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DPW: Transportation Services continued from previous page
<br />to reduce dependence on private automobiles by providing
<br />transportation alternatives, including funding LEXPRESS.
<br />Traffic Safety Advisory Support: The Transportation
<br />Coordinator is a staff liaison to the Traffic Safety Advisory
<br />Committee.
<br />Water/Sewer Divisions
<br />ROLE: To
<br />serve the needs
<br />and concerns of
<br />its customers,
<br />sustain quality
<br />drinking water,
<br />and provide for
<br />Expenditures
<br />Payroll
<br />FY07
<br />FY06
<br />$ 7981514$
<br />7981982
<br />Expenses
<br />$10,819,467
<br />$11,360,462
<br />Personnel
<br />Full Time
<br />15
<br />15
<br />the safe and proper discharge of wastewater by maintaining
<br />the Town's complete water and sewer infrastructure and
<br />implementing various service programs.
<br />Superintendent: Dennis Meehan since January 2004
<br />The infrastructure consists of 158 miles of water main, two
<br />water towers with total capacity of 3.1 million gallons, 1,500
<br />fire hydrants, 3,400 street and hydrant control valves, and
<br />approximately 12,500 residential service line control valves
<br />located on property lines. Four main water transmission lines
<br />from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
<br />(MWRA) serve Lexington: a 16 -inch main at Summer Street,
<br />a 16 -inch main on Massachusetts Avenue in East Lexington,
<br />a 12 -inch main on Watertown Street, and a 24 -inch main on
<br />Concord Avenue. The MWRA supplies Lexington with
<br />approximately 2 billion gallons of water annually.
<br />The sewer system has 120 miles of sewer main, 34 miles of
<br />trunk -line sewer main, and 10 sewer pump stations, includ-
<br />ing the main pump station at Route 128 and Bedford Street,
<br />and 600 sewer manholes. The Town also pays the MWRA
<br />to treat and dispose of the Town's sewage.
<br />The department is divided into four sections: water distribu-
<br />tion; meter reading and billing, sewer maintenance, and con-
<br />struction. Employees are cross - trained to perform all divi-
<br />sional functions and also participate in snow removal oper-
<br />ations.
<br />Water Distribution Section responds to service calls from
<br />residents, repairs curb and water control boxes, reads and
<br />installs water meters, takes water samples, performs hydrant
<br />maintenance, and maintains and updates the water control
<br />valve locations, oversees the cross - connection control pro-
<br />gram, investigates all water bill complaints, marks out ser-
<br />vices for contractors and utility companies, and assists the
<br />Engineering and other DPW Divisions.
<br />Water is tested weekly for coliform and other bacterial organ-
<br />isms at nine sampling locations for a total of 45 samples; all
<br />samples testing negative. Sampling is also done twice annual-
<br />ly at selected locations to test for lead and copper; Lexington
<br />has passed the last three test period results for these metals.
<br />Because of this, the DEP (Department of Environmental
<br />Protection) has dropped the requirement that Lexington
<br />replace 7% of our "suspected" lead services every year. The
<br />Department will continue to excavate those services that we
<br />suspect might have a problem whether due to missing infor-
<br />mation or the time frame in which they were built.
<br />Leak detection was completed in 2006 using the Correlation
<br />Method; nine leaks, at a loss of 191,520 gallons a day, were
<br />discovered and repaired. This biannual operation is sched-
<br />uled again for spring 2008.
<br />Meter Reading and Billing Section is responsible for reading
<br />water meters and managing the billing system. A new utility
<br />manager position was created in 2005 under the Finance
<br />Director to oversee the billing process and handle problems
<br />and complaints about adjustments due to estimated water
<br />bills. Since 2005 there has been a 52% reduction in adjust-
<br />ments in this area. The installation of new electronic read
<br />meters has also contributed to more accurate billing.
<br />Sewer Maintenance Section maintains the sewer system of
<br />154 miles of pipe and 10 pump stations, implements the
<br />sewer main flushing program, and manages the pump sta-
<br />tion maintenance program to ensure the safe and proper dis-
<br />charge of wastewater. Staff is also available to identify any
<br />electrical problems with relay or pressure switches. They
<br />also assist the Highway Division with clearing storm drain
<br />blockages with the use of the Department's vacuum truck.
<br />Construction Section is responsible for the lead water ser-
<br />vice replacement program, installing new mainline and ser-
<br />vice line control valves where needed, and replacing defec-
<br />tive control valves. They also oversee replacements of
<br />hydrants, sewer mains and services, and repair water system
<br />and sewer system leaks.
<br />Employees attended training seminars on cross - connection
<br />control, MWRA procedures for drinking water sampling,
<br />hydrant maintenance, and courses relating to the state certi-
<br />fication exams. Seven employees are state - certified Drinking
<br />Water Facility Operators; one is Grade 4, three are Grade 3,
<br />one is Grade 2, and two are Grade 1. Two employees are
<br />state - certified backflow testers, and four are cross- connec-
<br />tion surveyors.
<br />HIGHLIGHTS
<br />• The MWRA provided Debt Service Assistance totaling
<br />$332,158. Since 1994, the Town has received $6,193,906
<br />in Debt Service Assistance.
<br />• The policy that allows installation of a second meter for
<br />outdoor watering was instituted 12 years ago. Water con-
<br />sumed through this meter is charged only at the water
<br />rate. To date, 2800 irrigation meters have been installed.
<br />The rate paid for this water was adjusted to the maximum
<br />rate to more accurately reflect its cost and provide fairness
<br />to all ratepayers.
<br />• A contract was awarded to National Metering Services of
<br />New Jersey for replacing old, non - remote readable meters
<br />with ones that are electronically read. Over 2,160 meters
<br />Page 40 2007 Annual Report, Town of Lexington
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