Wastewater Planning and Implementation
in the 1980s and 1990s
2001 Wastewater Facilities Plan
Ashumet Plume Nitrogen Offset Program
Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) Evaluations
to Determine Nitrogen Limits of Falmouth's Estuaries
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Evaluation
and Development
The New Silver Beach Wastewater
Project
What's Next?
Falmouth's Selectmen have identified wastewater and nutrient management as the Town's
number 1 priority to maintain quality of life and they have supported several completed
and on-going wastewater planning and implementation projects. This web page briefly
describes the most recent projects and planning efforts with links to more detailed
information.
Wastewater Planning and Implementation in the 1980s
and 1990s resulted in the following upgrades to the Town's wastewater
system:
- Discontinued use of an ocean outfall of partially treated sewage from the original
collection system in Woods Hole.
- Sewer extension to Main Street areas of Falmouth Center, Falmouth Beach, and Falmouth
Inner Harbor area.
- Wastewater lift stations and transmission lines to convey the wastewater from these
sewered areas to a treatment plant (Blacksmith Shop Road WWTF) for secondary treatment
of the wastewater and recharge of the treated water at the site.
This treatment plant was not designed for nitrogen removal, which led to a second
major wastewater planning process in the late 1990 and early 2000s.
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The 2001 Wastewater Facilities Plan was
the result of two years of evaluations to determine the best way to upgrade Blacksmith
Shop Road WWTF for nitrogen removal and to extend sewers to additional areas of
Falmouth. This planning process led to the following recommendations:
- Upgrade and expansion of the WWTF to an enhanced nitrogen removal (ENR) facility.
(This upgrade was completed in 2005 and the new facility is operating very well.)
- Sewer extension to the Falmouth High School. (This extension was completed in the
fall of 2007.)
- Sewer extension to the densely developed areas around West Falmouth Harbor. (This
project is planned for the coming years.)
- Sewer extension along Davis Straits and Scranton Avenue roads. (These extension
projects are also planned for the coming years.)
More information on our facilities is available at: http://www.falmouthmass.us/depart.php?depkey=wastewater
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The Ashumet Plume Nitrogen Offset Program
(completed in 2001) was the Town's first project to determine nitrogen limits for
Great, Green, and Bournes Ponds and to develop an implementation strategy to meet
those limits. Much work was completed to determine the watersheds, current and future
nitrogen loadings and nitrogen limits. The Town launched a fertilizer education
program as well as other initiatives.
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Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) Evaluations to Determine
Nitrogen Limits of Falmouth's Estuaries have been completed for several
of our coastal ponds, harbors, and estuaries. The Town contracted with Dr. Brian
Howes and the UMass School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) to develop these
limits. This effort has also been aided by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection (MassDEP) and others. Nitrogen limits have been developed for the following
coastal waters:
- Little Pond
- Great Pond
- Green Pond
- Bournes Pond
- Oyster Pond (near Vineyard Sound)
- West Falmouth Harbor
- Quashnet River, Hamblin Pond, and Jehu Pond (Waquoit-East)
Nitrogen limit evaluations are under way or planned for the following coastal waters:
- Waquoit Bay and Eel Pond system (Waquoit-West)
- Wild Harbor
- Rand Canal
- Fiddlers Cover
- Magansett Harbor
- Salt Pond
- Falmouth Inner Harbor
The following link will take you to the MEP website where detailed information is
provided on this work. You can download technical reports on the completed evaluations
at
http://www.oceanscience.net/estuaries/
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Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Evaluation and Development
is completed by MassDEP once the MEP develops the nitrogen limits. The TMDL for
each estuary is the amount of nitrogen that can be safely recharged to the watersheds
of the coastal waters without causing water quality problems. TMDL reports have
been completed and approved by USEPA for the following coastal waters:
- Great Pond
- Green Pond
- Bournes Pond
The TMDL limits have been drafted for the following water bodies:
- Little Pond
- Oyster Pond (near Vineyard Sound)
- West Falmouth Harbor
- Quashnet River, Hamblin Pond, and Jehu Pond (Waquoit-East)
The TMDLs for these water bodies indicated that significant percentages of wastewater
nitrogen (mainly from septic systems) need to be removed from the watersheds to
remediate the water quality in these coastal waters.
Visit the
MassDEP TMDL website for more detailed information on the regulatory process.
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The New Silver Beach Wastewater Project
is the extension of sewer service to approximately 230 properties in the New Silver
Beach area (North Falmouth). The project was completed in 2009. The collected wastewater is treated at a new treatment
facility (New Silver Beach WWTF) at the end of William Road and the treated water
is recharged under a new athletic field at the North Falmouth Elementary School.
The project was planned for many years but was delayed due to legal challenges.
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What's Next?
The South Coast Watersheds CWMP Needs Assessment Report, Alternative Screening
Analysis Report and Environmental Notification Form Document were completed
in late 2007. The first two reports are quite lengthy and detailed, and the Environmental
Notification Form Document summarizes the major findings of the two reports. The
ENF was submitted to regional and state regulatory agencies as part of the State's
public review process and Cape Cod Commission Development of Regional Impact (DRI)
review process.
The ENF was filed in December 2007, followed by a public review period. The Secretary
of Environmental Affairs issued a certificate on January 30, 2008.
This public review resulted in public education and public hearings. The process
helped develop agreement on the planned steps of the detailed evaluations.
The detailed evaluations were completed in late 2009 and the Draft Comprehensive
Wastewater Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Report (DCWMP/DEIR) and Notice
of Project Change (NPC) has been released for Town review. See "What's New" to download
a copy of the report. The report is large and is divided into many small files to
make it easier to download. An Executive Summary provides a detailed (but readable)
summary of the evaluations completed, the major issues addressed, and the recommended
plan.
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Restore and protect water quality and the quality of life in Falmouth
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Enhance the economic sustainability of our community |
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Preserve the beauty and value of our property for future generations |
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