The Wave | Fall 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

Unsurpassed Solutions in the Water Environment

Ribbon cutting on new wastewater treatment plant in Vermont page 2

The

Site evaluation and due diligence in Franklin, MA page 4

T&H expands corporate office to accommodate growth page 6

Wave A quarterly news publication

Fall 2015

www.tataandhoward.com

Asset management based water distribution system study in Flagstaff, AZ Ponderosa Utility Corporation (PUC) in Flagstaff, Arizona contracted T&H for an asset management based water distribution system study. T&H also helped PUC secure WIFA funding as they had limited available funds. The study evaluated the system as a whole, based on above grade and below grade assets, where above grade assets were evaluated based on remaining useful life expectancy; and water mains were based on hydraulic capacity, criticality, and risk of failure.

Preliminary findings showed that very low efficiency booster pumps are being used to pump water from the tanks into the distribution system. Five booster pumps were tested and the efficiencies ranged from 6% to 24%. If all five pumps and motors were to be replaced with higher efficiency units, the anticipated reduction in electrical costs is up to 70%, resulting in a return on investment of less than one year. PUC is planning to replace the pumps and motors within the next year.

New Britain, CT water storage tank

Tata & Howard provided engineering design and is currently providing resident observation and construction administration services for a 2.0 mg prestressed concrete storage tank. The work also included piping and appurtenances, a Tideflex mixing system, site work and gravel access road, approximately 450 linear feet of 16-inch diameter water main, and cleaning and cement mortar lining approximately 430 linear feet of 20-inch diameter main on Elam Street.

The project included the demolition of the existing 4.0 mg concrete storage tank.

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Tata & Howard holds company outing at Kimball Farm in Westford, MA

On June 20, 2015, T&H employee-owners attended a company outing at Kimball Farm in Westford, MA. Employee-owners and their families enjoyed a fully catered lunch with healthy options, mini golf, batting cages, a driving range, 9-hole pitch and putt, and, of course, great company! The event was well attended, and employee-owners agreed that they would love to revisit Kimball Farm at next year’s outing.

Ribbon cutting on new $4.1 million wastewater treatment plant in Canaan, VT The towns of Canaan, VT and Stewartstown, NH celebrated the completion of their shared wastewater treatment plant with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 25, in Canaan. The total cost of the facility improvements was $4.1 million and the towns received $2.41 million in grant money as well as a $1.69 million low interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. The new system replaces a decades-old facility that was costly to operate and did not meet state and federal water quality standards.

Tata & Howard provided full consulting engineering services for the design and construction of the wastewater treatment facility project that consisted of a complete upgrade of four pump stations and the 0.185 mgd capacity, 3-cell lagoon wastewa2

ter treatment facility. The upgrades provide the towns with a state-ofthe-art, reliable wastewater treatment facility that meets stringent effluent discharge limits to the Connecticut River and allows for a more efficient treatment process. The new influent screening and grit removal processes extend the life of the treatment facility components, and septage receiving allows for additional income and also provides service to the other residents of the town that are not on public sewer. The design

incorporated numerous energy efficient features, including variable-frequency drives on all motors and aeration blowers, a wood pellet boiler for heat, energy efficient windows, and insulated concrete block walls, resulting in a reduction in annual operation and maintenance costs.

The pump stations were upgraded to eliminate the operator from entering below grade structures and allow for low-cost future replacement.

Business Practice Evaluation for Westfield, MA

Under

Construction Tata & Howard is currently providing a Business Practice Evaluation (BPE) to the City of Westfield to assess the health of the utility’s work practices by implementing a framework for a structured approach to managing, operating, and maintaining in a more efficient and effective manner. The assessment process and the tools developed enable utility managers to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the utility in comparison to generally accepted industry standards. The assessment includes documentation of current business practices, identification of opportunities for improve-

ment, conducting interviews including a diagonal slice of the organization, and observation of work practices in the field. From this assessment we make recommendations to improve system performance, and the structured approach is fully customized and includes all functions of the utility — from administration and technical to operations and maintenance. The assessment process allows utility executives to proactively develop system specific plans, programs, and timelines to optimize the overall utility system programs.

A sampling from our dozens of projects currently under construction:

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Milford, MA

Installation of 2,000 linear feet of 12-inch water main along Congress Street and West Fountain Street.

Projected completion September, 2015.

Dexter, ME

Replacement of 7,000 linear feet of existing 6-inch cast iron water main with 8-inch C-900 PVC water main along Route 7 in Dexter, ME. Projected completion August, 2016.

New Britain, CT

West Main Street gatehouse demolition and replacement of three existing 20-inch gate valves with butterfly valves.

Projected completion January, 2016.

Greensboro, VT

New Team Members

T&H welcomed three new team members over the summer: Engineers Michael Kaczowka and Maya Rhinehart, who are working in our Marlborough, MA office, and Engineer Maxwell Gilliam, who is working in our Waterbury, CT office.

Fire District #1 water main, valves, new control and chemical feed building, yard piping, new metering building and piping, connecting Well #4 to the system, and installation of a new precast concrete roof on the existing water storage tank.

Projected completion November, 2015.

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In The News

Site evaluation and due diligence services in Franklin, MA

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ASCE releases new app to take action on infrastructure issues

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released a new app for Android and iPhone called Save America’s Infrastructure. The app, which was originally released during Infrastructure Week, describes America’s aging infrastructure issues while providing a way to take action by contacting elected leaders directly through the app.

Save America’s Infrastructure app offers infrastructure grades, facts on 16 categories, pertinent news, an action center, and easy reference to the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure grades and state facts. It also provides local information, where users are able to input their zip code to learn about deficiencies in their own area.

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Online UST data management system mandatory as of August 1, 2015

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced a new online data management system for Underground Storage Tank (UST) registrations and third-party inspections (TPIs). As of August 1, 2015, MassDEP no longer accepts paper UST forms FP-290, FP-290R, and FP-289 and instead requires all registrations and inspections to be filed electronically. For assistance with online filing or for more information, please contact us at contact@tataandhoward.com.

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Tata & Howard provided subsurface evaluation services to assess the potential presence of oil and hazardous material in soil and groundwater at a site in the Town of Franklin, MA that is being developed for use by the Parks & Recreation Department. Based on information provided by the Town, we performed the following: • Evaluated the site and found contaminated fill material under the building; • Evaluated the significance of our findings with respect to Massachusetts General Law c.21E and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan 310 CMR 40.0000; and • Prepared a Subsurface Evaluation Report for the site which included a summary of activities performed, site figures and data tables, and conclusions and recommendations.

T&H then completed the removal of the lead contaminated soil which contained hundreds of battery casings. The soil was treated onsite to stabilize the leachable lead then transported to the Turnkey Landfill in Rochester, NH for disposal.

Welcome, baby Kelliher!

Assistant Project Engineer Trish Kelliher and her husband, Matt, welcomed baby Tenley Ann Kelliher on July 21 at 8:10am. Congratulations, Trish and Matt!

T&H becomes employee-owned company In October of 2014, Tata & Howard became a fully employee-owned company by converting to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which is an employee-owner program that provides a company’s workforce with ownership interest in the company.

Water storage tank rehabilitation in Franklin, NH Tata & Howard is providing engineering services for the rehabilitation of the 0.5 mg welded steel Cross Street water storage tank in the City of Franklin, NH. Engineering services include preparation of contract documents, construction administration, and resident observation. The design considerations included lead paint removal containment, coordination with two cellular antenna companies (US Cellular and Sprint), and plans to provide water to the service area while the tank is offline. The project was funded through a low interest loan provided by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Revolving Loan Fund, and renovations are expected to be completed in early fall.

Have you signed up for our online newsletter? You may do so by visiting our website and clicking “Newsletter Signup” at the top of the page, or by emailing us at contact@tataandhoward.com.

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Corporate office expansion provides room to grow

Recently Awarded

Contracts

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Rowley, MA

Prospect Hill access road improvements including stormwater management upgrades

We are pleased to announce the 4,645 square foot expansion of our corporate headquarters in Marlborough, MA. The expansion provides an additional 17 workspaces, six offices, a spacious modeling room, a dedicated printing and copying center, and a new conference room.

Millbury, MA

“We are very excited to announce the expansion of our corporate office, as it is a reflection of the continued growth and success our company has experienced since its inception,” said Jack O’Connell, P.E., LEED, Senior Vice President, who oversaw design and construction of the new space. “Using input from our employee-owners, our priorities for the new space included creative and collaborative workspaces, comfortable meeting and production areas, and work-life amenities such as adjustable standing desks, plentiful windows, and inviting colors.”

Construction administration and resident observation for an underground storage tank replacement

Norwalk First Taxing District, CT Evaluation of the Spring Hill water storage tank

Northampton, MA

Above ground asset management program where above ground assets include water treatment facility, water storage tanks, pump stations, and chemical feed facilities

Turner Engineering, AZ

Hydraulic evaluation of available fire flows along a proposed 16-inch diameter water main for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)

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“Due to the extraordinary increase in our client base over the past two years, our number of employee-owners has grown by nearly 50%, and our geographic reach has extended to the national level,” added Karen Gracey, P.E., Vice President. “With the expansion of our corporate office, we are well equipped to accommodate the growth we are currently experiencing, and to provide resources to enhance our already tremendous talent base.”

Andrew Cohen from ACTWO in Wayland acted as Architect for the expansion, while Mike Walsh and Mark Pellard from Seaver Construction in Woburn acted as Project Manager and Superintendent, respectively. The expansion, which also included updating the existing 10,000 square foot space, was completed this summer.

We’re now on Instagram! @tatahoward

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If you would like a full size poster for hanging, we’d be happy to send you one. Just email us at contact@tataandhoward.com or call 800-366-5760.

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID WORCESTER, MA PERMIT NO. 143

67 Forest Street Marlborough, MA 01752 T: 508-303-9400 F: 508-449-9400

www.tataandhoward.com

Wastewater system upgrades for Great Salt Bay Sanitary District in Damariscotta, ME The Great Salt Bay Sanitary District located in Damariscotta, Maine contracted Tata & Howard to provide design and prepare contract documents for the replacement of four wastewater aeration blowers as well as installations of a new SCADA system, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and dissolved oxygen monitoring probes for two lagoons. The project also includes updates to electrical control panels at the main plant and effluent pump station, and an architectural redesign of the District’s office. Drawings were prepared and provided to the District, and the project is currently out to bid.

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Follow us on Twitter @tataandhoward, Instagram @tatahoward, Facebook at www.facebook.com/TataandHoward, and on LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest at Tata & Howard, Inc. We’d love to connect with you!

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