In the heart of Glens Falls, the Water and Sewer Commission convened on January 6, 2025, to address pressing issues affecting the city's water and sewer infrastructure. The meeting, held at the treatment plant, was marked by discussions on recent electrical failures and the need for upgrades to the aging system.

The session opened with a review of the commission's schedule of rates, fees, and charges, which was approved unanimously after a brief discussion. However, the focus quickly shifted to a significant incident that occurred just before Christmas. On December 23, 2024, a power interruption at the treatment plant prompted immediate action from staff, who discovered issues with the medium voltage switch gear. The contractor, High Electric Service, was called in and managed to restore power within a few hours, but concerns about the reliability of the repairs lingered.

Jeremy, a key staff member, detailed the events leading up to the outage, explaining that the team had to assess the situation and coordinate with National Grid to determine the cause. The discussion revealed that the switch panel had melted during attempts to switch power, highlighting the fragility of the current electrical system, which dates back to 1986.

In light of these challenges, the commission is taking proactive steps to enhance the plant's resilience. Plans are underway to secure backup generators, ensuring that operations can continue smoothly in the event of future outages. The commission has also placed a down payment on a new switch gear unit, which is expected to be modified and installed by mid-February.

The meeting underscored the urgency of addressing the electrical system's vulnerabilities, with an investment of $800,000 already approved for a comprehensive engineering assessment. As the commission nears completion of this evaluation, they are hopeful that these upgrades will mitigate the risks posed by the aging infrastructure.

As the meeting concluded, the members expressed a shared commitment to ensuring the reliability of Glens Falls' water and sewer services, recognizing that the health of the community depends on the strength of its utilities. The discussions not only highlighted immediate concerns but also set the stage for a more resilient future for the city's essential services.