The Wave | Spring 2016

IN THIS ISSUE Historic Bridge Rehabilitation, Watertown, CT page 2

Unsurpassed Solutions in the Water Environment

Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades, Saxtons River, VT page 5

Environmental Services in MA page 6

Wave LIVERMORE

The

EAST LIVERMORE

A quarterly news publication

WAYNE

WEST PARIS

Spring 2016 NORTH TURNER

LOCKE MILLS

NORTH MONMOUTH

TURNER

SOUTH PARIS

NORWAY

NORTH WATERFORD

MONMOUTH

HEBRON

GREENE

CENTER LOVELL

LOVELL

WINTHROP

LEEDS

BUCKFIELD

STONEHAM

SOUTH WATERFORD

LITCHFIELD

MINOT

HARRISON

MECHANIC FALLS

OXFORD

SABATTUS

LEWISTON

www.tataandhoward.com AUBURN

POLAND

BRIDGTON

FRYEBURG

DENMARK

CASCO

NAPLES

NEW GLOUCESTER

BROWNFIELD

Contract Award: SMRWC, ME

BOWDO

LISBON FALLS

LISBON

MS4 Presentation at NEWEA 2016

READFIELD

SUMNER

DURHAM

TOPSHAM

RAYMOND

SEBAGO

BALDWIN

POWNAL

GRAY

Sebago Lake

BRUNSWICK

FREEPORT

NORTH YARMOUTH

CORNISH PARSONSFIELD

WINDHAM

BUSTINS ISLAND

YARMOUTH

HARPSWELL

CUMBERLAND ORRS ISLAND

(Southern Maine Regional Water Council) Sa

co R

ive

LIMINGTON

r

WESTBROOK

CHEBEAGUE ISLAND

FALMOUTH

STANDISH

BUXTON NEWFIELD

PEAKS ISLAND

Portland Water District

HOLLIS

SCARBOROUGH

WATERBORO

SHAPLEIGH ACTON

LONG ISLAND

CLIFF ISLAND

CAPE ELIZABETH

SACO

DAYTON

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

LYMAN

Maine Water Company (MWC) Biddeford-Saco

SANFORD ALFRED

ARUNDEL BIDDEFORD

LEBANON

Sanford Water District KENNEBUNK

Jon W. Gregory, P.E., Project Manager, presented on “Proactive Preparation: A Small Community’s Approach Toward MS4 Compliance” at the NEWEA Annual Conference and Exhibit in Boston, MA on January 27. The presentation showed the benefits of regional collaboration such as sharing resources as done with Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition (CMRSWC), and showed how active members in a stormwater program have a better understanding of MS4 issues and are able to educate stakeholders and residents. For a recorded copy of the presentation, please email us at contact@tataandhoward.com.

PORTLAND

GORHAM

LIMERICK

KENNEBUNKPORT

The member utilities of the Southern Maine Regional Water Council (SMRWC) selected Tata & Howard to provide professional services for the preparation of a Regional Water System Study and five Local Water System Studies. These studies are intended to augment the existing Regional Water System Master Plan developed in 2008. The Regional Water System Study will focus primarily on current conditions, and the content of the local water system studies will be customized to each member utility’s needs.

Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, & Wells Water District (KKW)

NORTH BERWICK

WELLS

BERWICK

SOUTH BERWICK

OGUNQUIT

South Berwick Water District

York Water District

ELIOT

YORK

Kittery Water District

KITTERY

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BAILEY ISLAND

T&H Consolidates Connecticut Offices T&H consolidated its two Connecticut offices into one centrally-located branch in Waterbury, Connecticut. The consolidation is largely a result of T&H’s acquisition of Waterbury engineering firm Roald Haestad, Inc. in August of 2014.

“After the acquisition of Roald Haestad, we knew we wanted to combine our two Connecticut offices into one cohesive team to better serve our clients,” said Steve Rupar, P.E., Vice President.

“Because we also wanted to ensure the satisfaction of our employee-owners and to retain our incredible talent base, we decided to proceed gradually over the course of 2015. The move was finalized at the end of the year.”

Currently, the office is providing engineering services for numerous Connecticut clients including the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA), Aquarion Water Company, and the Cities of Danbury, Norwalk, New Britain, and Meriden.

“The consolidation makes financial sense and also enhances our teamwork – which is one of our corporate values, and what sets us apart from the competition,” added Sal Longo, P.E., Vice President. “The move was completed smoothly with no interruptions to our projects or inconvenience to our clients. We were fortunate to retain our valued team members, and we are all looking forward to a successful 2016.”

Historic Bridge Rehabilitation, Watertown, CT The Skilton Road Bridge was originally built in 1865 as a one lane, dry stone masonry arch bridge over the Skilton Gorge in Watertown.

Rehabilitation in 1988 included strengthening of the stone masonry with reinforced concrete and adding concrete guide rails to the bridge. On December 10, 1991, the Skilton Road Bridge was added to the National List of Historic Places, and in 2013, the bridge was found to be structurally deficient.

Tata & Howard’s design for the rehabilitation and repair of the bridge required careful consideration of the historical nature of the structure. The design was approved and construction took place in 2015.

All structural deficiencies were adClockwise from top left: Skilton Road Bridge before, during, and post construction, dressed and the project included and the ribbon cutting ceremony on December 10, 2015 the following: • Widened the bridge for two 9’ travel lanes Construction on the Skilton Road Bridge was completed and a sidewalk; in October of 2015, and a ribbon cutting ceremony was • Installed new aluminum bridge rails covered held on December 10, 2015. The bridge maintains its hiswith wood; toric integrity.

• Repaired stone masonry on the west abutment wall; • Added new storm drainage.

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New Source Development in Great Barrington, MA

T&H is currently providing engineering services associated with new source development for the Town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The project includes filing a Notice of Intent with the Great Barrington Conservation Commission for installation of wells within a wetland buffer and riverfront Following well drillGreat Barrington is located in the Berskshire Mountains area. in the western part of Massachusetts. ing, results will be compiled within a Request for Site Exam and Pump Test Proposal to be submitted for approval to MassDEP. Following MassDEP approval, a test well or production well will be installed and pump tested. Upon receipt of results, a Pump Test Report will be submitted to MassDEP for approval.

Wastewater Engineering Services in Coolidge, Arizona

Coolidge, Arizona’s wastewater treatment plant

On February 8, the Coolidge, Arizona City Council approved an agreement with Tata & Howard for work on four wastewater projects, as follows: • Prepare bid documents for the rehabilitation of up to 12 manholes that are experiencing signs of severe corrosion; • Conduct an evaluation of the hydrogen sulfide issues within the City’s collection system that is causing corrosion, odor, and potential health and safety problems; • Evaluate the replacement of the existing headworks auger based on existing operating conditions and recent bids received for a new auger, and provide an evaluation of additional long term concerns associated with the headworks of the wastewater treatment plant and possible reasons the lifespan of the headworks auger is being shortened; and • Prepare bid documents for the replacement of the existing headworks auger suitable for solicitation of bids for the work.

Tata & Howard

Philanthropy We are passionate about improving the environment in which we live through our work — and works. Both as a corporation and as individuals, we believe in giving back, and we encourage and support charitable works of all employee-owners.

Navajo Water Crisis

Tata & Howard sponsored a water cistern through Navajo Water Project, a subsidiary of DIGDEEP that works to provide safe, accessible drinking water to Native Americans living in Navajo Nation. The 1,200-gallon cistern provides the necessary water storage for a full running water system in one Navajo American Home.

The gift was purchased in honor of Tata & Howard’s clients in lieu of holiday cards.

Water For People

Tata & Howard employee-owners, with a 100% match from the company, donated just shy of $10,000 to Water For People in 2015. Water For People is Tata & Howard’s charity of choice to which employee-owners donate through automatic payroll deductions.

Dare Family Services

Tata & Howard partnered with Dare Family Services this past holiday season to provide requested gifts to disadvantaged children in Massachusetts. Dare Family Services’ primary mission is to find, train, and support loving homes that will help children become resilient and overcome the trauma of serious abuse and neglect.

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In The News

CT DEEP Issues New EAP Requirements for High Hazard and Significant Hazard Dams

EPA Anticipates MS4 Permit to be Released Imminently EPA and MassDEP held a briefing at the State House in December to update legislators on MS4 permits. EPA then stated the anticipated permit would be released as early as mid-January 2016.

However, at the time this newsletter went to press, the permit is still pending.

The draft permit received over 1,400 comments to which EPA is in the process of responding. The legislators in attendance expressed concern over the costs to communities to comply, particularly since towns’ estimated costs for compliance were considerably higher than originally stated by EPA. EPA said that costs could potentially be adjusted once the permit was released, and also affirmed that costs to communities with TMDLs or impaired waters would be significantly higher in order to sufficiently address water quality issues.

However, EPA also stressed that the impending permit is strictly for planning purposes and will not require construction of Best Management Practices.

MassDEP is currently reviewing all changes that EPA proposes to make to the permit. MassDEP is particularly interested in seeing if comments that Commissioner Marty Suuberg had previously submitted on the draft have been incorporated into the final permit.

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Class C Bronson E. Lockwood Dam, Bethlehem, CT

The State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently adopted Regulation 22a-411a concerning the preparation and update of Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for High Hazard (Class C) and Significant Hazard (Class B) dams. EAPs meeting the new requirements for Class C dams must be submitted to DEEP within 12 months of February 3, 2016, the effective date of the new regulation, and within 18 months for Class B dams. Dam owners will be required to submit an updated EAP every two years thereafter, or more frequently as necessary to reflect significant changes to the dam structure or downstream area.

An EAP is intended to be a pragmatic document that both identifies conditions that require a response and provides clear instructions in an emergency situation. “The new requirements for dam owners minimize the potential for dam failures and increase public safety by directing owners to improve oversight and responsibility for their dams through the preparation of Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) and regular inspections,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee.

The new EAP regulations include criteria for inundation mapping, dam monitoring procedures, formal warning notification and communication procedures, and EAP review and revisions. Copies of the EAP must be filed with the DEEP, the chief executive officer, and the emergency management officer of any municipality that would potentially be affected by an emergency involving the dam for which the EAP has been prepared.

For more information, or for assistance meeting the new requirements for Dam EAPs, please contact us at contact@tataandhoward.com.

Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades in Saxtons River, VT

Saxtons River in Vermont

Tata & Howard is currently providing engineering services for upgrades to the Saxtons River Wastewater Treatment Facility in Saxtons, Vermont. Services include the design of a new two tank Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR), a new headworks with a fine screen and an aerated grit chamber, intermediate pump station, medium pressure UV disinfection, conversion of the existing clarifier to an equalization basin with a pump station, design of a new two compartment aerated sludge holding tank, and miscellaneous improvements to the existing control building, including a pellet boiler for the plant heating system.

The SBR process was originally recommended by T&H to Saxtons River Trustees at a meeting, and was chosen as the best alternative over three other plans presented by another engineering firm. SBR uses ultraviolet (UV) light instead of chlorine to treat wastewater. Not only is the SBR option the most economical, but it is also a green initiative. UV utilizes only light, and therefore eliminates all processes associated with the handling and transport of chemicals, making it safer for operators and aquatic life.

Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2017. T&H is providing construction administration and resident observation services.

Century-Old Dam Rehabilitation, Shelton, CT The Means Brook Reservoir Dam, a concrete gravity dam constructed on rock in 1916, required repairs in order to improve the safety and reliability of the structure, replacement of the deteriorated upstream and downstream faces of the dam and the crest, and rehabilitation and modernization of the gate chambers. Hydraulic, hydrologic, and structural studies over the last several years have shown that the dam would be overtopped by about 3.9 feet by the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF), and that the dam does not have adequate stability factors of safety for this extreme loading condition. The upstream and downstream faces and the crest of the dam were severely spalled and delaminated, and the dam reportedly overtopped by about four inches during the 1955 flood. In 1977, the spillway was extended to its current length of 100 feet and a 2.1-foot high concrete parapet wall was constructed along the upstream crest of the dam.

Concrete repairs were made to the crest and both faces of the dam. Rock anchors were installed and post-tensioned in holes drilled through the dam into the rock foundation. One section of the spillway training wall was removed and replaced. The deteriorated concrete on the Means Brook Dam before and after rehabilitation remaining sections was removed and the wall resurfaced. The repairs and improvements undertaken to the gatehouse and chambers included reshingling the gatehouse roof, providing a new steel plate exterior door for additional security, and blocking up the existing windows. In addition, the electrical system, ladders, stairs, sluice gates and their appurtenance, a butterfly valve, and hatches were all replaced.

Chain link fence was installed along portions of the spillway training wall for safety, and chain link fence and gates were installed at both ends of the dam for security. In addition, galvanized steel pipe railings were installed along the upstream and downstream crest of the dam for safety. Steel pipe rails were chosen for the dam crest instead of chain link fence because the dam crest is subject to overtopping.

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New Office in Austin, TX T&H is pleased to announce the opening of a satellite office in Austin, Texas. James J. “Jim” Courchaine, Vice President and National Director of Business Practices, is providing leadership for the new office.

Recently Awarded

Contracts Danbury, CT

1 2 3 4 5

Plans and detailed specifications for a section of the 24-inch Padanaram Road (CT Route 37) sewer line that is in conflict with a proposed Connecticut DOT retaining wall

Fidelity Bank, MA

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and groundwater sampling

Manchester By The Sea, MA

Unidirectional flushing (UDF) program and completion of a Public Water Supply Annual Statistical Report (ASR) for reporting year 2015

Milford Water Company, MA

Rehabilitation of the vacuum priming system and evaluation of pump and suction piping at the Clarks Island Pump Station

Cherry Valley Sewer District, MA Contract for 2015-2018 general engineering services associated with various wastewater projects 6

Already active in Texas, Tata & Howard provided management consulting and leadership skill building services for the North Texas Municipal Water District located in Wylie, Texas. This project is often a follow up to Tata & Howard’s Business Practice Evaluations that provide for more efficient and effective work practices in comparison to generally accepted industry standards.

“The opening of our Texas office is an important step towards expanding our national presence,” said Jim, who has over 44 years experience in every facet of water and wastewater management, operations, and maintenance. “The Austin office gives us the opportunity to provide exceptional service to our Texas clients while also tapping into the incredible talent pool in the Austin area.”

Environmental Services in MA T&H provided peer review on work that had been completed at a former lumber mill, and all documentation that had been prepared to date was reviewed. The primary concern was an area where pressure treated lumber had been stored, as the lumber was treated with chromated copper arsenate and the residual arsenic concentrations in soil were very high.

The previous recommendation was to put a deed restriction (specifically, an Activity and Use Limitation or AUL) on the area to limit the exposure. Because the planned future use for the property is to convert the existing mill building into residential condominiums, this approach was inadequate. In an effort to find a more suitable solution, T&H obtained and analyzed additional soil samples from this area and found that less than 200 cubic yards had been affected. The contaminated soil can be removed for under $30,000 and will bring residual concentrations below that allowed for residential use.

Because the mill is located on a brook, a filing with the local Conservation Commission was required. T&H suggested that, due to the limited work being done and the fact that the affected area is separated from the brook by a retaining wall, an Abbreviated Notice of Intent (ANOI) would be sufficient. The Conservation Commission agreed, and the ANOI was approved at a Public Hearing. T&H is currently in the process of preparing a Release Abatement Measure (RAM) Plan, which must be submitted to the MassDEP prior to excavation.

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.

The treatment poster below is a simple rendering and geared towards the general public as an educational piece.

If you would like a copy, we’d be happy to send you one at no charge. Contact us at contact@tataandhoward.com or 508-214-4209 to request yours. Please specify water, wastewater, or both.

Front Cover

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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

Upcoming Conferences & Trade Shows New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) Spring Joint Conference & Exhibition March 30-31, 2016 at DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts BOOTH #712 Vermont Rural Water Association (VRWA) Annual Conference & Trade Show May 4-5, 2016 at Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, Vermont Green Mountain Water Environment Association (GMWEA) Spring & Annual Meeting May 26, 2016 at Killington Grand Hotel, Killington, Vermont Granite State Rural Water Operator Field Day & Exhibit Show September 13, 2016 at Mount Sunapee Resort, Newbury, NH

Joel Loitherstein at the Tata & Howard booth during the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) Trade Show in Boston, MA this past January

Maine Water Environment Association (MEWEA) Fall Convention September 14-16, 2016 at Sunday River Grand Summit Hotel and Conference Center, Newry, Maine

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