Your water team has long believed we are on track for improved water quality. But, beliefs are just beliefs…until proven. November’s DEP required 4th Qtr sampling for the DBP carcinogens, Trihalomethanes & Haloacetic Acids, continued the trend of recent months and has proven for the first time in memory, we are no longer in violation. Following three years of taking ownership of finding solutions, we believe we have reached a ‘Renewal Plateau’ and can now spend more time focusing on sustaining Chester’s water future. These test results were anticipated, based on the huge investment of Volunteer time/ARPA treasure and the many upgrades to the WTP. With his vision, voice & vote, former Selectman Rich Holzman initiated re-creating our Water Commission and recruited Lyle Snide, Tom Bean & Bob Daley, who took ownership of Chester Water Dept. Your Water Team soon expanded to include Andy Myers, Tim Moriarty & Jim Zimmerman. We hired new operators, partnered with Gateway to create a water operator Apprentice Training Program, tracked down & repaired 7 leaks = 70,000 gal daily water loss, we sought, received & oversee multiple Grants, put in place a dedicated fire suppression plan, conducted a Rate study, Andy established our Enterprise model & developed Budgets to create retained earnings, we conducted an upgrade to the SCADA controller system, installed all new metering & dosing modules, removed years of sediment & power washed the clear-well , re-sanded three filter beds two with new GAC layers, worked through previously ignored DEP Admin Consent Orders, flushed all hydrants Spring & Fall, drained & excavated Austin Reservoir & supervised our Watershed harvest, providing additional revenues. Just this week, we had 30 years of biofilm removed from the clear well & Tim is working on a project to make our lift pumps more effective & efficient. We are in the midst of complying with EPA mandated ID of any Lead Service connections, via the LSL Grant as well as the ongoing AMP/Asset Management Plan Grant. The AMP Grant provides a robust GPS system which is currently being populated with data of all water system apparatus. Completion of these two Grants is anticipated by OCT 2025. As we look over the horizon toward what a sustainable future could look like, our focus will now ramp up research for a groundwater source. With the future top of mind, we will serve as Advisors to PVPC led, Regionalization Water Grant, searching for long term solutions to shared Rural water challenges of Staffing, economy of scale & funding. In May, Lyle, Tom & Bob will step down from day to day supervision responsibility. Jim Zimmerman, a 30 year water Pro, will lead the Dept. He will need support, as well as an Elected Commissioner to help with the workload.
Chester Water Commissioners
