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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRea's Pond Thibodeau Letter TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS 384 OSGOOD STREET NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS 01845-2909 BRUCE D.THIBODEAU,P.E. DIRECTOR Telephotie (978) 685-0950 Fax(978) 688-9573 March 27, 2015 Ms. Jennifer Hughes, Conservation Administrator Town of North Andover Conservation Commission 1600 Osgood Street, Suite 2035 North Andover, MA 01845 Re: Rea's Pond Pump Station Construction Project, Preservation and Protection of Public Water Supply at Lake Cochichewick, Source ID: 321000-02S Dear Ms. Hughes: As you know,the Director of Public Works is given jurisdiction by the Board of Selectman over the Town's public drinking water system. In that capacity I have determined that the pending Rea's Pond Wastewater Pump Station Project is essential to the long-term preservation and protection of the public water supply at Lake Cochichewick. With the current pump station in its present location,the public water supply is susceptible to contamination based on a number of details explained in this letter. The current Rea's Pond Wastewater Pump Station Project is essential to protect the Town's drinking water supply at the Lake and a Stormwater Infiltration BMP at the new location is appropriate and necessary for final permitting approval. The Public Works Division has been working for a number of years to evaluate options for reducing the risk of contaminating the water supply reservoir with raw wastewater. The Rea's Pond Pump Station Hazard Mitigation Analysis (HMA) was completed in March of 2012. The HMA recommended that the Town construct a new pump station with additional storage and pumping capacity and perform downstream sewer capacity improvements. The study concluded that the existing pump station should be demolished and a new pump station constructed at a higher elevation at the site to mitigate the potential for wastewater to contaminate the adjacent public water supply during a flood event or a pump failure at the station. Construction of a new pump station at a higher elevation on the site will reduce the likelihood of the station being inundated by water during a flood event. Installation of new, appropriately sized pumps with backup power will reduce the likelihood of a failure of the system that could result in surcharging of wastewater at the pump station and the resultant sanitary sewer overflow(SSO). The current Project will address these issues and provide the long-term preservation and protection of the water resources in the area. To:J.Hughes March 27,2015 Page 2 of 2 Further, a Stormwater Infiltration Best Management Practice(BMP)on the proposed new site is necessary in order to meet appropriate standards and new permitting mandates. The proposed new pump station is outside of the 50-foot no build zone, outside of the 100-Year Flood Plain,as well as technically superior in all aspects,and will serve to provide the preservation and protection to the public water that does not exist with the current station. In summary,based on the vital importance of this Project in protecting the public drinking water supply in Town from threat of contamination, I determined that the pending Rea's Pond Wastewater Pump Station Project is essential to the long-term preservation and protection of the public water supply at Lake Cochichewick and request that a Stormwater Infiltration BMP be approved to further support the overall environmental aspects of this project. A new, upgraded Rea's Pond Wastewater Pump Station will assure protection of the Town's most valuable water resources asset, Lake Cochichewick. Sincerely, Bruce D.Thibodeau,P.E. Director cc: Tim Willett, Operations Manager Jack Troidl, W&C