03/20/2025 SEWER COMMISSION Minutes (2)

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Town of Mashpee Sewer Commission t 16 Great Neck Road North Mashpee, MA 02649 Ms. Rudenko stated that she has responses to questions that were asked at the February 2025 meeting. First question that was asked was a comparison of how the buildout was developed for the 2015 Plan vs. the most recent watershed plan update. In the 2015 plan, it looked at the entire project planning area (all of Waquoit Bay, all Popponesset Bay instead of separating out just Mashpee). For Mashpee, in 2009, the Mashpee Planning Dept. did a parcel-by-parcel analysis looking at what development they felt could be done in Mashpee. In the newest evaluation,the Town of Mashpee Pass Flow Neutral by-laws.This is the newest zoning and is what regulates how much growth can happen on a parcel. When looking at the maximum build out that is allowable,they are looking at what is allowed under the flow neutral regulations. She then explained what the comparison between the two are. Ms. Rudenko stated that the next question that was asked at the last meeting was what were some of the major changes between the TMDL Compliance Plan that was outlined in the 2015 plan, and this first update in 2025? One of the updates was to evaluate the water use data so all the calculations from the 2015 plan were done based on MEP current numbers and these have been brought up to the last three (3)years of water use.They are now working with updated nitrogen loads.The original plan also recommended evaluations to consider sending flow to private facilities including Mashpee Commons, the Wampanoag Facility and Joint Base Cape Cod. As these evaluations have not progressed to negotiations to convey flow,they are now looking at options to treat that flow through the municipal facility. So, no longer relying on private facilities and sizing municipal infrastructure to be able to treat that flow.The third major change is the decrease in the shellfish aquaculture component and a related increase in the sewering component to pick up that nitrogen management.They have also incorporated the Wetland Restoration Project so at this point, GHD is not carrying a nitrogen removal credit, but there is a recommendation to implement a monitoring program so that the nitrogen reduction from those programs can be tracked and as part of a future watershed management plan,they'll be incorporated into the TMDL Compliance Plan and then they can look at adjusting the technologies; what can be reduced—since nitrogen removal through those water wetlands is happening. GHD also added the Innovative and Alternative Regulations (I/A Regulations) that have been passed by the Board of Health. GHD is looking at the conversion of Title V septic systems INAs for portions of town that are not scheduled for sewering. Mr. Nair asked Ms. Rudenko to explain regarding the municipal facility that GHD stated could be used? Ms. Rudenko stated that as part of the 2015 plan, Mashpee does have a number of facilities, and it was recommended that GHD evaluate whether those facilities can be expanded, and Municipal flow can be sent to them. GHD has evaluated the Mashpee Commons and Wampanoag facilities, and those discussions have not progressed past an evaluation to negotiations to send flow there so at this point, other options are being discussed.The other was to send flow from the Western portion of the Town of Mashpee from Waquoit Bay to Joint Base Cape Cod.This is still an option that the Town of Mashpee can consider but negotiations have not progressed far enough for it to be the primary option at this point. Mr. Nair asked if the current plan for Popponesset Bay may still require tapping into private facilities and Phase 1 and Phase 2 may not be enough? Ms. Rudenko answered that Phase 1 and Phase 2 will not be enough and at this point in the plan, all of the flow is being directed to two new facilities;the one that is currently in construction (which will continue to be expanded so it is a modular facility and GHD is currently doing an evaluation to site a new plan in the Western portion of town, in the Waquoit Bay watershed. Ms. Rudenko stated that she wanted to be clear that Popponesset Bay will require additional phases of sewering to meet its TMDL and sewering has not occurred at all in Waquoit Bay. A member of the audience asked Ms. Rudenko to repeat the method that GHD is using to calculate build out and repeat the buildout numbers for year-round and summer. Ms. Rudenko answered that the buildout numbers were from the Original 2015 analysis and for 2025, GHD is using the Flow Neutral By- Laws and looking based on the restrictions and what is the maximum development that can be done in each of the watersheds. Ms. Sprout asked for clarification of the buildout regarding sewerage vs. septic systems and since there is a greater density, building development can be built up and asked if the