Eastham Water Resources Advisory Board
Minutes of meeting of Nov. 1, 2004
Attending were Acting Chair Boelitz, members Holt, Whitmore, Nugent, and Bayne, Health Agent Crowley. Also present was Velma Potash, Eastham resident.
Minutes of Oct. 4, 2004 meeting were approved as written.
The issue of whether to require higher waste water treatment in areas of higher nitrates in wells was discussed. The Board of Health is researching regulations in other towns on this issue. Related to this question is the issue of whether the well testing data should be made public, and whether it should be released to the Waste Water Management Planning Committee. Boelitz canvassed the Board; members were in favor of releasing the data to the WWMPC. Members also recognized that the Public Information laws require this data to be released if requested in writing; there were, however, concerns about how it would be used. Holt, a BOH member, would like to see strong standards, but is concerned that the info regarding nitrates in wells could be incorrectly used if made public in order to describe these areas. Crowley told
the Board she will have her Americorp intern determine the areas with higher nitrates, and then cross reference other BOH files on these areas. She would like help from the Board in determining what data from those files would be relevant.
Crowley and Whitmore reported that the Nitrate Management Workshop they attended on Oct. 20 focused on reducing nitrate production from large waste water treatment plants from 10 ppm to 3 ppm. They learned treatment plants can be built over landfill, and that the effluent, nitrogen reduced but still containing viruses, can be discharged in various ways. The states of Md. and Va., abutters to the severely impacted Chesapeake Bay, have been working on these issues. Md. has instituted a “flush tax”, a fee for service, which is used to upgrade poorly functioning sewage systems. (Material attached in file.)
Crowley reported that the WWWMPC is beginning a search for a consultant to provide a comprehensive waste water and drinking water protection plan. They are reviewing a document written by Wright-Pierce to aid towns which are beginning this process; Crowley distributed a section of this document, which can be found on the CCC website. Mike Giggey, the firm’s rep, is willing to make presentations to the town boards; WRAB members asked Crowley to arrange such a presentation.
Crowley reported that the USGS will review the issue of lens to lens transfer, and then, once the town has delineated areas of most importance for public water, will review the potential to bring water to those areas.
Crowley reported that the 2004 well testing program has seen 1737 bottles sent out to homeowners, with 730 results back from the lab, and more than 100 pending. This totals about 51% response.
In addition, the computer integration program has been successful.
Bayne reported that the funding search for the continuation of pond studies continues, with the County Commissioners about to decide whether to fund two pond study proposals. The first is one submitted by Mary Lou Petitt, our Assembly Delegate, for Eastham water sample analysis funds to be taken from the County surplus; the second is a regular budget item under the Growth Management Initiative which would fund the CCC to aid towns going through this study process with interpretation of data and recommendations for remediation.
Also in the pond work progress, she reported that the CCNS lab has the services of an Americorp volunteer who will be assigned to do some analysis of existing data gathered by the lab in 2002-2003. The Board approved in concept the idea that the WRAB would support the request for funds from the County. Bayne will write a letter for Weiss to send.
Crowley distributed the list of beach testings, fresh and salt, in 2004; closings were down.
The next meeting will be on Dec. 6.
Submitted by Sandy Bayne, clerk
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