water

  I

When thirsty, your body signals a call for water

A turn of the faucet, or a flush of the toilet, starts a call for water

The signal may require a long walk, to the well, or stream,

To return with a full yellow container to answer the call for water

The faucet at the sink will start the flow through the pipes

in the house, the street, pump, or water tower to answer the call for water

When the hot water faucet is turned, the water flows under pressure,

with a diversion through heating coils, to answer the call for water

When the toilet is flushed, the water flows carrying the refuse liquid

and, or solid, before refilling the device in the call for water

The refuse, liquid and solid, moves through gravity flow pipes

to get processed before returning to the stream to answer the call for water

  II

Science tells us human males are about 60% water, females about 55%,

which shows why we need to respond to the call for water

The earth's surface is about 70% water but 97% of that is salt water

requiring treatment before answering the call for water

We have to take care of the 3% fresh water, use it as needed,

conserve it to help with the call for water

Science can help determine a good economic process

for conversion of salt water to better answer the call for water

We need to foster those scientific efforts, and trust the science,

as it evolves to provide a solution to the call for water

There are those among us near and far, who need shorter walks,

or better access, to answer the call for water

So Sherlock, are you all wet yet? Or will you help Frank,

and Lynn when they initiate their call for water?

-------------

originally shared at quietpoet.com/

https://www.quietpoet.com/2023/12/call-for-water.html

During 2021, I was able to record a three-part series on the Franklin water system. My conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent has aged well. Some of the numbers may change but the overall process we review doesn't change much.

The three-part audio series can be found here ->

• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/fm-588-franklin-ma-dpw-water-series.html
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/fm-589-franklin-ma-dpw-water-series.html
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/fm-590-franklin-ma-dpw-water-series.html

three-part series on the Franklin water system

During 2023, I was able to record a three-part series on the sewer side of the business. Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent, joined me again as we talked about the flushing side of the side handling our waste water.

• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer.html
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer_02109748944.html
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer_0306615856.html

Construction of the Beaver Street Interceptor. The houses in background are West Central Street, Panther Way area.

Franklin receives $110K from Mass DEP Gap Energy Grant Program

Franklin to receive $110K for "Replacing existing pumps & installing variable frequency drives at the Grove Street #1 and 2, and Milliken wastewater lift stations" as part of this Gap Energy Grant Program

Press release from Mass DEP:

In a continuing effort to support a more sustainable Commonwealth, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced $8.1 million in grants through the Gap Energy Grant Program to help water facilities, non-profits and small businesses reduce energy use, increase energy efficiency, and generate renewable energy. The Gap Energy Grants are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), which operates the initiative under its Clean Energy Results Program. By filling the “gap” in project financing, these grants are made possible through the Climate Protection and Mitigation Expendable Trust and enable its recipients to use utility incentives and funds from other sources to build or install energy efficiency and clean energy projects. This year, the 63 recipients receiving the grants represent three sectors in the state: municipal water facilities; non-profit multi-family affordable housing organizations; and agricultural and food-producing non-profits and small businesses. 

“Assisting municipalities, small businesses and non-profit organizations to proactively work to reduce their energy usage and utilize clean, renewable energy is among our top environmental priorities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These Gap Energy Grant Program funds will greatly assist these municipalities and organizations as they work to improve efficiency, reduce energy use, and generate clean energy to produce immediate and long-term energy savings and contribute to the state’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.” 

“The Gap Energy Grant Program enables municipal water utilities and other organizations to leverage critical sources of funding, including energy efficiency incentives from electrical utilities, to fully implement energy saving measures,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Importantly, with lower energy bills, these entities can reinvest their operational cost savings into their facilities and organizational missions.”

These 63 grant awards will support more than 100 projects that are to be completed by the end of 2024. The projects are anticipated to generate more than 9,000 megawatt hours (MWh) in annual electricity savings or onsite generation of clean energy, sufficient to power more than 250 households and reduce carbon emissions by 3,359 metric tons. Overall, the grantees expect to have an estimated annual savings of up to $1,642,963. Examples of awardees include:

• The City of Pittsfield Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is one of the 41 water-utility facilities receiving grants, will use its grant for its clean energy Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generation project that is expected to save the city over $500,000 annually while reducing electric utility bills by 35 percent; 
• The Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation is one of 12 multi-family affordable housing non-profit organizations receiving the Gap grant. The organization plans to use the funding to install a 97-kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar photovoltaic system at five affordable housing buildings, containing 53 units, in Allston;
• The Cambridge Community Center is among seven non-profit food organizations awarded a grant, and will use funding for its food pantry to install a 103.2-kW resilient power microgrid system, consisting of 43.2-kW rooftop solar photovoltaic and a 60-kW combination battery power and biodiesel generator system; and
• Elliot Farm LLC in Lakeville, one of three agriculturally focused small businesses receiving awards, to install a 68.4 kW solar photovoltaic and battery storage system with an Active Demand Response program with Eversource.

“Massachusetts is a national leader in energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy, which the one-of-a-kind Gap Energy Grant Program furthers our collective efforts and delivers beneficial results across the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “These critical grants provide a positive return on investment, not only for the organizations receiving funding, but also for the state, energy utilities, and the public.”

“Based on the success of the Gap Energy Grant Program over the last decade, MassDEP is pleased to expand the program to non-profit multi-family affordable housing and non-profit agricultural and food distribution entities,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “These entities, like municipal water utilities, can be limited by funding in accessing deep energy savings and renewable energy opportunities through energy improvements. The non-profit organizations that we are funding with a Gap Energy grant will now be able to reduce energy costs and reinvest those savings into their programs, which serve many of the most vulnerable and needy in our state.”

This year marks the first time that the Gap Energy Grant Program has extended its reach to include non-profit organizations and small businesses. In 2018, the second round of Gap Energy grants awarded 43 drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities $4 million, subsequently funding 36 energy projects that are saving facilities $1.3 million annually and generating approximately 9,580 MWh in annual electricity savings or on-site clean energy generation. In 2014, the first round of Gap Energy grants included awards to 21 water and wastewater facilities of more than $1.7 million for 30 projects that have generated enough electricity to fully heat and power nearly 900 Massachusetts homes each year for 15 years.

“In our efforts to mitigate the climate crisis, pursuing energy efficient initiatives is a critical component to reducing carbon emissions,” said State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “I am thrilled that water facilities in Edgartown, Orleans, and Yarmouth as well as housing-focused non-profits on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard will receive monies from the Gap Energy Grant Program that will help fund local projects that further our community’s clean energy journey.”

“Elliot Farm is a fantastic small business in Lakeville that has continued to evolve and grow,” said State Senator Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I congratulate Elliot Farm as a recipient of the Massachusetts Gap Energy Grant Program and thank them for being a model business that is demonstrating how to grow a business, be energy efficient, and contribute to a healthier planet.”

For a full list of grant awardees funded by the Gap Energy grants by sector, please visit MassDEP’s webpage.

MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities served by the agency.

shared from -> https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-awards-81-million-in-gap-energy-grants-to-63-organizations-and-municipal-facilities

Grant award listing -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-gap-iii-energy-grant-awardees/download 

sign at the East Central lift station although not part of this award

“Imagine what we can learn”

"When talking with entrepreneurs Mariana Matus and Newsha Ghaeli about poop, things can veer into the philosophical.

“The behavior of a city is imprinted in its sewage,” Ghaeli says. “It’s like the fingerprints of our health.”

Their company, Biobot Analytics, has met the pandemic moment. What started as a research idea at MIT, focusing on how waste water data can help mitigate the spread of disease, has turned into something bigger. Now, it’s a fast-growing startup — with over 65 employees and millions in funding — that has contracted with over 700 towns, across every state in the country, to study their sewage and help policy makers predict how bad the coronavirus could get in their communities."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/20/business/cambridge-startup-tracking-covid-americas-poop/

Mariana Matus, cofounder and CEO of Biobot Analytics.ERIN CLARK/GLOBE STAFF

"virus traces in the waste water have risen extremely fast over the last three weeks"

"Levels of coronavirus detected in Boston-area waste water have reached new highs, with seven-day averages that shatter previous record-breaking levels.

On Dec. 29, the seven-day average of virus traces in the waste water in the southern sample of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s territory was 8,164 RNA copies/mL. That’s up from 2,574 RNA copies/mL on Dec. 23, meaning the average has more than tripled in the last six days.

Waste-water testing serves as an early warning sign for a COVID-19 surge. Cambridge-based Biobot Analytics, which tests the waste water coming into MWRA’s Deer Island treatment plant, has said it has found the amount of virus in the waste water is correlated with newly diagnosed coronavirus cases four to 10 days later."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/31/nation/coronavirus-detected-boston-area-waste-water-reaches-startling-new-highs/

Test results from MWRA’s pilot study to track waste water at the Deer Island treatment plant for indicators of COVID-19 infection.MASSACHUSETTS WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY

Charles River Watershed Association: new issue of "River Current"

Charles River Watershed Association (@charlesriver) tweeted at 8:46 PM on Sun, Aug 30, 2020:

"Did you catch our August issue of the River Current? It's packed with the latest on I-90, cyanobacteria bloom news, a farewell to summer interns, and more! "

River Current = https://t.co/ClVmKXX8RV 

Charles River tweet with link = https://t.co/bMCuBgeFOh

Charles River Watershed Association

#ThinkBlueFranklin - a campaign for stormwater awareness - begins week of July 20

"Coming next week! Stay tuned to learn how to participate and enter to win great prizes!!!! @waterwords #stormwater #learn #educate #fun #cleanerwater #thinkbluefranklin"

#ThinkBlueFranklin - a campaign for stormwater awareness - begins week of July 20

Franklin radar picked this up via Twitter
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1282733373430145024?s=09

"it’s something they should be aware of”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"When determining if a beach is safe for swimming, local health departments and state officials measure levels of the bacteria enterococcus, which typically makes its way into marine water through fecal matter. High levels of enterococci in ocean water are a red flag that the water may also contain other disease-inducing microbes, which is why it is referred to as an “indicator” bacteria.

This is why beaches are often closed after heavy rainstorms — rain that isn’t absorbed into the soil or diverted can pick up fecal matter from pets and wild animals and flow it into the ocean.

“Stormwater is a major culprit for beach closures related to fecal bacteria,” said Bethany Traverse, coordinator of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment’s beach water testing program. “In any populated area, you have roadways and other infrastructure that affect the flow of contaminated water into the surrounding water bodies. When it rains, a lot of water is diverted into storm drains and away from bathing areas. But it’s not perfect; bird and animal waste will make its way into the water and storm water helps it get there in a rapid ‘flush.’”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190813/just-how-much-waste-is-in-that-water-youre-swimming-in/1

The full Environment America report
https://environmentamerica.org/feature/ame/safe-swimming

More than half of the thousands of beach sites sampled for bacteria across the country were potentially unsafe for swimming on at least one day in 2018

Town Council meeting recap - follow the water!

The most significant take away from the Town Council meeting on Wednesday was the overview on the water situation for Franklin. We get all our water from the underground aquifer. Very interesting stats and details on how we get it, how it is treated before we use it and where it goes after we have used it (via sewer to the Charles River Treatment plant in Medway).

Some big expenses coming down the road. A water treatment plant is needed for Wells 3 and 6 or we would see this in our faucets (slide 35 from the presentation below):

Well 6 is underutilized as it has too much iron and manganese in it

The water treatment plant needed for Wells 3 and 6 (slide 37) is estimated at $6M. This is starting to be planned for now and would likely begin in a couple of years.

Replacement of the Beaver St connector is more expensive and would cost approx $15-20M. The connector was built in 1910 and carries most of Franklin's waste to the Charles River plant in Medway (page 5 of the presentation below).

I highly recommend listening to this presentation and discussion about the proposed inclusion of private wells in the future water ban restrictions. Not, the normal conservation effort only the water ban (if declared). 

It begins approx. 25 minutes into the video and runs for over an hour.

Franklin DPW Water Presentation from Franklin Matters

The video replay of the Town Council meeting of Feb 15, 2017 can be found here
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=433

The Actions Taken by the Town Council can be found here
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_february_15_2017.pdf

My notes reported live during the meeting can be found here

• Live reporting: Closing
• Live reporting: Water update
• Live reporting: Storage Facility
• Live Reporting: Town Council Meeting - Feb 15, 201...
• 
  

"We're not a water ban town, we're a conservation town"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A provision that would add private well owners to the town's outside water bans elicited discussion at a Wednesday night Town Council meeting. 

The matter was raised by Department of Public Works officials after a presentation on the town's water system. Water and Sewer Superintendent Laurie Ruszala said the bylaw would only take effect during a full water ban. 

DPW Director Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi said other towns had implemented such a provision. 

"We're all in this together," he said. "We're sharing the same water supply."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170216/franklin-council-considers-adding-well-owners-to-water-bans

My notes from the Water Update section of the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/02/live-reporting-water-update.html

The notes will be updated to include the presentation when it is made available later today.

slide showing average daily pumping (bars) versus population (line) since 2001

Live reporting: Water update

DPW Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi
Water Superintendent Laurie Ruszala

(hopefully presentation doc to be added later)

Franklin DPW Water Presentation from Franklin Matters

You can also find the copy on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/public-works/news/town-council-presentation-water-system-2152017


cost estimate to replace Beaver St Connector would be about $10-20M

every gallon we don't send to the Charles River treatment plant we save money on

challenging the MS4 permits with a consortium of communities

reconstruction of retention ponds; for example, Lockewood Dr

DPW built the retention basis on Lockewood

permit requires less than 65 gal/person per day

since 2001 fixed 750 leaks to water system

when the ban went into effect, for the most part people did obey and our pumping dropped

photo to be added of the raw water before treatment is astounding

$6M for a new treatment plant for wells 3 and 6 coming down the road (soon)
wells are close to each other so they can be pumped together and use one treatment plant for both

Populatic St has a site that hasn't been fully approved, we are not asking for more water, we are asking for flexibility to pull from other areas within the Town

3 and 6 are registered wells and pre-date the permitting process

permitted for 3.45 reduced to 3.14 MGD

received a number of grants, right behind the City of Worcester which is amazing

Pfeffer - How soon do we need the treatment plant?
Cantoreggi - soon, but not tomorrow, working on the numbers, 2-3 years to be online
Nutting - need to fund within 12-18 months

Padula - do we get any recapture? what is infiltration?
Cantoreggi - Charles River not capable of sending the water back to us. We can show through sewer and water conservation what we are doing but they can't show the improvements as it goes into the Charles

Jones - thanks for bringing this forward, how has our conditions to improve?
Ruszala - no, it takes time for the water to get into the ground

Jones - I think we need to get the treatment plant underway
Ruszala - we are getting better readings with the new meters, old readers fail and read low, folks only call when the meter reads high

Jones - what is your opinion on current capacity?
Cantoreggi - we are not at peak, we have decent daily flows, the peaks are what can hurt us. Supporting the fire flow is our concern, Schedule work for May as our wettest time of year and what happened last year, the drought came when we were doing work on some of our key producing wells.

Dellorco - we need to be cautious, with well 6 back online that would help
Ruszala - we need to change the pumps and well field to regain the full capacity of 3 and 6

Nutting - once we get the price we'll get a 20 year bond and get a rate increase, could be a 10-15% increase in the cost. At the end of the day, water is the most important thing. It could be 8 years between rate increases

Nutting - some home son Green St, and some off Populatic. Norfolk collects and pays our rate.

Sewer gets a flat rate for those with private wells

Sewer bill is based upon the water use, simple mathematics calculations

At one time, we had a permit to purchase water from Millis?
It would cost us significant to do so; we don't have the right, They can sell to us

most under our control is treatment plant in
second is to add a new well, could cost a $1m to have someone say no
third would be to spend money to add infrastructure to purchase from Millis


Water restrictions
Ruszala - to include private wells for a severe drought
over a thousand registered wells in Franklin
about 225 are for irrigation only
would only impact the private users during the full ban

Cantoreggi
when we go to a full band, we should have them join us, we are all drawing from the same aquifer, no matter the depth of the well, same aquifer

what is more important, the grass or the drinking water?

had a drought in 2007, so this is the second time
conservation, not a water ban

John Redwine, 9 Mapletree Lane
I understand it is the good for everyone, once you start hard to know when it will stop

Allen,
also private well owner, agree wholeheartedly, happy to know just the ban not the restriction
exception from the provision for the golf course
also an exemption for the Town, mis-aligned public valued
lawn versus irrigation discrepancies

I worry about the horticulture, the things that help the oxygenation we use
worry about the whole system effect, a fundamental balance
not creating a false comfort
2 things would love to see more about irrigation systems
many not following water sense system
moving thought process within the Town

Franklin Country Club gets their irrigation water from Wrentham
they have their own permits with the State

regarding exemptions for the Town, we did stop watering the fields
there are fields that for player safety that are watered
we also do have water sense systems

Kit Brady
really appreciate the work
wasn't aware of the facts
I don't consider us part of the water problem but part of the solution
as we are not effecting the problem, not convinced that the private wells are drawing from a common aquifer; private wells drilled at a different depth, has someone that diagram
not a hydroligist did research in the last couple of days
MA law reference
do see plenty of lawns that are wet in the mornings that could be enforced to help with compliance

Patalano, 11 Newall Drive
don't think it is necessary to regulate 225 wells

Bissanti
a drop in the bucket, I don't see enforcement
history of the wells in Franklin, a blunderous decision in 89-90 had to put in wells
expensive to maintain, irrigation system but stopped use and saves on landscaping as lawn cuts less frequently

Ruszala -
the main complaint, was how do they get water and I don't

Dellorco
I got caught up in the water moratorium too, I spent over $10K, and a recent $2500 for a new pump

Jones
the most simplistic way to put this, it is almost unmanageable, what this boils down to is what folks should and shouldn't do; folks have a clearer idea after tonight
everybody get on board with a basic understanding on what to do if we have a repeat of what happened last summer
a significant drought would be a public health issue

We have moved to a moderate level, it is recovering and the snow hasn't got there yet, but there is improvement

Bissanti - is there a rule about owning down and up
Cerel - other town have done this, it can be done. Owner rights are seldom absolute. It is an oversimplification

Would anyone object to posting that you have a well?
I think we can regulate a new irrigation system for better usage

DPW - we do water enforcement, we do public education, we do warning and we did one fine
we Google maps from neighbors, I don't like being water police and snow police but we do do that, we are active, more education than fining

Cerel - the bylaw is a re-write so even if we omit the privcate wells, it should go fardward

Don't flush Swiffers!

From the DPW Water and Sewer page:

Paper towels, disposable wipes, washcloths and rags are becoming more and more of a problem for sewer systems with the increase in "disposable" wipes.  These wipes may be disposable but that does not make them flushable!   

Please do not flush swiffer wipes, baby wipes, diapers, disposable toilet bowl cleaners or any other non-toilet paper product.  These items cause major problems in our sewer pumps and we are not alone.  As discussed in a USA Today article tilted "Wipes in the Pipes Snarling Sewers", this issue is is affecting sewer systems across the country.  So please do your part and don't flush wipes!

swiffers removed from Franklin's pump station

What does happen to the water you flush?




You can also find the treatment process with this interactive webpage
http://www.wef.org/flash/gowiththeflow_english/theflow.htm

Franklin Annual Report 2014: Charles River Pollution Control District

While the Pond St property has been in the news recently with the RFP and intention to sell it, its original use was as the sewer treatment plant for Franklin. Franklin is part of the Charles River Pollution Control District which handles our wastewater treatment.



During Fiscal Year 2014, the Charles River Pollution Control District’s (District) regional advanced wastewater treatment facility received and treated approximately 1,370 million gallons (3.75 million gallons per day) of raw wastewater, including 7.0 million gallons of septage from the District’s member and customer towns before discharge to the Charles River. The volume of waste treated was lower than the previous year due to a decrease in precipitation.

The District is anticipating the renewal process to begin for its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for discharge of its treated wastewater to the Charles River. Under the preliminary draft NPDES permit, the District and the Towns of Franklin, Medway, Millis, and Bellingham will have to maintain an ongoing preventive maintenance program to prevent overflows and bypasses caused by malfunctions or failures of the sewer system and an infiltration and inflow reduction program. In addition, the new limit for phosphorus is being reduced from 0.2 mg/L to 0.1 mg/L in the summer months and a winter limit of 0.3 mg/L is being added.

The District conducted an Infiltration and Inflow Study in 2013, with CDM Smith, to identify areas of the District’s interceptors that will need further investigation and repair. The study modeled flow through the interceptors, groundwater elevations and rainfall data during the spring and summer months (wet and dry periods).

This summer, the District will be investigating the manholes in a portion of its interceptors to determine each manhole’s condition. CDM Smith and staff from the District prepared a 20-year capital improvement plan (CIP) to improve the wastewater treatment facility to meet more stringent NPDES permitting requirements and provide a more reliable wastewater treatment facility at its current capacity.

In July 2010, the District was informed of its acceptance on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) Bureau of Resource Protection Calendar Year 2010 Intended Use List for State Revolving Funding (SRF). In order to expedite the designs and proceed with the project in a timely manner, the CIP was divided into three phases (A, B and C).

• Phase A, which was completed in December 2013, included the replacement of both primary clarifier mechanisms, addition of two screenings washer/compactors in the wet well, primary scum handling improvements, and plant lighting and security improvements.
• Phase B, the capping of the on-site residuals landfill, was completed in August 2013.
• Phase C, focuses on improving phosphorus removal, replacing the disinfection system, and extending the life of the facility for an additional 20 years. This phase is currently under construction. It is expected that construction will last about 2.5 years. A District-wide Global Information System was developed as part of this phase to assist with infiltration and inflow reduction requirements.

The District funded Phases A and B with a 20- year State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan of approximately $3.5M for costs associated with bidding, construction, and resident engineering. Phase C costs will be funded through separate SRF loans of approximately $24.5M, which includes bidding, construction, and resident engineering. Ineligible costs (i.e. design of Phase C) for SRF loans will be funded by a General Obligation Bond of approximately $1.95M.

The District is one of seven municipal wastewater treatment plants selected by the Mass DEP to participate in a pilot program that involves energy auditing, assessments for renewable and clean energy possibilities, and support of implementation for energy related projects. The purpose of this pilot program is to reduce the amount of energy used at municipal wastewater treatment plants by 20%, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving municipalities money.

The District was granted $847,583 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to install a 20 kW solar voltaic array and two turbo style blowers. The solar panels will produce energy onsite whereas the turbo blowers will provide oxygen to the secondary treatment system using approximately 30% less power than the existing blowers. The District is anticipating a 20% reduction in energy costs from these energy improvements. At this time, the solar voltaic array has produced over 70,000 kw over the last 3.5 years and the turbo blowers are the main source of air to the activated sludge process.

The District’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget is 13.4% higher than the previous years’ budget. The District’s FY 2015 budget for operations and maintenance is $3,151,720, while the capital projects budget is $1,018,300. Franklin’s share of the operation and maintenance and capital projects budgets are estimated to be $1,652,000 and $620,730, respectively.

Respectively submitted
Douglas M. Downing, Chairman (Medway)
William J. Goode, Jr., Vice-Chairman (Franklin)
Alfred H. Wahlers, Clerk, (Franklin)
Paul J. DeSimone (Medway)
Gene Guidi, (Franklin)

CRPCD Officers:
Elizabeth Schreiber, P.E., Executive Director
Emma J. Catalano, Treasurer
Barbara Maffeo, Executive Secretary
Cornetta, Ficco & Simmler, Legal Counsel

Franklin Municipal Building

The full annual report can be obtained from the Town Clerk's office (hard copy) or viewed and/or downloaded from the Franklin website here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2014report.pdf

Annual reports of prior years can also be found online at
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/

Spruce Pond - Building Blue

The Charles River Watershed Association presentation on Monday evening (May 24) covered a study of the Spruce Pond area in Franklin. Spruce Pond is visible along King St and runs above ground behind Parmenter and portions eventually run in an underground culvert through the Fletcher St fields on their way to Mine Brook and eventually to the Charles River.

Background information on the project can be found on the CRWA page here
http://www.crwa.org/projects/blue_franklin.html

The map above outlines in the yellowish lines the area of the study along Spruce Pond and related streams.

Some of the work scheduled to be done this summer as Wachusetts St is rebuilt will include some waste water treatment on the grounds of the Parmenter School. Some of the run off from the street will flow into a rain garden on the grassy area in front of the school.

-------
Yes, the meeting was broadcast but the recording failed so it is not available for review. The presentation document is available here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/spruce-pond-building-blue-presentation.html


Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Charles River Pollution Control

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

• Charles River Pollution Control District

Per Jeff, won't be a rate increase for Franklin based upon what we have already planned for

The presentation: (thanks to Elaine Sistare for sending it)

Charles River Pollution Control District - Presentation 2/5/09

View more presentations from Steve Sherlock. (tags: sewer pollution)

Presenting:
Doug Downing
Al Wallace, Franklin representative
Elaine Sistaire

Also present:
Pat Hughes
Bob McRae
Paul Disimone (?), Medway rep

Significant budget increases due to

• Capital
• Salary and benefits
• Chemical costs
• Maintenance Costs

$490,000 over the Prop 2 1/2 increase

Franklin's portion of the operation is
68.2% - Operations & Maintenance wastewater assessment
67% - capital wastewater assessment

Nutting - the Council did vote for this in 1989, a couple of conflicts in advice have come in today so we are double checking with DOR. It may be back before you for a vote.

Actual plant capacity - 5.7 Million gallons per day

Franklin as part owner has excess capacity, we may be able to sell our excess capacity to generate additional revenue

The cost increase for Franklin's share would be a 20% increase over what we have as an assessment today. We do have time to plan for it per Jeff as this would only kick in for 2015 and beyond.

If we did not get into compliance, there would be a daily fine, approx $25,000 per day. Therefore it would not be an option to not be in compliance.