Category Archives: Water & Sewer

Notice from town on water

Posted on January 10, 2013 | Comments Off on Notice from town on water

Emailed town notice about water issue –

1/10/2013 9:59AM
URGENT NOTICE FOR YOUR SITE–Water Break
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There is a water break in the area of High Street, Granite Street, Garry Drive, Rocky Lane, Plantation Road, and Bridlefield Lane. There is currently no water service in these areas. DPW Crews are on the scene and we predict it will be a few hours before water service can be restored. We thank you for your patience while we work quickly to fix the problem.

Kristine Trierweiler, AICP
Assistant Town Administrator
Town of Medfield
459 Main Street
Medfield, MA 02052
(P) (508) 906-3011
(F) (508) 359-6182

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Posted in Town Services, Water & Sewer

North Street water main status

Posted on December 17, 2012 | 3 comments

Mike tells me that the rains caused a pothole to form in a recently dug up area along North Street where the water main has just been replaced.  Water filling the pothole to the top, such that drivers could not see the hole.  Unfortunately, a number of cars got flats and/or damaged hitting the hole.  Fortunately for the town, the liability rests with the contractor.

The work is mostly finished now, with just a few house connections left and sidewalk clean up remaining..  I asked Mike if the roadway would be smoothed out so the town does not have to live with it in such poor shape for the whole winter, and he reported that yes it would be.  They need to let is settle and compact for a year before they do the final resurfacing.

3 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Safety, Town Services, Water & Sewer

On being a selectman

Posted on November 30, 2012 | Comments Off on On being a selectman

At the town house until 9:30 PM last night, as I wanted to get to three meetings at the same time  –  Medfield Energy Committee, Water & Sewer Commission, and the Medfield State Hospital Advisory Committee.  I ended up splitting my time between the Medfield Energy Committee and the W&S.   It has seemed a really long week ever Tuesday which started with the Building Committee’s 6:30 AM meeting and that day that I worked in my office until 8 PM, so I could pick Kristen up after swimming at Brandeis.

The W&S meeting –

  • started by getting a report from the new Waste Water Treatment Plant head operator.  He seems to be hands on and to have accomplished a lot in a short time.
  • discussed whether they needed to staff up to the four employees DEP says we should have at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, or stick with the three we have.
  • discussed the role of the board – just fiduciary, or operational
  • got an update on the North Street water main replacement – it is almost done, and town will not allow contractor to start on Green Street until spring
  • Medfield State Hospital water tower is off line, and board discussed risks that creates if water is need for a major fire.  Town will follow up with the state about the town getting land to build a new water tower (estimated cost of $2.7 m. ).
  • reviewed its budgets and expected rates – rates will have to increase for next several years to cover known costs.

The Medfield Energy Committee discussed –

  • PV installation at the paved area behind the Waste Water Treatment Plant site
  • presenting two programs with Medfield Green this winter
  • DOER grant
  • RFP for Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) on municipal sites

Two impressive boards with impressive members working on our behalf.

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Posted in Energy Committee, Water & Sewer

On being a selectman

Posted on June 19, 2012 | Comments Off on On being a selectman

I attended the Lyme disease study committee meeting last night, and learned about their trip to Weston to assist that town getting started with a controlled hunt, the posting around town of tick warning signs donated by one of the hunters, and plans for the hunt this fall.  The Lyme disease study committee is really well run, and inspires a lot of confidence in me, just as the Water & Sewer Board and its consultant did last Thursday.

BTW, the biggest part of the $18 m. capital projects over 20 years for the water department was $2.7 m. for a new water tower at the Medfield State Hospital site.  There is a question of whether the rivets can stand to be sand blasted when it needs to be repainted.  Even if that Medfield State Hospital water tower can have its life extended by repairs, where it is at the wrong height in relation to the Mt. Nebo water tower (16′ too low), so it does not make sense to spend much money on it.

Next I caught the end of the Zoning Board of Appeals continued hearing on the Gatehouse 40B application for the West Street site.  From what I caught, last night appeared to be a presentation of the traffic study that the applicant had prepared.  Chief Meaney was presenting when I arrived.  Nice to see three of the town’s consultants (legal, planning, and traffic) in attendance – I got the sense that the town is getting really good advice, as I know that both Mark Bobrowski and Judy Barrett are top notch.  The Zoning Board of Appeals also selected its consulting architect last night.  The town has a financial consultant who will analyze the project, once it is finalized.  All consultants are being paid for by the applicant.  The ZBA set its next continued hearing date for July 23, and will take a site visit at a date to be determined.  The ZBA allowed anyone in attendance to ask questions last night.  The ZBA is handling what is a complicated process on an extremely detailed set of facts involving a controversial project in such a fair manner that it also inspires a lot of confidence in our town government.  Anyone who feels strongly about the project would be well served to attend and witness the fair and impartial process unfold.

I did not cross paths with my selectmen colleagues last night, as is often the case.

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Posted in Affordable housing / 40B, Water & Sewer, Wildlife Management & Lyme disease

Water’s a bargain (relatively)

Posted on January 18, 2012 | Comments Off on Water’s a bargain (relatively)

Medfield’s water appears to be a bargain, comparatively speaking, when the town’s water usage rates are compared to those of Millis, Medway, Norfolk, Walpole, and Dedham-Westwood.  Our water charges appear to be a fraction of what the same amount of water would cost you in those towns.  At the high end, our rates for the same amount of water are less than half the Dedham-Westwood costs.

See the chart at https://medfield02052.blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120117-rates-comparative-analysis.pdf

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Posted in Water & Sewer

Coliform, and cholorine in our water

Posted on November 11, 2011 | Comments Off on Coliform, and cholorine in our water

11/1/11 notice from Ken Feeney –

TO ALL CONSUMERS SERVED BY THE MEDFIELD WATER DEPARTMENT
*** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER ***
This notice is to advise our customers that our water system is in noncompliance with the drinking water standards for Total Coliform bacteria during the months of September and October 2011. Similar notices were issued to you for violations occurring in June, July, and August 2011. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation.
During routine water sampling in early September and mid-October, more than one sample or greater than five percent of the samples collected showed the positive presence of coliform bacteria. This exceeds acceptable standards.
What should I do? You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426-4791.
Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
What does this Mean?
Total coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves. Colijorms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other potentially-harmful bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.
Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes), contamination in a storage tank or a failure in the water treatment process. Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as E. coli, are present. We did not find any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing. If we had, we would have notified you immediately.
What is being done?
In response to the ongoing bacteria detections, we are adding sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) at all active sources to achieve a chlorine residual throughout all areas of the water system. Low levels of chlorine and a slight discoloration may be detected in the water. Aquarium owners and users of kidney dialysis machines are advised to treat or filter the water before use.
We will continue to maintain chlorine levels throughout our system and monitor for the presence of contaminants in the sources and distribution system to ensure the safety of the water supply. We are in contact with MassDEP who will evaluate the effectiveness of the steps taken to determine if any further action is required.
For more information, please contact Kenneth Feeney, D.P.W. Superintendent, at 1-508-906-3002, or kfeeney@medfield.net or refer to our website http://www.town.medfield.net.
This notice does not affect persons using private drinking water wells.
PWSID#: 2175000

Date Distributed: 11/1/11

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Posted in Water & Sewer

Police & Fire radios & well ran on backup

Posted on November 2, 2011 | Comments Off on Police & Fire radios & well ran on backup

Due to power outages from the Sunday storm, the police and fire radio system had to run off a battery at first and then a generator.  Likewise at one time, all town wells were without any power.

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Posted in Safety, Water & Sewer

MSH Conundrum

Posted on August 9, 2011 | Comments Off on MSH Conundrum

DCAM is responding to DEP over its stated need for DCAM to clean up on an emergency basis about 800 sq. ft. of oil found in the Charles River when DCAM drilled test holes, but DEP has told DCAM that it cannot proceed until it both first completes a feasibility study and also meets with the Town’s SHERC later this month.  It is a conundrum because last night before the Town of Medfield Conservation Committee, DCAM was forging ahead to get permission to do the work to cap the oil in the river with a product called Aquablok and to pull back from the river and to cap the adjoining C&D area,despite not having yet met with SHERC and DEP or completed the feasibility study.

DEP is telling DCAM that they need to respond to the oil in the river this construction season, so DCAM is doing what it must to forge ahead, despite not yet really knowing which way it will ultimately be going.  The ConCom did vote last night, on a split vote, approval of the Notice of Intent from DCAM for the proposed emergency temporary remediation work, which DCAM acknowledges that it cannot perform until it meets the above criteria set by DEP, and which work may or may not be the emergency fix and may or may not be the permanent fix.

SHERC’s chair met in a working meeting last Friday at my initiation with DCAM, and per DCAM last night may well have been able to resolve all the issues if only DEP had attended.

Medfield’s Board of Selectmen agreed at our last meeting with my position suggestion from our prior meeting to urge DEP and DCAM that (1) the oil in the river be removed instead of being capped, and (2) that a permanent solution for the river adjoining C&D area involve pulling out any materials below the groundwater table and capping those materials on site.  The C&D area is physically proximate to the town’s well #6, located near where Rte 27 crosses the Charles River, and the town must be vigilant about keeping the buried hazardous materials at the C&D area from ever polluting the aquifer that supplies that well.

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Posted in Medfield State Hospital, Water & Sewer

Voluntary Water Ban

Posted on July 8, 2011 | Comments Off on Voluntary Water Ban

Email today from DPW –

The DEP recently contacted Ken to suggest Medfield issue a voluntary water ban since our stream flows are low.

Because this must be issued through the authority of the Water and Sewer Board, we thought you should be made aware.

Signs will begin appearing around town.

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Posted in Information, Water & Sewer