Presentation to NorthbridgeBoard of Selectmen

February 13, 2012

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Why Are We Here?

Riverdale Water Company (RWC) is

seeking a contract to supply the Town of

Northbridge with high-quality, affordable water through the Northbridge-

owned distribution system.

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About Riverdale Water Company

Northbridge-based Riverdale Water Company, LLC was formed in 2003 to engage in the distribution and sale of water for drinking, domestic and industrial purposes, and the protection against fire in within the Town of Northbridge  

Riverdale Water Company was founded in 2000 with the purchase of a 47-acre parcel located off Quaker St.

RWC drilled many exploratory wells until it found a location where excellent aquifer material was protected by an overlying clay layer

RWC currently sells water to bulk water haulers who use it for swimming pools and cooling water for power plants

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Town of Northbridge: Current Situation

Two Piping Systems Whitinsville Water Company (WWC)

owned and Town of Northbridge owned 2,234 households are served by the

Northbridge system

Northbridge’s Current Water Supply, provided by WWC, Contains Levels of Iron and Manganese That Sometimes Exceed The National Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels

Undesirable aesthetics Damage to water handling equipment

WWC’s supply, influenced by surface water, must be treated, driving up cost for Northbridge residents

WWC, in a report to the Department of Public Utilities projected the construction cost of the now operational water treatment plant to be $5.9 M

Excessive levels of iron in the brain have been linked

to Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease

Certain populations should not ingest more than 0.3 mg/L of manganese for

greater than 10 consecutive days

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Town of Northbridge: Current Situation

No Secondary Source of Water in Case of Emergency Wasting Water

30% of water pumped through the Northbridge system is being wasted because of leaking, inefficient water pipes

One of the highest unaccounted-for-water percentage in the state

MassDep recommends that unaccounted-for-water should be 10% or lower

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Solution: It’s All About the Water

RWC has developed, permitted and constructed a new source of water at no capital cost to Northbridge

More than $1.1 M has been spent to develop the source and build a pumping station

Since our last meeting… Completed two pumping wells Built a pumping station that will be operable in March

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Solution: It’s All About the Water

RWC’s source is unique as it has no iron or manganese

The concentration of iron found in WWC’s water supply ranges from 0-2 mg/L and the concentration for manganese ranges from 0-0.36 mg/L

RWC’s aquifer, at 90 to 124 feet below ground, is protected by a thick layer of silt and clay, ensuring no surface water is able to cause contamination

RWC has the ability to supply 277 million gallons per year

Town purchased 191 million gallons wholesale from WWC in 2009

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Why Is This Important to Northbridge?

Health

Residents of Northbridge will receive healthy, quality water free of iron and

manganese

Aesthetics

Northbridge’s water supply will not cause damage to property coming into

contact with water

Emergency Preparedness

With a secondary supplier such as RWC, Northbridge will be prepared in

case of drought or other emergencies

RWC will be ready to supply water in April (pending permit approval) as

drought-season approaches

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Why Is This Important to Northbridge?

Economic

Leaking, inefficient pipes will be replaced as RWC stands ready to

apply for Federal and/or State grants to upgrade pipes

By conserving water, excess water would be available to sell to

adjacent towns, generating revenue for Northbridge

Estimated $150,000 to $260,000 in revenue based on water

saved by repaired pipes

Potential reduction in water costs for residents and businesses

connected to Northbridge pipes

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Next Steps

Northbridge Contract with RWC to Supply Water to the Customers of the Northbridge Distribution System (up to 277 million gallons per year)

RWC to Apply for Federal and/or State Grants to Detect and Repair Leaks in Pipes

Secure State Permit to Expand Approved Pumping Volume From 0.138 million gallons per day to 0.76 million gallons per day

Receive Letter of Intent From Board of Selectmen

to Prove RWC’s Customer Base

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Q & A