Photo by William Crooks
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Town of Stanstead recently announced its water has tested of excellent quality, along with the adoption of a resolution on a bid to remove sludge from its water system. The town undertakes annual waterworks maintenance to enhance its infrastructure and improve environmental hygiene.
Details of the process were revealed at the town’s monthly meeting May 13 amidst discussions on competitive service bids and advanced measurement techniques to optimize future operations. Mayor Jody Stone presided over the meeting with five residents in attendance.
Flushing the sludge
Stanstead is currently undertaking its annual maintenance of the waterworks network, which involves a meticulous flushing process to rid the system of build-up. During the meeting, it was disclosed that the town had received a competitive service offer from Quali-D’eau priced at $14,950 before tax.
Considering the town’s history of satisfactory results with past services, a motion was proposed to the council to accept an alternative service offer from the company Simo for the same task at the same price.
In a related matter, the council discussed the contractual needs for sludge measurement at the wastewater treatment plants serving the Beebe and Stanstead regions. This involves managing the draining of aerated basins, a critical task for maintaining the operational integrity of the treatment facilities. The town again had received a service bid from the company Simo.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on a comprehensive offer that included not just the measurements, but also the drafting and dissemination of a report to relevant governmental bodies. The offered amount was $7,584, considered reasonable given the scope of work.
The discussion further delved into the methodology of the measurement and sampling process. The thorough approach advocated by Simo is intended to provide an accurate baseline of sludge levels, which is crucial for the planning of subsequent sludge removal operations.
By obtaining a precise estimate of sludge volumes, the town can issue more accurate bids for sludge removal, potentially leading to cost savings by avoiding over or underestimation of the required services.
Moreover, the council members debated the broader implications of the measurement outcomes. They recognized that an accurate assessment could influence the scheduling of future cleanings, possibly extending the interval between necessary drainings. This would not only save money but also minimize the environmental impact of frequent cleanings.
How’s the water?
According to General Manager Hughes Ménard, the town’s environmental hygiene systems are functioning smoothly with no significant issues reported. The networks are currently stable, and as ongoing maintenance and upgrades are implemented, the focus has shifted predominantly to the town’s infrastructure, particularly in areas concerning telemetry, electronics, and pumps.
Recently, the town encountered challenges with its telemetry systems, which are crucial for monitoring the system’s environmental conditions. However, a comprehensive system reset was successfully executed last week, resolving the issue. This reset was part of broader efforts to streamline the network operations, including a significant update to the system’s hardware and software components.
Ménard said the network manager, referred to only as “Yannick,” has been instrumental in these updates. The system overhaul included consolidating operations which previously were managed across four separate computers at different locations. This consolidation has simplified the management and troubleshooting of the network, ensuring that all components are now linked and communicating effectively.
The town has recently received water analysis results from 2022, which included detailed assessments of various substances such as suspended materials, phosphorus, and PFAs (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). The overall results indicate that the water from local wells is of excellent quality.
However, it was noted that the water is naturally hard, necessitating treatment to adjust its hardness. Despite this, the treated water meets and even exceeds major regulatory standards.