WPCA Special Presentation on Community Sewerage Systems
6 December 2011
The Town of Old Lyme WPCA hosted a special presentation on Community Sewerage Systems on 6 December 2011 in the Meeting Hall of the Memorial Town Hall.
A PowerPoint presentation (attached) was made by engineer Brain Curtis from Nathan L. Jacobsen & Associates, Inc.
Approximately 25 people were in attendance, including WPCA chair Dimitri Tolchinski, WPCA members George James & Mervin Roberts; Town of Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, Sanitarian Ron Rose, Assistant Sanitarian John Flower; Open Space Commission member Peter Cable; Zoning Commission alternate Ted Kiritsis; ZBA chair Susanne Stutts, ZBA member Dick Moll; Water Resources Committee chair Steve Ross. A number of residents from several Old Lyme Beach Associations were also in attendance.
Printed copies of the PowerPoint presentation were available at the door, as were copies of a November 10, 2001 memo from WPCA Chair Tolchinski inviting people to attend the presentation and a November 17, 2001 “Chairman’s letter” from Chairman Tolchinski entitled “Why Do We Need to Promote Community Septic Systems?”
(Copies of those handouts are included with these notes).
At 7pm, WPCA Chair Dmitri Tolchinski welcomed those in attendance and introduced Kurt Zemba as moderator of a question & answer period to follow the presentation.
WPCA consulting engineer Brian Curtis led attendees through a PowerPoint presentation on Community Sewerage Systems.
A Community Sewerage System is defined by the State as “any sewerage system serving two or more residences in separate structures which is not connected to a municipal sewerage system or which is connected to a municipal sewerage system as a distinct and separately managed district or segment” of that system.
A Community Sewerage System is a potential option for homes or businesses requiring off-site wastewater disposal due to poor soil condition and/or small lot size. The presentation reviewed soil or lot conditions that would not be in compliance with the current State Health Code.
Mr. Curtis showed two examples of Community Sewerage Systems in Connecticut.
1) A system in place in Somers, CT since the late 1980’s serves 55 residences. Small lot sizes and poor soil conditions in the affected area led to a high percentage of individual system failures and a detrimental impact to wells in surrounding neighborhoods. Residents voted in a referendum to fund a Community Sewerage System to service that defined area. The system’s leaching field is less than one acre, situated on a parcel of 16 acres.
2) A private system in Guilford, CT services 130 residences on three and five acre parcels. Effluent requires processing before its release to the leaching field.
The PowerPoint concluded with several maps of Old Lyme showing areas with soils that may be suitable for use as Community Sewerage Systems.
Peter Cable spoke on behalf of the Open Space Commission, addressing the question of using Town Open Space for community sewerage systems. There is concern that the WPCA has identified an Open Space parcel on Buttonball (the Bartholomew property) as a potential site.
Mr. Cable explained that Open Space is land that has either been purchased with Town funds or been given to the Town with the express intent that it be maintained in its natural state. Using Open Space land for wastewater management would not be consistent with that provision, he stated. In addition, a Community Sewerage System might require clear cutting on an Open Space parcel which would not be appropriate, and there is a possibility of nitrogen pollution of the land.
Mr. Cable stressed that although the Open Space Commission is not against the idea of Community Sewerage Systems, it is not in favor of using Open Space land for that purpose.
Paul Rowean of Old Lyme Shores directed 3 questions to engineer Brian Curtis:
1) How does the system in Somers “sync” with keeping water resources within a community?
Water released in the same watershed is considered compliant.
2) What geography do the Old Lyme maps references represent?
The maps reference areas through the Town that might accommodate community sewerage systems.
3) Isn’t it more economical for the absorption system to be located in promise to the area being served?
Yes
4) Is there data that supports this as the best option?
This is only one option. Determining the “best” would require study of all viable options & their respective environmental impact and cost.
Stave Ross, chair of the Water Resources Committee, stated that he finds the concept appealing but believes the first step for the Town should be to identify the problem. He asked if the WPCA has data on failed or failing septic systems and their locations.
WPCA Chairman Dimitri Tolchinski stated that the State DEEP and State Health Code have different criteria for determining septic and/or well problems. As a result, data may be misleading. He said there are 1600-1700 lots in Old Lyme of less than 10,000 square feet. “If we believe we are not polluting,” he added, “we are fooling ourselves.” Mr. Ross said he was asking specifically for data about failed systems vs. non-compliant systems.
WPCA member Mervin Roberts said that the State DEEP and the State Health Dept. through the State Health Code have control over what the Town does and how we do it, however, their conflicting standards of what constitutes pollution have caused misunderstandings for 30+ years.
Resident Bill Folland asked what steps the Town would have to take to adopt a community sewerage system model. WPCA Chair Tolchinski stated that a study to determine actual need would be the first step. The cost of such a study could approach or exceed $95,000. The second step would be to identify a site or sites as potential leaching field areas. He indicated that these steps could take one to two years. Chairman Tolchinski referred to Old Saybrook’s ongoing situation. That town is under DEP (now the DEEP) order to install sewers and did reach an agreement with the DEP to persue alternative systems. No system is in place yet. Mr. Folland asked if the WPCA is pursuing other alternative options and will present all options to the community. Chairman Tolchinski confirmed that they are and they will.
Frank Noe from the Old Colony Beach WPCA stated that three beach associations (Point O’ Woods, OL Shores and Old Colony) had spent $300,000 on independent studies that make it clear that a community sewerage system would be too expensive compared to municipal sewers.
He asked engineer Curtis how much acreage is typically needed for a septic system for a 3 to 4 bedroom house. Mr. Curtis answered that ½ acre would be typically required.
Mr. Noe also asked where an Old Colony Beach sewer facility/treatment plant would discharge to. Mr. Curtis said it would discharge to the ground.
Mr. Noe voiced questions from other attendees about aquifers. For example, if beach associations proceed, would they be taking aquifer away from other areas in town?
Rich Kingston from Old Colony Beach provided some background on why the beach association had contracted an independent study. He recounted that the WPCA had proposed revisions to the current town ordinance that would provide for more stringent septic standards. Many residents from beach association areas were concerned that their existing systems could not meet those standards and took a proactive approach.
Mr. Kingston noted that the larger environmental questions underlying this discussion are ones that we will need to solve as a community.
Town Sanitarian Ron Rose clarified that of 6 applications received by the Health Department for conversion from seasonal to year round status, only 1 had to be refused.
The Town Health Dept. spent $35,000 to $40,000 several years ago to test systems in Point O’ Woods. 35 systems were found to need repair. He stated that, although the Health Dept. has kits available to enable residents to test their well water, very few in the beach association areas test their water.
It was pointed out that property boundaries and roads are clear on printed versions of the Old Lyme maps from the presentation although they were not clearly defined in the Power Point slides.
Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal suggested that Old Lyme could benefit from discussion with Old Saybrook officials because Old Saybrook seems to have conducted extensive research due to their DEP order.
First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder noted that we seem to have more questions than answers at this point in our process. She questioned whether the Somers (55 properties) and Guilford (130 properties) models were apropos to Old Lyme: Old Lyme Shores has 192 homes and Old Colony has 217. The estimated cost in those two associations for the sewers recommended in their private studies is $24,000 to $38,000 per household.
She agreed that it is essential for Old Lyme to define what we mean by pollution as a community and offered to host a forum with all parties to facilitate an open discussion on the issues.
Sanitarian Ron Rose stated that the Health Dept has tested wells in all parts of Town and said “we are not in as bad shape as portrayed.”
WPCA Chair Tolchinski thanked attendees for their participation and invited them to attend future WPCA meetings for additional discussion and information on the topic.
The special presentation was adjourned at 8:45pm.
Catherine Frank
Administrative Assistant, Selectman's Office
860 434 1605, ext. 210
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