Village to buy water from Monroe County

   At the January 22 meeting, the Caledonia Village Board gave Mayor Joe Caluorie their approval to sign a letter of intent with the Monroe County Water Authority.

   The village will begin negotiations for the purchase of water for approximately 1,000 customers.

   The action comes after several months of investigating an alternate water source for village customers after the USEPA and Livingston County Health Department notified the village of a recent law that restricts the public use of shallow well water systems that may be susceptible to surface contamination.

   The Village of Caledonia has been providing water to its customers by means of two I00-year old hand dug wells located on the east side of the village.

   Caluorie said the village engineers looked at finding a good alternate location where new wells could be dug, however, that option was cost prohibitive with no guarantee of quality. Village engineers and health department officials recommend that Caledonia connect to the MCWA as their source of water

   The next step is for the engineers to design the infra-structure necessary to trans-port the water from north of the village to the pumping station on Park Place in the village.

   The village must also work out an agreement to abandon the current wells. Mayor Caluorie says he and Water and Street Superintendent Chris Buckley are planning to meet with NY Senator Dale Volker, 59th District, to discuss possible funding assistance as the village makes it way through the process of moving to Monroe County water.

Village continues to investigate water solution

   It’s been several months since the Village of Caledonia began investigating a solution to a new mandate regarding its public well water. The discussion continued at the November 6 board meeting, but no clear solution was reached.

   "The problem is not with our water, it’s with the well," said Mayor Joe Caluorie.

   A recent EPA regulation called Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, resulted in an inspection of the Village of Caledonia’s two municipal water wells. The inspection included testing of untreated water samples, which showed microscopic occurrences of pollen, plant and insect parts and algae. Though these items naturally occur on the ground’s surface, they are indicators that the village’s well is directly influenced by surface contaminants and therefore the EPA and the NYS Health Department are requiring that the Village of Caledonia take immediate action to remedy the situation.

   The village board has been working with the Livingston County Health Department and Chatfield Engineers to come up with a feasible, cost effective and long-term solution to the problem. The shallow depth of the two municipal wells does not meet the EPA and health department regulations so it isn’t feasible to consider installing a filtration system, Caluorie explained. Other options include locating and drilling a new well or decommissioning the current wells and purchasing water from the Monroe County Water Authority.

   Representatives from the LCHD and Chatfield Engineers were included in the discussions at the November 6 meeting. Digging a new well would be a three-step process that includes digging test wells, testing for water quality and quantity and digging the permanent well. The mayor says this is an expensive process with no guarantee at the end that the quantity and quality will be sufficient or that future EPA regulations on municipal wells might not become more rigid and the village would be facing the same predicament sometime down the road.

   "Along with our engineers, we’ve studied this option and consulted the professional advice of a hydrogeologist. Still, it’s a crapshoot at best," Caluorie said.

   The other option is to decommission the 100-year-old wells and enter into a contract to purchase water from the MCWA. Caluorie said the board agreed to enter into discussions with MCWA so that all of the facts and projected costs can be put on the table for comparison.

   Caluorie said it’s a difficult issue and the board wants to be fully informed on both options before it makes a decision to act one way or the other.

   "Our primary regard is for the safety, long term feasibility and economic impact to our customers," the mayor remarked.

   The village board plans to enter into discussions with the MCWA as soon as possible. They have several questions they will need answers to, Caluorie said. Among them, how safe is MC water for consumption? What happens if they experience contamination in their system? Could Caledonia use their own well as a back up system? How much will it cost to hook up to their system? How much will it cost the village to purchase their water? Caluorie said the board will be seeking answers to these and other questions in the upcoming discussions.

   The LCHD has set a May 2008 deadline for action on the matter.

No decision yet on Village of Caledonia water system

   It’s been a month since the Caledonia Village Board held a public meeting with residents to discuss a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandate that affects the municipal water supply. Mayor Joe Caluorie says, "The village board hasn’t made any official group decision on what action they will take to comply with the EPA rule."

   The EPA regulation places the Village of Caledonia well water as "ground water under influence," or GWUI, which means that the well is under significant risk for surface contamination because of its location and shallow depth. The USEPA placed water supplies that are GWUI, under a regulation called, "Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. The regulation, carried out by the Livingston County Environmental Health Department, requires the village to implement a filtration system or seek a new water source by May 2008.

   At the September 17, 2007 meeting, residents learned from the county health department that the water is safe to drink. James Mazurowski, director of Environmental Health in Livingston County, said samples taken from the well showed the presence of microscopic nematodes, organisms that are commonly found in surface water, along with traces of pollen and plant debris. Mazurowski said on their own, these findings are not a direct concern but they are indicators of the potential for surface contamination. The potential contamination risk is due to the shallowness of the well, which is only 17 feet deep, and the geology of the aquifer. Health department representatives say that the characteristically rocky bedrock contains fissures that the water to rapidly travel through, picking up and carrying with it, possible contaminants as it makes its way to the well at the base of East Avenue in Caledonia.

   John Paul Schepp of the village’s engineering firm, Chatfield Engineers, explained what possible alternatives the village board could take to get the water system in compliance with the EPA regulation. They include digging a new, deeper well in an alternate location or abandoning the century old well and purchasing water from the Monroe County Water Authority. Estimates showed that digging a new well would be very expensive, perhaps as much as a half a million dollars, with no guarantee of locating a clean and abundant source of water. It would cost the village about $110,000 to connect to MCWA and an additional $1.47 per thousand gallons of water to customers.

   With those estimates, it would seem clear what the village board should do. Caluorie says it’s not that clear cut because the health department is saying that the water is safe to drink, but potentially could be at risk.

   "We’ve drank the water from that well for over 100 years and we’ve never had a health issue. And now, no one can tell me if this water is a health risk."

   The mayor and Chris Buckley, head of the water and street department, met with a hydrogeologist to better understand the facts surrounding the current well, locating a new well and what are the ramifications, if any, of abandoning the current well. Caluorie says the well easily produces as much as 500,000 gallons of water a day and he wants to know from the hydrogeologist, what would happen if the village shuts down the pumps.

   Though the village board members indicated at the September meeting that they leaned toward abandoning the well and purchasing water from MCWA, the mayor says he plans to take things slow and look all things over. He plans to keep communication open with the public and said a final decision would be in place by the year’s end.

   "It doesn’t appear to be economically feasible to drill a new well. It’s a very costly process but it’s going to be up to the board," the mayor said.

   "I’ve got a stake in this community. I have family and grandchildren here. I want to know that the water and air here are safe. I know it looks like we should be going to a new water source, but I ask myself if I’m doing it for the right reasons," Caluorie said, referring to what he calls unclear evidence that the current well is not safe.

Public Meeting held to discuss Village Water

   The issue facing the Village of Caledonia has nothing to do with water quality, Mayor Joe Caluorie told the 110 people who attended the informational meeting at the Cal-Mum Middle School auditorium. The village hosted the September 18, 2007 meeting in corroboration with the Livingston County Environmental Health Department and Chatfield Engineers to discuss viable options to a USEPA regulation requiring the Village of Caledonia to make changes in the way they supply water to their customers.

   Changes in EPA regulations of public water supplies identified the Caledonia well as, "ground water under influence." GWUI means that the well is under significant risk for surface contamination because of its location and shallow depth. The regulation, carried out by the Livingston County Environmental Health Department, requires the village to take action by May 2008.

   While the issue facing the village is not water quality, the critical issue in this case is cost. Chatfield Engineers conducted a study to identify the costs, concerns and benefits associated with each of three options that the village could choose to take to comply with the regulations. John Paul Schepp of Chatfield Engineers serves as the chief engineer for the village. He presented all of the findings from the study along with the costs and the potential concerns and benefits of each one.

   The village could choose to improve the existing wells by installing a liner and disinfecting the well and surrounding soils. Engineers do not recommend this option because it may not meet long term EPA regulations. The cost for this option is estimated at $116,000 plus an additional cost to customers of 11 cents per thousand gallons of water consumed.

   Installing a filtration system to cleanse the current well water supply is an option, albeit a very costly one. The cost to install a filtration system could range between $560,000 and $1.3 million, an additional $1.57 to $2.03 per thousand gallons to customers. This option holds no guarantee that the system would meet long range EPA regulations.

   Another option is to drill a new well at a location determined through a hydrogeological study. This option would require an initial investment of $18,000 to drill test borings in various locations to determine water quantity and quality. The capital costs for drilling a new well is estimated at $479,000 and 46 cents per thousand gallons to customers. Schepp said this option is risky because drilling may not locate a good quality or quantity of water.

   The final option discussed was for the village to abandon its own wells and connect to the Monroe County Water Authority. The Village of Caledonia would buy its water from MCWA but would be responsible for maintaining the distribution of it to its customers. This option results in a $40,000 per year cost savings by ceasing operations in the water treatment plant and halting the pumps. The estimated cost of connecting to MCWA is $110,000 plus the additional cost to customers of $1.47 per thousand gallons of consumption.

   A show of hands from the audience indicated that many in the auditorium favor connecting to Monroe County Water. Village board members weighed in similarly on the issue, but expressed their support and confidence in the current village water supply. They acknowledged that the action is mandated and not a matter of choice for the village board. They assured the audience that their decision will be based on what is best for the residents of the community regarding public health, safety and taxes.

   Chris Buckley, who heads the village public works and water departments, after reviewing the engineering study for the past several weeks, half heartedly agreed with the majority.

   "I’m passionate about the water here but the regulations are getting tougher. We’ll still maintain the system but I guess it’s time to abandon the wells," Buckley somberly spoke.

   Mayor Caluorie said the village board would continue to pursue grant funding for the costs associated with whatever option the board chooses. He and Buckley have met with legislators in Albany and plan to return to further discuss grant options. The board will meet to discuss the outcome of this meeting and will work with the LCEHD to make an informed decision that meets the EPA regulation and best suits the residents of the Village of Caledonia.

EPA says Village water supply vulnerable to high risk

   The Livingston County Environmental Health Department in corroboration with the NYS Health Department, has identified the Village of Caledonia public water supply as "vulnerable and at high risk for surface contamination," and as a result, is working with the village to find the best method possible to address the existing situation.

One of the facets of an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulation called Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, or LT2ESWTR, called for closer inspection of public ground water supplies in use throughout the state. The regulation applies to Caledonia’s water system, which consists of two shallow wells that are replenished by a naturally occurring aquifer fed by underground springs located upstream of the wells.

Through testing of untreated water samples by the LCEHD, the Caledonia water system was identified as "ground water under direct influence," reported James Mazurowski, director of Environmental Health in Livingston County. Simply put, the Caledonia well is susceptible to a variety of contaminants that occur on the ground’s surface, such as human and wild life waste, chemicals and automobile leakage. The rapidly moving aquifer that results from the high gravel content of the soil in the Caledonia area is partly responsible for the potential for high risk contamination. The gravel and fissures in the rock surface allow the water flow to gain speed as it moves toward the well. Instead of the rocky soil acting as a cleansing agent to remove possible contaminants, it isn’t able to do its job sufficiently because the water is moving over it too rapidly, carrying with it potential contaminants from the ground’s surface.

"We’ve identified a potential risk and it all has to do with the geology in Caledonia and a shallow well. We’re working with the village to address this vulnerability," Mazurowski explained.

Source Water Assessment Program

The LCEHD conducted a Source Water Assessment Program that looks for potential sources of contamination within proximity of the well and also determines whether a geological barrier to it exists. The untreated well water sample revealed microscopic occurrences of pollen, plant and insect parts and algae. These items may naturally be found on the ground’s surface but shouldn’t be occurring in water. They are not a health hazard but they are an indicator that the well water is directly influenced by surface contaminants.

The SWAP also identified potential sources of contamination in the area of the well such as an industrial site near to the well, other industrial sites in the community that may influence the well, the use of herbicides, pesticides and residential contamination from septic systems.

The LCEHD and the Village Board of Trustees want residents to be assured that Caledonia village water is perfectly safe to drink and does not pose a public health risk to those who consume it. They also want to make clear that this is not an issue of inadequate maintenance nor is it a situation that could have been avoided.

In fact, the NYS Health Department recently recognized the Village of Caledonia for its consistent fluoride residual levels over an extended period of time. Mazurowski says the current situation with the Caledonia water supply complying with the EPA regulation is not in any way related to the daily operation of the system.

"It’s really two different operations. The village water system is well maintained and the daily operation of the system is fine. We have not identified a problem with the water but we have identified that the system is potentially at increased risk for contamination," said Mazurowski.

Board seeks public input for a solution

Caledonia is considering several options that would place them in compliance with the EPA regulation by January 2008. One option would be to make improvements to the existing wells and treatment process. Mazurowski said this option may not be achievable because a sewer system does not exist and there are several industrial sites that continue to do business in Caledonia. The village could install a filtration and disinfection system that would mimic what should be occurring naturally as the water travels through the rocky soil. A system of this type would relieve the potential for risk to the well. The village could opt to keep their own water supply by developing new wells, complete with newly designed filtration and disinfection systems in place. Perhaps the easiest solution and possibly the least expensive would be for the village to abandon its wells and connect to Monroe County Water. Mazurowski says his department is available to help guide the process but adds that the decision lies with the local government and the residents who are public water customers.

"The LCEHD is working with the Village of Caledonia to determine the best method of remediation possible. Public involvement is important in the decision making process," Mazurowski explained.

The Caledonia Village Board along with its engineers and representatives from the Livingston County Environmental Health Department will host a public meeting on Tuesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. in the middle school office.

EPA may shut-off Village of Caledonia water

   An EPA regulation may force the Village of Caledonia to consider abandoning their private underground well water supply and moving to a new water source in the next several months. It’s not a result of poor water quality, low quantity or chemical contamination. The Village of Caledonia public water system, which serves approximately 900 properties, is completely safe at this time for public consumption. The action is a result of a January 2006 regulation issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to all small public water supplies, like the Village of Caledonia, that aims to eliminate public water supplies that are deemed through testing, to be susceptible to contamination from outside surface influences that could enter the well. In plain language, the Village of Caledonia water system does not comply with the EPA regulation because of how it is supplied, by a very old well that could possibly, someday, become contaminated by surface runoff.

   Officially called the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, or LT2ESWTR, the regulation takes aim at all public water supplies determined to be Groundwater Under the Direct Influence (GWUDI), which the Village of Caledonia’s is. The New York State Department of Health and the Livingston County Department of Health have notified the village that it must comply with LT2ESWTR by June 2008.

   Chatfield Engineers, under direction from the village board, completed a water study that proposes three possible remediation plans that would bring the village water into compliance with the EPA regulation. They include:

• Make improvements to the existing well facility to prevent surface contamination.
• Install a filtration system (different from the air stripper process already in place).
• Develop new wells.
• Abandon the current wells and purchase water from Monroe County Water Authority.

   The letter reminds customers that there is no need for alarm or concern about the water they drink.

   "Village of Caledonia water customers should be aware that the treated water supply is safe and meets or exceeds all present state and federal drinking water standards."

   The village board is eager to engage in clear and productive dialogue with the public regarding what steps should be taken next to put the village water supply in compliance with the regulation. Village residents will receive a letter this week explaining the regulation and what impact it has on the water. A public meeting with the village board, health department officials and Chatfield Engineers is scheduled for Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 7 p.m. at the Caledonia-Mumford Middle School auditorium, 99 North Street, Caledonia.