The Bradford City Water Authority heard an update on the ongoing
Marilla Dam rehabilitation project, as well as plans for future
rehabilitation needs for the other two reservoirs at Tuesday’s
regular meeting.
Authority Executive Director Kim Benjamin said that the probable
best case scenario was that Cummins Construction Co. would have
another four weeks to work at Marilla before the winter weather
would force them to stop until spring.
Benjamin said the wet weather recently has been a problem for
the construction crews working at Marilla. The reservoir – which
was completely drained for the project – is filling with water and
mud.
He provided several pictures of the dam, reservoir and the
ongoing construction there.
Benjamin went on to say, however, that the state Department of
Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Dams are now
looking to have the authority bring the Heffner and Gilbert
reservoirs into compliance, as well.
“Those agencies have requested a timetable to address the
compliance with the other two when Marilla is done,” Benjamin
reported.
He said the condition of the remaining dams could be
investigated as soon as 2010, and construction could begin in 2012.
Benjamin added the compliance issues with Heffner and Gilbert are
not as extensive as the work needed at Marilla.
Age is a factor at Gilbert, he said, adding it was built in the
same time period at Marilla. Heffner is more stable, Benjamin said,
and is “close to compliance.” The size of the spillway is an issue
for both dams.
Also Tuesday, the authority heard a report from Mike Marino,
engineer with CRA Engineering, regarding his research on
ultra-violet light treatment equipment – a system proposed for use
at the water treatment plant.
Marino said UV light treatment is the best available technology
for water treatment and protection against organisms in surface
water. UV, in the Bradford City water system, will be combined with
chlorine use.
He said his firm as currently in talks with Calgon Carbon Corp.
about the UV system, but was also going to communicate with Trojan
Technologies Inc. to get a comparison for the equipment and
prices.
Marino added that the estimated costs for a UV system at this
point, according to Calgon, are less than was originally
anticipated by the authority.
In other water authority business:
* Benjamin reported the seasonal check at the U.S. Route 219 and
Big Shanty pump stations showed their performances are well within
operating perimeters;
* Authority solicitor Fred Gallup advised the authority to form
a subcommittee to investigate applications for rights-of-way, and a
subcommittee was formed; and
* The authority accepted a low bid from JCI Jones Chemical Co.
for both liquid chlorine and caustic soda.
