Reports: Executive Director’s Reports

June 23, 2011

  1. Well Installation - We are in the process of installing the 13 wells authorized for this year’s program. If all goes well, preliminary vacuum work on all of the wells will be complete today, with drilling to start tomorrow and completion shortly after July 4. We are using a new contractor this year, and so far all has gone smoothly.
  2. City-State Groundwater Working Group - The Working Group will meet again in July.
  3. MBTA - The MBTA yesterday gave GZA Environmental authorization to proceed on the Tunnel Repair design contract. Design of the long term solution for low groundwater levels in the South End near Back Bay Station will be one of the first items to be addressed.
  4. BWSC - BWSC is continuing intensive efforts to isolate the cause of low groundwater in the area of Dartmouth Street in the Back Bay. They are continuing to inject dye and conduct television inspections with frequent review of the work at top levels of engineering management.
  5. MassDOT - MassDOT plans to begin the cleaning and inspection of the drain line serving the Prudential Tunnel of the Turnpike shortly. This will be the first cleanout of the drain line since the extension was built over 50 years ago. It may well reveal potential causes of low groundwater levels in several areas adjacent to the Turnpike and its ramps.
  6. GCOD - Compliance with GCOD remains excellent. We continue to work with project proponents to help them meet the requirements in the most economical way. The support of the Board of Appeals, ISD, the Mayor’s Office, and the BRA has been critical in making this an important part of the approval process for projects. There has been a very small number of projects that have been granted variances, all for very good technical reasons.
  7. Technical Advisory Committee - The Technical Advisory Committee will be meeting this summer to take a fresh look at those hot spots where we have been unable to pinpoint a likely cause.
  8. Website - We will be working on an upgrade to the interactive map that will be designed to make it easier to use and also allow easier upgrading in the future. We also hope to make the map more user friendly for those with tablet computers and no mouse.
  9. Meetings - I attended a public meeting on the master plan for the Christian Science Center revitalization project. I met with developers to discuss recharge systems for projects at Kensington and 126 Brookline Avenue. Christian and I met with DPW to discuss ways to integrate our well locations with their information systems so that we can help to avoid damage to wells during sidewalk reconstruction and similar projects. I met with teams from Avalon Bay and Saunders Hotel Group to discuss ways that assure the recharge system to be installed in Exeter Street in conjunction with the two new buildings planned at the Prudential Center will not cause flooding at the Lenox. I met with the newest City Councilor, Tito Jackson, to brief him on the groundwater issue and how it impacts his district. I attended a scoping session for the new Institutional Master Plan for the Boston Conservatory.
  10. Vacations - I’ll be on vacation the week of July 11-15.