9/28/2010 SEWER COMMISSION Minutes

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'The Chair suggested moving away from the details and focus on mapping the discharge areas and highlighting the high density target areas in town for treatment. The Chair noted that New Seabury has not responded to their spring meeting and a new contact has been identified. New Seabury realizes that they have excess capacity and would benefit from sewering in the area. The Chair identified high density usage in red on the map that was created by GHD at projected buildout noting nitrogen load per acre, per year. The red indicates the highest loads per acre and blue indicates the second highest loads. Locations such as Sea Oaks, Summerwood, Deer Crossing, St. Andrews Drive, Quashnet Valley, Mashpee Village(will have own treatment plant) and Popponessett have the highest loads per acre. Deer Crossing Commercial, Pheasant Run, Santuit Pond, Summerwood and Bright Coves in New Seabury have the second highest loads. Mr. Baker questioned the Wading Place Road well site and the Chair responded that the Water District has held onto it as a possible future site for wastewater treatment. Mr. Baker questioned use of the divided island for discharge at Wading Place Road. The Chair stated that many de-nite systems are present on Popponessett Island. Mr. Lyons questioned use of conservation land (represented on the map as green areas) for discharge and the Chair responded that it was off the table due to Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution. Mr. Lombardo questioned the total capacity of the discharge sites. The Chair emphasized his interest in focusing on the discharge sites, noting that the original list of 9 sites had been reduced. The Chair highlighted existing plants that would be taken over by the Town to include the Mashpee Commons treatment plant and discharge area. Mr. O'Hara questioned its location near the Mashpee River. The Chair discussed discharge during the peak season and off-season and Mr. Gregg added that treatment can be improved allowing discharge within the watershed area. Mr. Gregg questioned a landlocked site near the base and the Chair responded that he was checking on right of access through a conservation area. Mr. O'Hara noted the possibility of using a cluster system that would require a smaller discharge site. Mr. Gregg reported a 2.9 million total for buildout for Mashpee to include both watersheds and the towns of Mashpee, Sandwich, Barnstable and Falmouth. Commissioners were in agreement to identify two scenarios and Mr. Lombardo stated that New Seabury, Willowbend and the Transfer site offer a lot of capacity. Mr. Lombardo recommended identifying the easiest sites to work with and suggested focusing on Willowbend because they are willing and the project could be completed in 3-5 years for approximately$100 million. The Chair reminded Mr. Lombardo about the need to plan for the entire town and Mr. Marcelli suggested the need to first address the area that has the greatest impact to improve the watershed. Mr. Lombardo discussed the 3 disbursal sites and 9 existing treatment plants, 2 of which are owned by the towns. The Chair reminded the Commission to consider the proximity between the areas needing to be served and the location of the discharge areas in order to reduce the cost of pipe. Mr. Gregg stated that his scenarios were based on the same approach. Mr. O'Hara clarified that adequate discharge capacity has been identified unless a major site is lost, and all were in agreement. The Chair referenced the red zones and high density in the Santuit Pond area where phosphorus is problematic. Chairman Fudala suggested piping wastewater and then discharge to the Transfer Station site. Participants suggested directing it to Sandwich, the Base or Willowbend. Attendees discussed subsurface and Article 97 as it relates to Santuit Preserve. Mr. O'Hara questioned building a big line and pumping effluent to a larger plant. Commissioners expressed concern about the cost of piping and pumps because the size would need to get increasingly larger. Mr. Lombardo stated that an 8 inch pipe could carry 1 million gallons per day. Mr. Gregg and the Chair indicated that the process was similar to a scenario utilizing treatment with some discharge at Site 4 and the remaining discharge to be sent to Willowbend. The Chair added that the Tribal Council will be building a 40,000 gallon plant for its affordable housing project and, in order to meet their zero net nitrogen,they will need to tie in other residences to the plant. The Chair highlighted the Willowbend area in orange as an area that had been resolved. 6