2000-BOARD OF HEALTH - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES March 23, 2000 3 BOARD OF HEALTH Board members decided to contact the Cape Cod Commission to put this issue on a future agenda: b. Denitrification Regulation Changes: Mr. Baker stated that he is interested in changes to the current denitrification regulation. He stated that Dr. Brian Howes indicated that measuring nitrogen levels at the property lines is not the right way to do it in order to protect the coastal embayments and that you have to do it where it goes into the ground. Then it is possible to compare it to water meter readings and convert it into pounds of nitrogen. He stated that the only true and valid measure you can get is from where the nitrogen enters the ground. Mr. McQuaid stated that Dr. Howes did not say that we are measuring it "wrong". He said that Dr. Howes is looking at this from the standpoint of protecting the embayments. The Board of Health's primary purpose for the regulation is to protect human health and that is why the Board agreed to measure at the property line down-gradient from the system because it was their feeling that if it's below the drinking water standard of 10 as it leaves the property line, then the system is running satisfactorily. Ten is the limit set by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act. Mr. Cram questioned whether this is new information since the Board passed their nitrogen regulation. Mr. Baker stated that it is new information. Mr. Doherty stated that he is not comfortable taking any action until he has had a chance to read the report. He further stated that the Board used the information that was available to them at the time the regulation was passed. Board members decided that they needed more time to read the report before any action is taken. C. Volunteer Activities: Mr. Baker has asked the Board to address the issue of collecting data for all denitrification units installed in Mashpee to date. He has offered volunteers to work with the Board of Health staff to gather the information, set up a database and maintain the records on a permanent basis at no cost to the town. Mr. McQuaid stated that he feels that the Board of Health staff would be able to maintain the records once the historical data has been collected and the database set up. Ms. Warden indicated that the Board of Health doesn't have the staffing to be able to handle this project in-house. She is willing to contact Barnstable County Department of Health and the Environment to see if they can take on the task.