9/28/2010 SEWER COMMISSION Minutes

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Nitrogen Pollution As the insightful comic strip "POGO" once said.... "I HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM...IT IS US!" Everyone in Mashpee is contributing to the Nitrogen Pollution problem by generating waste water in our homes, places of business, and public facilities. The Title 5 septic systems and innovative/ alternative systems (I/A) at our homes, in addition to the larger private systems meeting Title 5 requirements, do not reduce Nitrogen enough to prevent degradation of our groundwater systems. Title 5 systems place from 25mg/L to 30mg/L of Nitrogen compounds into our groundwater. (25 to 30 milligrams per liter of Nitrogen Compounds) This is approximately 70% of all Nitrogen reaching our watersheds. At a conservative household discharge of 50 gallons per person per day(2.5 persons per household) it means: Each Title 5 household contributes, on average, over 45,000 gallons of fertilizer rich water annually into our watersheds. Mashpee has two primary watersheds both of which flow from the North to the South ending in Nantucket Sound. The Eastern watershed flows South through the Mashpee River into the Popponesset Estuary. The Western watershed flows south into the Eastern side of the Waquoit Bay. Both of these estuary systems have extensive plant life due to high Nitrogen level water leaching from their watersheds. As plant life"Blooms"it forms thick vegetation, turns once clear water murky, and at the end of its life cycle forms a thick bottom layer of decay which chokes off higher forms of marine life. Without corrective action declining estuaries result in shellfish demise, fish kills,rotting vegetation odors, decreased recreational value, and declining property values. Mashpee has done a lot to save the excellent quality of life in town. Large tracks of land have been acquired to protect over development. Surface water runoff in developments has been channeled to prevent direct entry to groundwater. Tidal exchange improvements have been implemented and private development treatment facilities were licensed at state of the art processing in their time. Mashpee watersheds have been studied and documented as to their level of Nitrogen Pollution and various scenarios to minimize pollution and cost of correction. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and various State Agencies,have legislated that dumping excessive Nitrogen into watersheds and estuaries must stop. Mashpee is presently seeking funding to implement a passive natural system (PRB) in the Pirates Cove area. This demonstration project can yield lower cost per household which is appropriate for additional Mashpee areas and other Cape Cod locations. It's reliance on natural systems to reduce Nitrogen in ground water will have significant application for all watershed solutions.