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Wastewater initiative 2011. An investment in Yarmouth’s future. Why We’re Here. 1951. 1990. Fish Kill July 2009. $3.1 Million approved for permitting and design of Phase 1. Article 12 ATM 2008 $3.1 million borrowing approved $3.1 million Debt exclusion approved by voters at ballot
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Wastewater initiative 2011 An investment in Yarmouth’s future
Why We’re Here 1951 1990
$3.1 Million approved for permitting and design of Phase 1 • Article 12 ATM 2008 $3.1 million borrowing approved • $3.1 million Debt exclusion approved by voters at ballot • Phase 1 is foundation of collection/conveyance system to be used by future phases includes STP • Phase 1 along Route 28 Barnstable town line to Parkers River covering 2 watersheds
What do we know? • Massachusetts Estuaries Project • Partnership Yarmouth, Barnstable, School of Marine Science and Technology, MADEP, USGS and Cape Cod Commission ($329K) • 3 years of on site water quality sampling and laboratory testing used to calibrate and validate computer model of specific water body • tide and stream gages, bottom sampling • 70 estuaries from Fairhaven to Duxbury We are not alone
What do we know? • DEP held a Total Maximum Daily Load Hearing for Lewis Bay in accordance with the Federal Clean Water Act • Nitrogen in groundwater is the primary pollutant of concern that is controllable • Target value for Lewis Bay to be set at .38 mg/L (10 mg/L for Drinking water) • 200 Acres of eel grass loss since 1951 in Lewis Bay
What is a TMDL? • A total maximum daily load (TMDL) is the greatest amount of a pollutant that a water body can accept and still meet water quality standards for protecting the public health and maintaining the designated beneficial use of these water for drinking, swimming, recreation and fishing From fact sheet of the commonwealth of Mass, EOEA, DEP Bureau of resource protection, watershed planning/outreach services
Where does nitrogen come from? Lewis Bay Parkers River Wastewater 63% 85% From WWTF 22% 1% Fertilizer 6% 7% Impervious surfaces 9% 7%
How Much nitrogen needs to be removed? • Lewis Bay 68.7% • Mill Creek 72.9% • Upper Parkers 72.9% • Lower Parkers 88.2% • Seine Pond 80.2%
Why now? • Sewers will be mandated for Yarmouth to satisfy TMDL, won’t be less expensive later • July 2009 fish kill In Parkers River show how bad water quality is • 0% interest loans from SRF available for only 7 more years for communities with impaired estuaries • Sewers will open up more commercial redevelopment options along RT 28 GIZ when nitrogen neutral requirement removed
Why now? Con’t • CLF threatens EPA to get water cleanup moving • If Town delays and we are forced by DEP or EPA to install sewers 0% financing will not be available • If water quality continues to degrade; Cape economy in jeopardy • Property values will fall significantly
What will Phase 1 cost? • $55 million • $24 Million collection and conveyance • $28 Million Treatment facility cost • Will handle phases 1 and 2 • $3 Million Effluent disposal area development costs • 0% SRF loan would save $12 million over 20 year life of loan