Village approves inline flow meters as water plant nears startup; wastewater work on schedule

The Village of Rhinebeck Board of Trustees voted to approve the purchase of inline magnetic flow meters to improve chemical dosing control at the village water filtration plant, the board heard during its March meeting.

Jason, who presented the water and wastewater updates, said crews were performing a hydraulic startup on rehabilitated Trident filter units and that a full startup including equipment in a new building is scheduled for April 21. Jason recommended installing inline mag meters to replace 1990s-era orifice-plate meters, saying the older meters clog, require higher maintenance and provide poorer accuracy. He told trustees the contractor quoted $18,618 for materials and labor, and that about $12,000 of that is material cost.

"We would need one for each filtration unit so that it can control the amount of chemical that's going in automatically and maintain the proper concentrations," Jason said, explaining the meters allow chemical feed pumps to meter dosing to actual flow.

Trustees discussed contingency funds and operating benefits. The board noted roughly $111,000 remained in contingency on the related contract even after approving the meters, and voted to approve the purchase; no individual roll-call tally appears in the transcript.

Jason also gave a brief wastewater update. He said the mechanical bar screen was operating, the treatment trains had transitioned to the first sand filter, and the oxidation-side sand filter renovation would proceed faster now that equipment was on site. He said the contractor expects to complete equipment start-ups and punch-list items by June.

The village will proceed with installation and calibration; trustees asked that staff report back on startup results and any credits the contractor provides for prior contingency allowances.