2018

In 2018 we have continued to locate and repair leaks in the water system. We have gone from an average of 38,000 gallons a day usage in 2012 down to 24,000 gallons per day usage in 2018. During 2018 we responded to two major leaks in the system and located and repaired 6 minor leaks. We installed a brand new hydrant at the entrance of Williams Field and installed 4 new bollard posts to protect it in the future. At Canaan Street Lake we replaced 3 damaged water buoys and installed three new ones. The buoys create a restricted zone for our water supply.

We would like to thank Bob Scott and the hard working members of the DPW for their tireless effort in assisting us on all our projects in 2018.

Also, we would like to thank the Canaan Lake Association for monitoring and protecting lake’s water quality. Twice a year, CLA member Elizabeth Jutila helps us install and remove the 5 buoys in the restricted area.

Wastewater

In 2018 we finished the energy upgrade at Depot Street and tweaked the system in to improve the performance of the two pumps at the lift station. Along with new alarms and a new SCADA system, the lift system is operating at peak performance levels. With these improvements we have both saved energy and improved reliability of the lift station.

With the onset of winter in early November we were unable to install our aeration system in our two lagoons. We will be looking at installing them in the late spring of 2019.

In the fall we reapplied and upgraded our permits at the wastewater treatment plant and the two septage treatment lagoons. The permit for the wastewater treatment plant along with lagoons and the rapid infiltration basins came in the middle of January, and we expect to see the septage permit in February.

2017

Due to less revenue from outside of Canaan and higher testing costs, the budget at the start of 2017 had a shortfall of revenue of about $40,000. Part of that deficit is being made up by a 15% increase in fees. This results in a $21 increase every quarter and raises about $20,000 to cover the shortage in revenue.

We are searching for savings to offset the rest of the shortage.

Operator John Coffey applied for grants and used very creative shopping treduce the cost of electricity in the wastewater system.

The first part was to install new pumps and controllers in the sewage pump station in the Village.

Controller for pumps that runs the pump
at a variable speed.

The variable drive controller will be installed on the pump motors in our underground pump station in Canaan Village.

The second strategy was to acquire a used defuse air bubbler that pumps air into the waste water lagoons to break down the wastes.

A series of these bubblers will release air from a single compressor feeding both sewage lagoons.

Overhead view of the Sewage Lagoons

Prior to this we used mechanical mixers to add air by churning the water. This process uses a lot more energy. John was able to acquire a virtually new system for $1

Overall, these changes should result in about $6,000 in savings.

2016

Water Line Break

On the night of Tuesday, May 24 the Village experienced a major water line break on the pipeline that passes under Indian River by the Route 4 bridge.

This is the second break at that location in three years.

A three foot section of the pipeline was cut out and replaced. The picture shows the 3 foot section that was removed. In the picture you can see the hole that was present and the stainless steel collar that was put on three years ago to repair the prior leak. You can also see a great deal of corrosion in the line. As it turns out, the line is very old. The line is made of bituminous coated ductile iron. Almost immediately after repairing that leak, several new leaks were discovered. The leaks are continuously dropping water pressure throughout the system and making it difficult to keep the tank filled. Those leaks, coupled with the corrosion that has blocked about half of the pipe's capacity, led to the decision to replace the line from Williams Field to the Graceville Road intersection.

Permits were applied for to dig up the entire old line and put in a new line. A completely new water line was installed between Williams Field and Graceville Rd in November 2016.

Changes in Revenue

The Town has relied on revenue from effluent dumping from a condominium association in Enfield. That revenue has been about $15,000 to $20,000 a year. The revenue is no longer coming to us since the system in Enfield is being replaced. As a result, we have a short-fall in the revenue for water and sewer of about $20,000. It is likely that the water rates will go up about 10% during 2017.

Lead Pipes Found

During the year, we discovered that there are homes with old water service lines (lines that run from the curb shut-off to the home) that are made of lead. We are checking all homes and will replacing the service lines as they are discovered.

Lead in Water

On Saturday, April 30th, the Valley News ran an article about lead in some water tests in the Canaan Village Water System. The following are some related facts about Village water and the presence of lead.

THE PRESENCE OF LEAD IN HOME WATER SYSTEMS APPLIES TO ONLY 6 HOMES OUT OF 200 HOMES ON THE CANAAN VILLAGE WATER SYSTEM; ONLY THREE OF THESE ARE STILL IMPACTED

• Canaan water is tested every year for the presence of lead.
  
  
• Traditionally, 10 to 20 homes in Canaan are tested per year. That's about 5 to 10% of the homes. The locations are selected by the State. We ask those homeowners to take a water sample first thing in the morning that we then send out for testing.
  
  
• In 2014, we took samples from 20 locations (10%) and performed a total of 23 tests. Five of these test in 4 homes indicated the presence of lead that could be a concern. One of those homes was tested twice and had an elevated lead level both times. The rest of the levels were safe. Safe tests included four tests in the elementary school.
  
  
• In 2015, we took samples from 43 of the 200 buildings in the Village including the school and senior center. We tested 22% of all buildings. Three buildings indicated the presence of lead. That is about one and a half percent. The rest were safe and the safe areas included both the school and the senior center.

What do these tests show?

• First, there is no universal presence of lead in Canaan Water.
  
  
• Second, there is the presence of lead in some homes in Canaan.

Statistics:

• 2014 - 23 tests in 20 locations - 4 locations had high lead. 16 locations were safe. The school was safe.
  
  
• 2015 - 43 tests in 40 locations - 3 locations had high lead. 37 locations were safe. The school and the senior center were safe.

Why is there lead in the water in some homes?

• Lead can come from a number of sources. Where the lead is present in only a few of the homes, the likely source is in the plumbing of those homes.
  
  
• There can be water lines in the home that have been connected using lead solder. As the water passes through the pipes, it can dissolve the solder which then creates a reading of lead in the water.
  
  
• There can be very old service connections that have lead pipes that connect the homes to the water main. Again, lead can be dissolved in the water as it passes through these pipes.
  
  
• The water sample may be taken in the wrong way which can result in a higher lead sample. Drawing from hot water will increase readings
  
  
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All of these issues are related to a specific property rather than the whole system.

What we are doing?

We are trying to determine if the problem is in the home or between the water main and the home. If it is in the connection between the water main and the home, we will replace it. If it is in the home, we will advise on how to manage the problem. Click on the Water Quality Tab above to learn more about dealing with lead in your water.

2014

• During 2014, the Canaan Water and Sewer Department flushed all lines and hydrants and made several repairs to water, sewer and storm sewer lines. Residuals continued to be closely monitored with an emphasis placed on rotating the water in the storage tank.
  
  
• Using the services of Granite State Rural Water Association, the Department checked about .4 of a mile of line and found no leaks. Beyond that testing, seven leaks were found and repaired on Chief's Drive, Highland, at a hydrant on the corner of Bruce Road and Route 4, Batten Lane, 56 Route 118 and 1167 US Route 4.
  
  
• A second event has been the overall reduction in water usage since the new rates per gallon have gone into effect. Water consumption is down about 6%.
  
  
• The result of our work is that the unaccounted for water has been reduced from 31% to 7% and we are no longer required to monitor for water waste. See the letter from NH DES below:
  
  

Click to View or Print

2013

• In June 2013, 500 feet of new 2 inch waterline was installed on Highland Ave and approximately 400 feet was installed on Follansbee Road. Both of these waterlines have new blow-off hydrants to maintain water quality.
  
  
• Significant changes were made in the operation of the water storage tank to conserve water and assure that the water is fresh in the tank. Water intake filters were cleaned for the first time in many years.
  
  
• Fire hydrants were flushed this year to verify their capability and to clean out the service lines.

2012

• Water quality related to chlorine residuals is still well within state limits – we are going on two years of good tests results.
  
  
• All new water meters were installed by January 1, 2013. We thank everyone for working with M2 Water Services to complete the initial installations in three weeks! CAUTION - If you used heat tape on the old meter, please check your system to make sure the tape has been re-attached. Remember that these meters are plastic and should not be over heated to the point where the plastic melts.
  
  
• We have submitted a water conservation plan to the state that will equalize the water and sewer rates for all users over the next two years by dropping the lowest users' rate to equal the largest users' rates.

2010 & 2011: Water

• Addition of new deep well water source for about 50% of all water
  
  
• New sand in sand filters
  
  
• Result is 50% less chlorine used and 50% less chlorine residuals in the water and less corrosion of copper pipes.

2010 & 2011: Sewer

• The rebuilding of the four Rapid Infiltration Beds to increase the Town's capacity to return aerated effluent to the soil.
  
  
• Result is that the system's overall capacity increased from 55,000 gallons per day to 75,000 gallons per day or a 36% increase.
  
  

Lead and Copper

A few homes in Canaan Village have plumbing that leaches lead into their water.

Advice if you have Lead

If lead is found present in your home, we will notify you.

Lead can enter your home from lead plumbing materials which can include pipes from the streets, interior pipes, faucets, fittings and the solder that holds them all together. If these fixtures become corroded they can begin to release lead into the water. Corrosion is most likely to happen when water has a high acid or low mineral content and sits inside pipes for several hours.

While homes built before 1986 are the most likely to have lead plumbing, it can be found in newer homes as well. Until two years ago, the legal limit for "lead-free" pipes was up to 8% lead. As of January 1, 2014, all newly installed water faucets, fixtures, pipes and fittings must meet new lead-free requirements, which reduces the amount of lead allowed to 0.25%. But that doesn't apply to existing fixtures, such as what is found in many older homes.

Until you eliminate the source of lead in your home water, you should take the following steps any time you wish to use tap water for drinking or cooking, especially when the water has been off and sitting in the pipes for more than 6 hours:

• Before using any tap water for drinking or cooking, flush your water system by running the kitchen tap (or any other tap you take drinking or cooking water from) on cold for 1-2 minutes.
  
  
• Then, fill clean container(s) with water from this tap. This water will be suitable for drinking, cooking, preparation of baby formula, or other consumption.
  
  
• To conserve water, collect multiple containers of water at once (after you have fully flushed the water from the tap as described).

If the lead in your home's water is from a pipe from the street, additional flushing is necessary any time you wish to use tap water for drinking or cooking, especially when the water has been off and sitting in the pipes for more than 6 hours.

• Before using any tap water for drinking or cooking, run high-volume taps (such as your shower) on cold for 5 minutes or more.
  
  
• Then, run the kitchen tap on cold for 1-2 additional minutes;
  
  
• Fill clean container(s) with water from this tap. This water will be suitable for drinking, cooking, preparation of baby formula, or other consumption.
  
  
• To conserve water, collect multiple containers of water at once (after you have fully flushed the water from the tap as described).
  
  

In either situation, drink or cook only with water that comes out of the tap COLD. Water that comes out of the tap warm or hot can contain much higher levels of lead. Boiling this water will NOT reduce the amount of lead in your water.

Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure. Therefore, for homes with children or pregnant women and with water lead levels exceeding EPA's action level of 15 ppb, CDC recommends using bottled water or water from a filtration system that has been certified by an independent testing organization to reduce or eliminate lead for cooking, drinking, and baby formula preparation. Because most bottled water does not contain fluoride, a fluoride supplement may be necessary.

Advice for lead safe water practices after plumbing work in housing with lead water lines or lead solder. These practices include:

• Make sure that repairs to copper pipes do not use lead solder.
  
  
• Testing water after plumbing work in older housing. Please contact your state lead program for information about water testing in your area.
  
  
Inspecting the aerator on the end of the faucet and removing any debris such as metal particles.
• Flushing water lines before using the water for drinking or cooking.