Laserfiche WebLink
Is my area is affected? <br /> Every bay on Cape Cod is affected by nitrogen from septic systems and other <br /> sources. The entire system of water-contribution that flows from our houses, storm <br /> drains, and businesses goes into our watershed and winds up in our bays, streams, <br /> and ponds. As in all natural systems, everything is inter-related; some of whatever <br /> you put down your drain, however well your septic system functions, enters the <br /> groundwater and will affect something down the line. <br /> Just what is causing the damage? <br /> A functioning septic system disperses nitrogen, a byproduct of human waste, into the <br /> groundwater. At low levels, nitrogen is shrugged off by the watershed; it won't make <br /> much difference in the life of the estuary. But too much nitrogen is a different story <br /> because it feeds algae. The more nitrogen, the more food, the more algae. When <br /> the estuary is loaded with algae, it smothers eel grass beds, shellfish habitat, and <br /> diminishes the overall quality of the bay. You may have noticed green scum in the <br /> waters, or perhaps detected an unpleasant smell; these are signs that the estuary is <br /> damaged and decaying. <br /> + mgll <br /> - 12 <br /> w,- <br /> 1.2 1.1 <br /> 1.1 1.0 <br /> 1.0 OA <br /> OA <br /> 0.8 <br /> 0.8 0.7 <br /> 0.7 0.6 <br /> 0.6 _ 0.6 <br /> 0.6 OA <br /> OA 0.3 <br /> 0.3 <br /> i <br /> r V <br /> i <br /> On left: Projected water quality in Popponesset Bay for build out with no nitrogen abatement;red indicates poor <br /> water quality while blue indicates good water quality. On right,projected water quality with nitrogen abatement. <br /> www.CapeKeepers.com <br />