Damakant Jaisi
The Wausau Water Board on Monday approved a pilot study on the 2023 Lead Service Line Replacement Plan as an educational component and requested that the city’s finance committee consider allocating ARPA funds to the project.
The commission also asked the Department of Public Works to develop an action plan to improve safety training for utility staff after hearing that employees believed the current system was ineffective. .
Some commissioners wanted to delay the start of a major service line pilot before funding was secured, but eventually recommended moving forward and requesting the finance committee to allocate the funds. Did.
Public Works Director Eric Lindman told the commission that his department has applied to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for funding, but he doesn’t expect to get a definitive answer until the summer.
In a memo to the WWW Committee, Lindman said the preliminary investigation will be conducted in a small area with a significant number of known lead service lines. About 40 such lines have been identified on Henrietta Street, according to city documents. Using a flat cost of $4,000 per site, he projects an estimated cost of $160,000. The timeline to replace all such lines in the city is 15 years.
Lindman writes that there are many scenarios for funding all or part of the private sector’s work, but asks to consider the precedent such a move would represent if the commission approved pilot studies. recommended to the committee.
Many cities across the United States are trying to replace their lead pipes with or without state or federal funding. Some companies ordered residents to replace their lines and offered to cover at least part of the replacement costs. For example, the city of Appleton enacted an ordinance last January requiring “every property owner to replace lead or galvanized service lines within one year of written notice from the city.” I oblige.
Lindman said the commission would consider a compulsory exchange ordinance and seek approval from the state public service board to use revenue rates to pay for private LSL exchanges or subsidize private lead exchanges. said that it can issue
Commission seeks plans for improved safety training
Improved safety training was recommended following a presentation by consultant Baker Tilly on utility staffing needs. During the presentation, the company’s managing his director, Nicholas Dragisich, surprised some commissioners by stating that safety training for utilities needs to be improved.
Commissioner Jim Force said he expressed concern that safety training had not previously improved and asked for a basis for such findings. has a history of
Most training required employees to watch videos on computers, according to consultants, and was characterized by some as tedious, repetitive, and not very informative or effective. Consultants say more face-to-face training is desirable.
Lindman said the department conducts safety training every year, but admitted that most of it is through video modules.
Commissioner Force suggested that utilities should take advantage of training programs offered by the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation.
Commissioner Robinson added that the report should be seen as an opportunity to improve employee safety and not as a challenge of sorts. I proposed to make one and bring it to the committee for consideration.
Consultant recommends GAC filtering bids when applying for funding
Also this week, the Water Board reviewed the status and potential funding of the city’s proposed granular activated carbon treatment process to combat PFAS in drinking water.
Donohue & Associates, a consultant hired by the city, recommended Wausau to bid on GAC filtration technology. This is a requirement prior to applying for funding.
Recommended by Susan Wojtkiewicz of Donohue.
Last June, the commission approved the introduction of GAC technology into the city’s filtration system in response to the discovery of PFAS in all six of the city’s drinking water wells. GAC technology will be installed at a newly commissioned drinking water treatment plant. The project cost him an estimated $16 million, with a timeline for completion of 18-24 months.
In response to a question about Wausau’s potential to receive state funding for GAC technology, Wojtkiewicz said that all drinking water sources were found to contain PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” so Wausau could He said the prospects for funding were good.
