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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCanoe River Comm Minutes 04/04/2013i t- i r �,� -1,* ED Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Coiiit i�t ' 'e CD,'IFrICE Meeting Minutes N�: 52 April 4, 2013 Minutes of the meeting held by the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee on Thursday dpfl 4' 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in the Gala Meeting Room, Foxborough Town Hall, Foxborough, MA 02035. Members Present: Wayne P. Southworth, Easton; Janice Fowler, Easton; John Fresh, Jr., Easton; Joan F. Sozio, Foxborough; Robert Worthley, Foxborough; Robert Boette, Foxborough; Leonard Flynn, Mansfield; John Shannon, Mansfield; Ed Tartufo, Mansfield; Jenn Carlino, Norton; Jon Rowe, Norton; Dave Masciarelli, Sharon Others Present: Adrienne Edwards, GIS Specialist, Easton Call to Order— The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by Wayne Southworth. IL Review Minutes of February 7, 2013 — Minor changes were noted by Jenn Canino. John Fresh motioned to accept the minutes of February 7, 2013 as amended. Bob Boette seconded the motion. The minutes of February 7, 2013 were unanimously accepted. III. Community Spotlight: Foxborough - Robert Worthley, Water Superintendent Each member community of the CRAAC has been asked to discuss the adequacy of its water supply. Last meeting, the Town of Sharon was highlighted. Bob Worthley discussed Foxborough's situation. He explained that Foxborough currently has had issues with high levels of iron and manganese. The town has miles of unlined cast Iron pipe. In the past, when new pipe was put In, the old pipes were also kept in service. The town used orthophosphate to sequester these minerals, but this was not the best chemical for preventing corrosion release. When the flow patterns in town were changed, due to wells being shut down for installation of a treatment plant, the amount of sediment in the water increased dramatically. B. Worthley learned that the city of Boston, which has a large number of older cast iron pipes, adds a polyphosphate to sequester iron and manganese, and he requested permission from the State to change Foxborough's chemical additive to polyphosphate. This has improved the water quality. Flow studies are also being conducted to create a hydraulic model for the system. This summer, four wells will still be down on Oak Street, and, at the same time, the State has put limitations on the amount that can be pumped at Witch Pond. This will put the Town of Foxborough in a tight situation when it comes to its water supply this summer. J. Sozio said that perhaps emergency bans might need to be put in place. B, Worthley also noted that a recent Sanitary Survey showed that the Town's 1 million gallon tank is in dire condition. To get the water supply system to its ideal condition, 80 -90 million dollars in infrastructure improvements would be needed. Although it is possible that there may be potential water available from bedrock wells, the official Interbasin Transfer Permit for Witch Pond states that there are no other viable water sources. Dave Masciarelli said that Sharon's Well #6 is high in iron and manganese, so a treatment plant there will eventually need to be built. Fortunately, Sharon's biggest producing well does not have an iron and manganese issue. Wayne Southworth noted that with the newly- defined contaminant levels for manganese, many communities will have to treat their water. IV. Open Space — Greenbelt Jon Rowe noted that the Norton Land Preservation Society has a verbal agreement for the acquisition of 25 contiguous acres near the intersection of Route 123 and Route 495. The acquisition of 18 acres in Mansfield located in the greenbelt area is currently in the works. Jenn Cariino will once again try for a land grant for the Ericson parcel. V. Annual Awareness Day— May 18, 2013 The Annual Awareness Day will take place on May 18, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Mansfield Fish and Game, behind the Mansfield DPW garage on Route 106. The entrance is down a gravel driveway to the right of the garage. Ed Tartufo was thanked for his efforts in getting this arranged. Canoes will be available courtesy of the Easton Recreation Committee. J. Fresh will bring canoes. Set -up for the event will begin at 9:00 a.m. There will be light refreshments, and this year, there will be no speakers, so that attendees can use the time to fully enjoy the river. E. Tartufo suggested stocking the river with trout. J. Fresh suggested a symbolic release of trout in the future, perhaps during April vacation week. He will get in touch with Steve Hurley to see if he can help with this. The Plymouth County Water Works Association will be contacted to see if they would be willing to provide refreshments for the event. V. New Business - Jon Rowe suggested that the CRAAC consider getting a table at Norton's Founders' Day Picnic on June 22, 2013. The Land Preservation Society will have a table there. If the CRAAC is not interested in getting its own table, perhaps the Land Preservation Society might be willing to hand out CRAAC informational flyers at its table. This will be put on the next agenda. Members were asked to consider the idea of creating a CRAAC Merit Badge for Scouts to earn Dave Masciarelli has recently been appointed by the Department of Environmental Protection to the State Drinking Water Act Assessment Advisory Committee, representing the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee. The next meeting of the CRAAC will take place on June 6, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in the Norton Selectmen's office. Vi. Meeting Adjourned - W. Southworth accepted a motion from J. Fresh to adjourn the meeting. B. Boette seconded the motion. The Committee voted unanimously to adjourn its meeting. The meeting adjourned at 2:16 p.m.