RoundtableDiscussion

I.        Call to Order

        The meeting was called to order by Chairman Wehrly at 7:09 p.m.

II.        Roll Call of Members by Secretary John Lord

      Authority Secretary, John Lord called the roll of members. Chuck Wehrly, Nelson
Engborg, John Lord, George Gwizd, and Ed Gyllenhammer were present. Dr. Thomas
McKenna and Dr. Robert Powitz were absent.

Also in attendance were: WPCA Coordinator Stephen Luckett, Peter Grose of Fuss & O’
Neill, Inc., Town Sanitarian Scott Martinson, Robbie Marshall, WPCA Clerk, Ed Miles of
World Stone, Dick Hartman a Massachusetts septic service provider, Gary Yuknat of
Shoreline Sanitation, Bill Walters of Walters and Sons, and food service professionals,
grease removal specialists, and septic system monitoring companies and concerned
members of the public.

III.        Roundtable Discussion with Food Service Professionals, Septic System
Monitoring Companies and Grease Removal Specialists

The meeting began with a Power Point presentation by Steve Luckett. Mr. Luckett
introduced the problems with grease, an end product in food services as defined by the
EPA and the DEP. F.O.G. (meaning Fats, Oil, and Grease) winds up in the waste
stream and septic system. It migrates through pipes and causes back up and clogs up
leach fields. DEP suggests 3 ways to handle it: 1) Collect renderable grease - make
pellets 2) mix with diesel - bio diesel 3) incineration - rather than wasting fuel mix with
natural gas to generate power.

Coordinator Luckett's slides included the Cooperation Between the OS Health Dept. and
WPCA. It listed the 5-year pump out program, random inspection of systems, orders
issued and repairs, management framework in place. At this time there is 90%
compliance with the pump out.

The Overview slide listed: High strength waste, F.O.G clogging leaching systems, Dairy
products present a challenge - difficult to treat, System management through Ordinance
75, New technology.

Mr. Luckett gave background information on how we have arrived at this point: DEP Has
Taken Action Against Old Saybrook - Court Order, WPCA and Consulting engineers did
extensive research, Some commercial septic systems have required extensive repairs.

The next slides were used to describe Old Saybrook and highlight septic and
groundwater relationships and environmental effects. Wastewater treatment systems
have an impact on our Marine Resources - all wastewater treatment systems produce a
discharge. It is important to realize that here we have a major river with no major city at
the mouth.

What's the Problem? Pollution seeps into the ground, it's invisible. No grease traps,
blockages.

The Proper Septic System Setting slide depicted a house and system. It was noted that
some areas have high water tables and homes and systems are located too close to the
water. There are a few cesspools left in town. The wastewater goes right into the
ground and then finds the groundwater. With a cesspool only 5% of the wastewater is
treated. Some areas showed only 6-48" depth to groundwater while others, like
Cornfield Point ranged up to 15'.

Mr. Luckett provided a brief history of wastewater collection systems beginning with the
Romans' tidal system to the dangerous systems of the 19th century which resulted in
illness, and then sewage being introduced to rivers and streams. Examples of modern
treatment systems were shown. A Municipal slide was followed by Point Source
Discharge illustrating problems, accidents and examples of places impacted. The
failures cited were due to equipment, personnel, or operational procedures. Old
Saybrook's choice was between a centralized treatment plant and a localized solution.
Old Saybrook chose the latter.

Mr. Luckett finished his presentation with the WPCA Plan Components, the DEP F.O.G.
Plan, Program Status, and Going Forward (with commercial systems.)

Ed Miles from World Stone (a Cape Cod, Massachusetts septic system monitoring
company) presented their product. Mr. Miles first described the 25 billion-dollar problem
of grease impact on septic and sewer systems. He explained that 75% of systems work
on a 50% capacity and that grease causes 40-50% of the overflows, which is hazardous
to the city and facility. Mr. Miles quoted other figures, for example in Los Angeles
County alone 1.5 million dollars is spent on cleaning and management, and that fast
growing food service is now a 407 billion-dollar industry.

Mr. Miles discussed the effectiveness of solutions such as: pump more frequently, pump
the tank dry, educate the public, install larger traps, mandate outside interceptors,
biological additions, outlet tees and baffles.

He then introduced the technology which consists of: Smart Ultrasonic Sensor - highly
specialized, data sent digitally every minute, displays incremental changes (floating
solids, bottom & total, liquid level, temperature), and can show if tank is working
properly. The Programmable Control Unit has: normal service required settings, alarm
settings, 20-year memory, local or remote data down load, and upgrade to remote
monitoring. The transducer sits about 24" off the bottom giving off ultrasonic
wavelengths once a minute. It condenses records and keeps them for 20 years.

The graphic "Installation in a Commercial Grease Trap - tank cross section" illustrated
the presence of the equipment. Other graphics showed levels of fluids and solids, time
stamping information, usage over time, and other important monitoring data.

Mr. Miles provided the End User Benefits: "eye in the tank" technology 24/7, service call
based on data, alarm warns of backup and overflows, historical record, and effective
management planning. The control unit can show levels to the owner. The costs are
$1500 - $2000 which can be exacted in a monthly fee and service plan. The septic
option is a different product, gauging when it should be pumped and costing $500. He
would recommend preferred service providers. Mr. Miles, Mr. Luckett, and Dick
Hartman answered questions from the WPCA and public.

IV.        Comments From the Public

Chairman Wehrly asked: what kind of features are on the monitor? A poster depicting
the monitor was circulated. It can show when it is time to pump as well as indicate when
illegal dumping into the trap was done with a time stamp.   See the Programmable
Control Unit slide information on page 2.

Gary Yuknat made a comment. This product eliminates a regulator telling a restaurant
owner how to run their business, the pumping time is more accurate

John Lord wanted to know, who are the regulators who require this equipment? Mr.
Miles answered that towns can use monitors instead of doing "sludge judging" and
increasing their work force. They can use this system to read meters, with no tools, or
trap lifting. Mr. Lord wanted to know how many municipalities have this requirement?
No one has mandated it right now, but they are working with 30 communities, offering
the system as an alternative to inspection (dipping.)

Mr. Lord asked where would you locate a control unit for multiple tanks? The response
was that it was recommended it be in the last tank. Mr. Lord also inquired how multiple
commercial users would share the costs. Mr. Miles suggested they put the monitor in
and charge them all equally. Mr. Lord wanted to know how the cost of maintenance is
justified. The response was that it was the same as any others (pump out, parking lot
maintenance, etc.), split among the tenants.

Ed Gyllenhammer asked, how does a small business market it to others?

Dick Hartman discussed his perspective (service provider) on the product. Using
conventional methods makes it hard to sample, inconsistent, some tanks are too full. It
gives credibility to the service provider and regulator, while protecting the owner. The
device is the independent arbitrator, which makes good decisions.

John Lord wanted to know, what kind of acceptance was there in Rhode Island?
Mr. Miles replied that he is working with George Lewis of the University of Rhode Island.

Steve Luckett spoke with Joe Nestico of DEP. He was told that grease regulations (for
grease collection) will not be in place for another year. Old Saybrook is in a position to
provide the state with guidance, since no basic guidelines are available. He then
explained the difficulty with high temperature dishwashers, 110 degrees keeps the
grease in the effluent. Two or even three grease traps might be required to get the
temperature down. In Massachusetts, they don't have dishwashers hooked up to
grease traps.

Jean Castagno asked if this product would be beneficial to a homeowner in Old
Saybrook, with the 5-year pump out mandate. Mr. Miles felt that it could take 15 years
to pay for itself. The town would be able to monitor the system and even see if it were
failing, but unless the pump out cycle were shorter, it's probably more cost effective for
commercial uses. A cost benefit analysis could be done. New construction may benefit
from it. A lot of tanks are failing, but in Massachusetts their Title V regulations cause
them to be replaced gradually as homes turn over.

It was noted that it would cost $15-20,000 to sewer each household in Old Saybrook.

Jean Castagno asked if there are natural bacteria that dissolve grease. Dick Hartman
responded that it takes time for bacteria to work on grease, which has a high oxygen
demand. So the grease slows the degradation process down and kills the bacteria via
lack of oxygen.

Steve Luckett said that these products emulsify the grease, which winds up in the leach
fields and turn solid. Nothing has been developed. We have to burn it at high
temperatures, 1500 degrees. Ordinance 75 requires grease trap service every 90 days.

Mrs. Castagno wanted to know what Old Saybrook can do.

Chairman Wehrly suggested persuasion and enforcement.

George Gwizd reminded the audience that there was literature available.

Chairman Wehrly asked for additional questions. There were none. He thanked
everyone for attending.

V.         Adjournment

A motion to adjourn was made at 8:49p.m. by George Gwizd and seconded by
Ed Gyllenhammer. The motion was carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,
Old Saybrook Water Pollution Control Authority

Robbie Marshall

Robbie Marshall
WPCA Clerk