Town Commissioners Minutes — 2025-06-18
Minutes June 18, 2025 · 1 page(s)
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These are minutes of a June 18, 2025 work session where the Queenstown Commissioners met with Susquehanna Operations owner George Smith to review the wastewater treatment plant membrane condition. Smith reported the membranes (installed 2021, 3-year warranty, 10-year expected life) have declining permeability after successive cleanings (new = 15; after 1st clean = 13.5; 2nd = 10.5; 3rd = 6; 4th = 4.5), current capacity about 80 gallons per minute versus 160 gpm for new membranes, and noted ragging at 15% and delamination issues. He said he believes chlorine levels have caused membrane damage, that the town’s sheet-membrane design is inferior to straw/tubular designs used elsewhere, and recommended getting quotes for upgraded membranes (including non-sheet designs) and evaluating adding a coarse screen in addition to the existing fine screen. Commissioners agreed to pursue his recommendations; Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan will send letters to M+H and Ovivo, the Town will solicit other manufacturers for bids, and Mr. Smith will provide contact information. The session concluded with a recorded vote of 3 aye, 0 nay.
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QUEENSTOWN COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION June 18,2025 PRESENT: President Al Hardee, Commissioners Tom Willis & Bryon Callahan, Town Manager Amy Moore, Town Clerk Aaron Horney, Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:34 PM The purpose of the work session was to meet with representatives from the Town's waterlwastewater operations contractor, Susquehanna Operations, to receive updates on current conditions at the wastewater treatment plant. Susquehanna owner George Smith discussed current conditions of the plant's membranes. Were installed in 2021 with a 3 year warranty- were told generally have a l0-yr life expectancy. Permeability at new for the membranes is rated 15, following recovery cleanings of the membranes, perneability decreased. 1't clean@ 13.5,2"d clean@ 10.5, 3'd clean@ 6,4tr clean which was performed early due to necessity@ 4.5. New membranes handle 160 gallmin, currently at 80 gallmin max. M+H report states current condition of membranes: ragging @ 15% (not critical in Mr. Smith's opinion), delamination issues. Mr. Smith belief that chlorine levels used leading to damage of membranes. Stated town's plant only one he services that uses sheet membranes. Others have straw-tubular membranes which be believes are a better product. Town's plant has only fine screens- others have course and fine screens. Believes our membranes are at the end of their life expectancy and need to be replaced. Susquehanna operator keeps meticulous records, which M+H has access to- questions why Town not alerted to membrane issues by them previously. Mr. Smith recommends Town get a cost quote for currently available upgraded membranes from M+H along with criteria of why they are a better product than what Town currently has. Prefers Town to look into other companies membrane products that would work in our planr look into non-sheet-design membrane products if possible. Believes current membranes have only months of functionality left. Also recommends looking into retrofitting plant with course icreen in addition to the existing fine screen if possible. Commissioners agree to consider Mr. Smith's recommendations. Ms. Ryan will send letters to M+H and Ovivo regarding the membrane issues and Town will reach ouf to other manufacturers to get bids for membrane replacement- Mr. Smith will get contact info for other manufacturers and provide to Town. There being no further discussion, second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nalt.