State officials finalized new septic system regulations for Cape Cod that could force homeowners to install new, innovative nitrogen-removing technology in areas close to coastal estuaries.
The Vineyard, which has been included in initial reports about the changes, are not included in the new regulations.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced in a press release that the Healey-Driscoll administration finalized regulation that will “set Cape Cod on a path to reverse decades of nitrogen pollution and restore estuaries to their natural state.”
The MassDEP-issued regulations address elevated nitrogen levels, primarily from septic systems, by facilitating “community-wide solutions” to prevent excessive amounts of nutrients entering local water bodies.
The discharge of excess nutrients, especially nitrogen, has been an ongoing issue for the Cape. Elevated nitrogen levels in water bodies can cause accelerated growth of algae, forcing out indigenous fish and plant species. It can also lead to bad smells and a generally degraded estuary.
MassDEP spokesperson Edmund Coletta told The Times that the decision to focus on the Cape was based on the public input the department received alongside the “over 1,000 public comments” submitted.
“We heard quite a bit of input that [they] weren’t as far along in investigating the impact of resources in those areas,” Coletta said, referring to the islands.
Coletta said Cape communities were farther along in their processes of protecting local bodies of water compared to the Vineyard, such as the development of comprehensive wastewater management plans.
Martha’s Vineyard is also trying to tackle its watershed issues, although some estuaries have seen water quality improvements. Tisbury is working on a watershed plan for Lake Tashmoo.
Coletta said the state will continue to work with other communities, including the islands, to investigate the impact of nutrient loading in local watersheds, and what would be the most beneficial approach for these communities.
I am overjoyed. Clearly the Governor heard about the anchoring moratorium imposed in Lake Tashmoo and realized that the select board was giving it all they had to make sure that boaters (the true source of all the nitrogen in the precious Lake) we’re going to be kept at bay for the foreseeable future.
Can I go back to over fertilizing my beautiful green lawn now, Guv? Is the coast clear?
This is great news.
Islanders can continue to poop in their drinking water.
So, “the Vineyard spared new septic regulations”.
Spared? On the contrary, DEP is leaving us on their hook, “business as usual”, still forcing us comply with 5 regulations, in spite of the fact that DEP knows they are the cause of the devastating algae infestations in our ponds.
DEP has decided to “set Cape Cod on a path to reverse decades of nitrogen pollution and restore estuaries to their natural state.” Thank God!
But not the Vineyard! We are left to continue the disasterous nitrogen pollution that is killing our ponds! Outrageous!
Shame on DEP for continuing to force us to install Title 5 septic systems, and thus continue to violate the Clean Water Act law.
“Tisbury is working on a watershed plan for Lake Tashmoo”. The grand plan seems to be to install 40 (out of 800+ septic systems in the Tashmoo watershed area) new DEP-approved A/I technology systems @$37,000-49,000, and to expand central sewering, costing $50,000-80,000 per site.
And to continue to deny permit for any A/I tech that has not been approved by DEP – such as the BioCarbon filter system, which has long been reducing nitrogen by an average of 88%, and would cost less than $15,000, with cost of complete maintenance and testing costing less than $2000/year vs. $6-10,000. And no need to remove trees and gardens. What’s not to love?
Obviously we must be allowed to protect our water and our economy, therefore we must be allowed to install the best A/I systems at the least cost. And with the least risk to public health, which would be ensured by an iron-clad mandatory inspections/testing protocol for every A/I system.
We now want our boards of health to act on their responsibily to enforce the Clean Water Act law. We all need stand up for our Right to Protect Our Water.