C I T Y O F C O N C O

C i t y o f C o n c o r d

W e e k l y C i t y M a n a g e r N e w s l e t t e r

January 5, 2018

CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION WINTER RECREATION

Beginning on Monday, January 8th, With the recent freezing Concord residents who have curbside weather, Parks staff has been trash and recycling collection may place busy preparing the skating their Christmas tree at the curb for dis- areas. All skating areas were posal on their regular trash collection flooded this past Wednesday day. All lights, ornaments, tinsel and morning, when the tempera- decorations must be removed from the ture was -19. Before yester- tree. Wreaths and artificial trees will day’s snow storm began, all not be collected. Christmas tree collec- areas were ready for skating. Staff are hopeful to be able to tion will run for two weeks through Jan- remove snow from the out- uary 19th. Residents may also take their Christmas tree to the Transfer Station door skating areas prior to this at 77 Old Turnpike Road during the month of January. The Transfer Station is weekend. If park mainte- open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. nance staff are on the ice flooding or utilizing equip- CHEERS, GRATITUDE & ABUNDANCE ment, please stay off the skat- Concord Human Services is grateful to all of the organizations, ing area until they have com- sponsors, donors, City departments, and community members pleted their work. Don’t for- who made this holiday season special for its clients. City de- get to bring your sled to White Park and do a little sledding partments held their annual Pantry Palooza Drive, which this weekend. Conditions was a great success. Donations included laundry soap, pasta, couldn’t get any better! diapers, shaving cream, shampoo, and other basic necessities. The Concord Public Library held their annual Food for Fines Drive, and they dropped off The cross country ski trails at a car full of goodies. Many thanks go out to the Concord Fire Department, Beaver Meadow Golf and Deb Marcotte, for asking about Human Services’ specific needs and Course are groomed and providing those items in abundance, with Captain Ernie Petrin delivering. ready for use. If it’s too cold Captain Thomas Nault and Firefighter Robert Andrews each donated a $25 for you to ski or skate, head gift card to Market Basket. Concord General Services and Parking Enforce- inside and check out their golf ment Officer Paul Garland also made a delivery. simulators.

Speaking of the golf simula- Our Christmas program was spectacular thanks to many sponsors and donors: tors, there’s still time to sign the Legal Advice & Referral Center sponsored a family with two children; up for Beaver Meadow’s win- the NH Health Trust and the NH Municipal Association splurged on eight ter simulator league. The children; Beaver Meadow Village was generous with their gifts, particularly League started this week and with gift cards for teens; Joan Gilmore showed her Christmas spirit and spon- finishes at the end of March. sored a child; Eddie and Lisa Drouse filled the wishes of one little girl’s list; It consists of 2-person teams Matt Walsh delivered a box full of gifts for his sponsored child; the City competing weekly in varying Clerk’s Office had fun shopping for a toddler; Michelle Mulholland’s formats against other teams. thoughtfulness extended to fulfilling the Christmas list of a teen girl; the staff There will be weekly winners from the Collections Office helped a brother and sister to have a Merry and a season-long points race. Christmas; and John and Carrie Duval braved the crowds on Black Friday to Entry fee is $50 per team, plus a weekly fee of $20 per per- do their shopping! Concord Human Services sincerely thanks everyone for son. To sign up, call the Pro their kindheartedness. View Archived Newsletters Shop at 228-8954. Weekly City Manager Newsletter Page 2

January 5, 2018

CONCORD WATER PROVIDING OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE The City’s utilities continue to perform ‘above and beyond’ with recent recognitions in wastewater operations and drinking water quality. Concord is the recipient of two new awards in regards to drinking water quality and wastewater services, in addition to being a leading public water supply in the state for voluntarily exceeding sampling requirements for regulation lead and copper testing.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working towards revising regulations to test for the presence of lead and copper in drinking water by expanding the testing of homes not only considered as part of the highest risk group (homes dated between 1982 and 1988, due to lead pipes, solder, or service lines), but also to include older homes, prior to 1982, with unknown plumbing. Although this proposed change is not yet required for utilities, the City volunteered to follow this proposal with its most recent lead and copper testing to proactively ensure customer safety. Although Concord General Services has removed all known lead services from the City’s water distribution system, customers could still have lead present in their drinking water due to service lines or fixtures within their private property. Lead and copper levels are measured as a 90th percentile with lead limits at 15 parts per billion (ppb) and copper at 1.3 parts per million (ppm). Concord’s test results came in well below the requirements, at 3 ppb for lead and 0.044 ppm for copper. In addition, results indicate that the older homes added to the sampling statistically had a lower exposure than the highest risk group of homes between 1982 and 1988. Overall, these tests conclude that Concord’s corrosion control program is successful to prevent lead-leaching, and that staff proactively ensures the highest quality of drinking water possible to customers.

The City’s Water Treatment Facility received the 2016 Water Fluorida- tion Quality Award from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fluoridation is the adjustment of the level of fluoride, a naturally occurring element in drinking water, to a consistent amount that is effective in preventing tooth decay and improving oral health. Community water fluoridation has been recognized by the CDC as one of ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. Visit www.cdc.gov/fluoridation for more information.

The City’s Penacook Wastewater Treatment Facility received the 2016 Plant of the Year Award from the New Hampshire Water Pollution Con- trol Association. This award evaluates facility regulation compliance, safety, employee education, public outreach, professional participation in the organization, and a site visit. Optimal facility performance, as demonstrat- ed by this award, ensures efficient water and bio-solid resource recovery to protect the quality of the Merrimack River and overall public health.

The City of Concord continues to provide the community with the highest quality of drinking water and wastewater services. Visit www.concordnh.gov/generalservices for more information about Concord’s water and wastewater. Weekly City Manager Newsletter Page 3

January 5, 2018