Water and sewer rates have not been raised since 2009 and are projected to remain flat through 2019.
That is what you can see being done in the open, but under the roof and behind the walls, there is a lot more improvements taking place as we write. All the work being done is divided into contracts.
Contract 1: Security system at the Water Treatment Facility (WTF), which includes video cameras and software, was completed on September 2013.
Contract 2: Water Treatment Facility and Pump Station Upgrades which includes new raw and finished water pumps, clarifier enclosure, roofing, HVAC and SCADA upgrades. Estimated completion date is November 2014.
Contract 3: Includes all referent to the Solar Panels mentioned above.
Contract 4: Included in the project is the ongoing installation of 8,000 small residential water meters with an estimated completion date of December 2014.
Contract 5: Includes improvements done outside, in the streets, such as valve replacement, water main cleaning and lining and water main replacement. In total, 44 valves will be replaced. Approximately 2,800 ft of water main has been cleaned and lined on Park Street. Also on Park St, Monmouth and Graichen Streets, 775ft of water main was replaced.
After all this work is done, the Water and Sewer Department projects an Annual Revenue and Savings as follows: Water Treatment Plant Chemicals, $400,000; Optimizing Water Treatment Plant, $300,000; New Water Meters, $1,300,000; New Solar Panels, $120,000, New Finished Water pumps, $90,000; Principal Forgiveness, $115,000. Total Revenue and Savings: $2,325,00.
On October 1st, this month, after a dramatic power point presentation before the Lawrence City Councilors by John Isensee, DPW Director, the Councilors approved by 7-0 to borrow $23,795.00 from the State to be used to improved water flows through more than 100 miles of underground clogged with rust pipes that have not been cleaned in more than 70 years.
The vote came after Water & Sewer Commissioner Robert Fazio assured the council that the loan can be repaid without raising water rates. Fazio plans to use the surplus in his budget which he expect to grow to $9M and the planned savings from the implementation of the Water and Sewer Department new projects, projected to be as much as $2,325,00 a year.
That night, in a separate 7-0 vote the council agreed to borrow $1.9 million more to improve the Sewer System. This system will prevent storm water to mix with sewage collection increasing the cost of treating waste water at the regional treatment plant in North Andover, told acting Public Works Director John Isensee to the council.
At a cost of $26 million, the plant went into operations on April 3, 2007. During the first two weeks, it was cited by the State for violating safe drinking water regulations.
“From April 4, 2007 through April 17, 2007 the new plant was operated without any chlorine dioxide or chlorite testing equipment and the required daily samples for chlorine dioxide and chlorite were not taken,” the report said.
Although there were no reports of anybody getting sick, the situation was addressed. The city was fined $6,000 but payment was suspended provided that the city complied with certain demands such as employing qualified engineers on a consultant basis to assist in operating the new plant 24 hours a day and to train operators of the new plant.
As a result, Woodard & Curran of Andover was hired to operate the plant. Since, we have not had any more problems with the water or the plant.
