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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWastewater Management PLan summary1Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change Executive Summary ES.1 Introduction The Town of Yarmouth has worked diligently to develop a program to address wastewater management needs to protect drinking water sources, to restore water quality in valu- able freshwater ponds and saltwater estuaries and to allow for limited smart economic growth. These efforts and associated recommendations are updated in this Notice of Project Change (NPC) from the previously approved 2011 Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CMWP)/Single Environmental Impact Report (SEIR). The Town’s Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) has worked to update the Town’s CWMP. Protecting these sources is vital to maintain the quality of life and economic health of the Town. These efforts have led to recommendations for the Town to implement over the next 40 years through adaptive management and are intended as guidelines for the community moving forward as it addresses this costly and complex issue. ES.2 Project Background and Purpose The Town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts is submitting this Notice of Project Change to the previously accepted Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan and Single Environmental Impact Report. The Town received the final certificate for the CWMP/SEIR on August 26, 2011, from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Unit. The Final CWMP addressed Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) assigned to both Lewis Bay and Parkers River watersheds. At that time, the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) report for the Bass River watershed had not been finalized and as such a TMDL was not assigned, and the Barnstable Great Marshes-Bass Hole MEP Report was not yet finalized. This NPC is being submitted to address the TMDL for the Bass River watershed and to provide an update on the progress made by the Town since 2011 regarding their accepted CWMP. Since then, the Town has assessed regional opportunities and incorporated the Bass River Watershed into its recommended plan, therefore a lapse of time has not occurred since the MEPA certificate was issued. The NPC documents will be submitted concurrently to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) so they may complete an environmental review of the project in coordination with the MEPA Unit and subsequently the Cape Cod Commission (CCC). 2011 CWMP ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 2 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change This NPC is an extension of a multiphase study that formally began in 2003. The Town of Yarmouth contracted CDM Smith to coordinate with the Town’s Integrated Water Resources Planning (IWRP) Committee, and later the Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) to address the community’s wastewater needs and develop a program for wastewater manage- ment, mainly focused on nitrogen mitigation. ES.3 Environmental Review Process and Project Drivers While Yarmouth’s traditional approach to wastewater handling has been to rely on and maintain Title 5 on-site septic systems and a septage-only treatment plant to handle solids from those systems, the current regulatory environment has prompted the Town to revisit this approach. The Town believes this approach will need to change for a variety of reasons. First, the Town is increasingly aware of the serious impacts that on-site Title 5 septic systems have on coastal environments. Fifty years ago, Yarmouth was a seasonal Cape Cod vacation community, with a much smaller population and far less impact on the surrounding water- sheds. With every passing year, increasing population densities, fertilized lawns, higher-density developments and a noticeable shift from seasonal to more year-round use have changed the character of the town. Population growth has led to more septic systems and consequently an abundance of nutrients – in particular nitrogen, an aquatic plant fertilizer – leaching into estuaries through ground and surface waters. As abundant quantities of these nutrients are released to the environment, changes in water quality and the buildup of invasive weed and algae causing fish kills, beach closures, destroying productive shellfish areas and resulting in aesthetically displeasing waters. These issues inad- vertently affect coastal ecosystems, the valuable tourist industry, coastal property values, and the overall quality of life. A second reason to change the Town’s approach to wastewater handling is the MEP conducted by MassDEP and the University of Massachusetts (UMass)/Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technologies (SMAST) on estuaries in southeastern Massachusetts. That MEP Report was issued in 2011 and evaluated the pollutant status and sensitivity of the estuaries through comprehensive water quality testing and quantitative modeling, with the main focus on nitrogen. Figure ES-1 shows the Town of Yarmouth’s water resources, including the locations of the saltwater estuaries and embayments, beaches, ponds and lakes, and water supply wells. Yarmouth embayments, including Lewis Bay (shared with Barnstable), Parkers River (totally within Yarmouth), Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole (shared with Barnstable and Dennis), and Bass River (shared with Dennis), have been evaluated as part of the MEP to determine how much nitrogen is acceptable to discharge into each estuary. The reports for Lewis Bay, Parkers Algae Bloom in Mill Pond ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 3Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change Nantucket Sound BARNSTABLE YARMOUTH DENNIS Columbus Avenue Flax Pond Thatcher Town Park Long Pond South Middle Sandy Pond Wilbur Park Dennis Pond Gray's Beach Bayview Street Baxter Avenue Bass River Colonial Acres Great Island Ocean Club Seagull Bay Road Berry Avenue Parkers River Windmill Seaview Mathews Pond Lone Tree Creek Mill Pond Flax Pond Dennis Pond Reservoir Short Wharf Creek Lewis Pond Bass Creek Miller Pond Lily Pond Howes Pond Hallets Mill Pond Greenough Pond Elishas Pond Perch Pond Bass River Long Pond Bassets Lot PondLittle Sandy Pond Chase Garden Creek James Pond Crowell Pond Horse Pond Halfway Pond Plashes Pond Long Pond Turtle Pond Jabinettes Pond Big Sandy Pond Mill Pond Follins Pond Parkers River Mill Creek Dinahs Pond Seine Pond Clays Creek Whites Brook Figure ES-1 Town of Yarmouth Water Resources NEWELLJD F:\Yarmouth_MA\Yarmouth_ES-1_Water_Resources.mxd 12/13/2021 Town of Yarmouth, MA 0 0.5 1 Miles N Notice of Project Change 1 in = 4,500 ft Public Water Supply Well Beaches MEP Watershed Lewis Bay Parkers River Bass River Chase Garden Creek Barnstable Harbor ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 4 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change River, Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole, and Bass River have now been completed. Based on the MEP studies, MassDEP is expected to issue watershed permits to the Town of Yarmouth and surrounding communities requiring the towns to remove sufficient quantities of nitrogen to meet TMDL requirements. Pertinent results from MEP work completed to date have been summarized in this report and are integrated into the recommended wastewater manage- ment program for the Town of Yarmouth so that the program removes estimates of sufficient nitrogen to restore water quality. The MEP models for Lewis Bay, Parkers River, Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole, and Bass River, and the associated TMDLs, enable the town to strike the appropriate balance between new sewers in high-density areas and already existing, properly functioning septic systems in the town’s lower density areas. This approach allows scientists, engineers and planners to select the appropriate level of technology that each water body can sustain without over-engineering a workable solution and to arrive at a recommended program with the highest cost-benefit. It also provides for sewers to be installed in desired economic development growth areas. Not only does excess nitrogen affect coastal environments, nitrogen in high concentrations in groundwater can present a public health concern. Specifically, where nitrogen loads to groundwater source drinking water wells are too high, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-mandated nitrogen thresholds may be exceeded. The Town has concluded that certain drinking-water supplies in Yarmouth are at risk for high nitrogen levels in the future if the present wastewater management approach is not implemented. Finally, the revitalization of Yarmouth’s Route 28 corridor and the South Shore Drive Hotel/ Motel Overlay District provides additional motivation for wastewater management planning. Land use, traffic, and wastewater planning efforts are intended to revitalize businesses and communities. The Hotel/Motel Overlay District 2 along South Shore Drive encompasses Motel properties along Nantucket Sound off South Shore Drive and provides a mechanism for motel owners to renovate, reconstruct and/or replace their properties by-right to improve our water- front lodging offerings. These properties are presently limited by how much wastewater they can adequately treat and dispose of on-site, with local or MassDEP approval. Planning efforts intend to direct growth in certain areas along Route 28 and South Shore Drive, which will be supported by existing and planned infrastructure. Wastewater management improvements are necessary to provide off-site wastewater treatment and effluent disposal for the proposed revitalization. ES.4 Water Resource Advisory Committee The Town of Yarmouth’s Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC; formerly referred to as the IWRP Committee) was formed in October, 2018 to coordinate the wastewater planning initiative for this NPC. The WRAC’s stated purpose is to investigate ways to involve and educate the community on issues relating to water resource initiatives in Yarmouth, including water supply, surface water, groundwater, stormwater and wastewater, with the goal of protecting and restoring the Town’s fresh and saltwater bodies and its drinking water supplies. The WRAC members, listed in Table ES-1, are charged with acting as a liaison between the Board Table ES-1. Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) Members Member Representing Tom Baron Planning Board Mary Craig Board of Health John Deliso Lewis Bay Area Tom Durkin Conservation Commission Spyro Mitrokostas Member-at-Large George Perkins Parker’s River Area Tom Roche Bass River Watershed Lee Rowley Northside Area Curt Sears Member-at-Large, Chair ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 5Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change of Selectmen and Town residents regarding water resource initiatives and financial plans for such initiatives as well as focusing on specific areas of implementation or other related wastewater, groundwater, surface water and drinking water matters at the direction of the Board of Selectmen. The WRAC was supported by several Town staff as needed. The WRAC Committee held monthly meetings or as required through the wastewater planning, all of which were open to the public. Each meeting agenda was posted with the Town Clerk 48 hours before, and several meetings have been taped and televised via local access television for the town. WRAC Committee meetings and minutes are also available for viewing on the Town’s website. The WRAC Committee has made multiple presentations to the Board of Selectmen public meetings as well, also available for viewing on the Town’s website. ES.5 Previous Project Phases and Associated Documents The Town of Yarmouth 2011 CWMP was completed in eight phases. Phases I through vII which were completed as part of the Town’s 2011 Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan and Single Environmental Impact Report. The Town received the final certificate for the CWMP/SEIR on August 26, 2011 from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Unit. The full CWMP and Final MEPA EENF Certificate can be found on the Town’s website (http://www.yarmouth.ma.us/1754/Water-Resources) ES.6 Organization of this NPC This NPC summarizes the wastewater management plan that was presented in Yarmouth’s CWMP and presents the recommended revisions to the plan based on the results of the Bass River MEP report. The report is divided into eight (8) sections. Each section includes information originating from various wastewater-planning phases, since the analysis of many topics was ongoing from one phase to the next. The sections are as follows: ƒSection 1 introduces the need for an NPC and details the purpose, scope, existing conditions, and the organization of the report. ƒSection 2 summarizes the Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole and Bass River Watershed Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) Results and their impact on the wastewater needs assessment developed in Phase I of the CWMP. ƒSection 3 provides a summary of the wastewater collection system evaluations (pipelines and pumping stations) that took place during the CWMP process and presents the recommended collection system plan resulting from these evaluations with the addition of the needs in the Bass River watershed. River, Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole, and Bass River have now been completed. Based on the MEP studies, MassDEP is expected to issue watershed permits to the Town of Yarmouth and surrounding communities requiring the towns to remove sufficient quantities of nitrogen to meet TMDL requirements. Pertinent results from MEP work completed to date have been summarized in this report and are integrated into the recommended wastewater manage- ment program for the Town of Yarmouth so that the program removes estimates of sufficient nitrogen to restore water quality. The MEP models for Lewis Bay, Parkers River, Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole, and Bass River, and the associated TMDLs, enable the town to strike the appropriate balance between new sewers in high-density areas and already existing, properly functioning septic systems in the town’s lower density areas. This approach allows scientists, engineers and planners to select the appropriate level of technology that each water body can sustain without over-engineering a workable solution and to arrive at a recommended program with the highest cost-benefit. It also provides for sewers to be installed in desired economic development growth areas. Not only does excess nitrogen affect coastal environments, nitrogen in high concentrations in groundwater can present a public health concern. Specifically, where nitrogen loads to groundwater source drinking water wells are too high, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-mandated nitrogen thresholds may be exceeded. The Town has concluded that certain drinking-water supplies in Yarmouth are at risk for high nitrogen levels in the future if the present wastewater management approach is not implemented. Finally, the revitalization of Yarmouth’s Route 28 corridor and the South Shore Drive Hotel/ Motel Overlay District provides additional motivation for wastewater management planning. Land use, traffic, and wastewater planning efforts are intended to revitalize businesses and communities. The Hotel/Motel Overlay District 2 along South Shore Drive encompasses Motel properties along Nantucket Sound off South Shore Drive and provides a mechanism for motel owners to renovate, reconstruct and/or replace their properties by-right to improve our water- front lodging offerings. These properties are presently limited by how much wastewater they can adequately treat and dispose of on-site, with local or MassDEP approval. Planning efforts intend to direct growth in certain areas along Route 28 and South Shore Drive, which will be supported by existing and planned infrastructure. Wastewater management improvements are necessary to provide off-site wastewater treatment and effluent disposal for the proposed revitalization. ES.4 Water Resource Advisory Committee The Town of Yarmouth’s Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC; formerly referred to as the IWRP Committee) was formed in October, 2018 to coordinate the wastewater planning initiative for this NPC. The WRAC’s stated purpose is to investigate ways to involve and educate the community on issues relating to water resource initiatives in Yarmouth, including water supply, surface water, groundwater, stormwater and wastewater, with the goal of protecting and restoring the Town’s fresh and saltwater bodies and its drinking water supplies. The WRAC members, listed in Table ES-1, are charged with acting as a liaison between the Board Table ES-1. Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) Members Member Representing Tom Baron Planning Board Mary Craig Board of Health John Deliso Lewis Bay Area Tom Durkin Conservation Commission Spyro Mitrokostas Member-at-Large George Perkins Parker’s River Area Tom Roche Bass River Watershed Lee Rowley Northside Area Curt Sears Member-at-Large, Chair ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 6 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change ƒSection 4 summarizes the wastewater treatment system evaluations and presents the revised recommended plan for wastewater treatment resulting from continued evaluations. ƒSection 5 summarizes the effluent recharge site evaluations conducted for the CWMP and presents the revised recommended effluent recharge sites from continued evaluations. ƒSection 6 summarizes the CCCs 208 Plan technologies and how they were investigated and addressed as part of the CWMP and this NPC. ƒSection 7 presents the revised Recommended Program for wastewater management in Yarmouth and evaluates alternative management plans. This section describes the Recommended Program in detail, including its implementation, scheduling, and budgeting. ƒSection 8 describes the updated environmental benefits, impacts and mitigation measures of the recommended program, including a discussion of each item addressed on MEPA’s ENF form and follow-up information in accordance with MEPA’s scope in the Expanded ENF Certificate. The appendices contain all of the backup analyses and technical memoranda developed in relation to this NPC. ES.7 Evaluation of Estuaries and Embayments A wastewater needs assessment was performed as the first step of the CWMP for the Town. Yarmouth has four estuaries located in the MEP study area: Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole, Bass River, Lewis Bay, and Parkers River. Information available from the Lewis Bay and Parkers River watershed MEPs was utilized as part of the initial CWMP assessment finalized in 2011. The Lewis Bay watershed is shared with Barnstable, and the Parkers River watershed is entirely within Yarmouth. The Town was divided into multiple areas for evaluation and potential areas that need improved methods of waste- water treatment and recharge to meet current and future demands and nitrogen loading goals. The main objective of the needs assessment was to assess the wastewater needs of each area of Yarmouth, based on available data, and to prioritize these areas according to their level of need. Since the original needs assessment was performed, additional data from the completed Bass River Watershed MEP Report and Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole Draft MEP Report became available. Yarmouth shares the Bass River Watershed with Dennis, and shares the Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole watershed with Barnstable and Dennis. ES7.1 Bass River Watershed Evaluation The Bass River MEP Report became available following the completion of Yarmouth’s 2011 CWMP. The watershed is shared between Dennis and Yarmouth, with Yarmouth being responsi- ble for approximately 56 percent of the attenuated nitrogen loads in Bass River. ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 7Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change Because septic system loading accounts for about 80 percent of the controllable nitrogen in the Bass River watershed, septic system nitrogen is the primary source targeted for total reduction within the contributing watersheds. Overall, 173.5 kg/day, or roughly 63,330 kg/yr, total attenuated nitrogen was estimated to originate from wastewater within the watershed. In order to meet threshold total nitrogen loads, it is estimated that the present total septic load in the whole Bass River watershed would need to be reduced by 59.5 percent, as summarized in Table ES-2, to meet the targeted thresholds under existing development conditions, as compared to a 47.4 percent reduction in total nitrogen loading shown in Table ES-1. A map of the Bass River watershed and the required removals is included in Figure ES-1. Table ES-1 Comparison of Subembayment Total Attenuated Watershed Loads and Threshold Loads Sub-embayment Present Total Load (kg/day) Threshold Total Load (kg/day) Threshold % Change Run Pond 8.384 8.384 0.0% Bass River - Lower 36.764 36.764 0.0% School Street Marsh 11.882 11.882 0.0% Bass River – Middle 67.674 29.833 -55.9% Grand Cove 7.293 7.293 0.0% Dinah’s Pond 4.337 0.778 -82.1% Kelleys Bay 20.126 3.860 -80.8% Follins Pond 34.121 7.858 -77.0% Mill Pond and Stream 27.238 7.847 -71.2% Total 217.8 114.5 -47.4% Source: Table vIII-3 of the Bass River MEP Report values in RED indicate that the value is above the standard and must be reduced. Table ES-2 Decrease in Present Bass River System Attenuated Septic Loading to Meet Nitrogen Thresholds MEP Watershed Present Septic Load (kg/day) Threshold Septic Load (kg/day) Septic Load Decrease to Meet Threshold (% change) Run Pond 7.014 7.014 0.0% Bass River - Lower 29.858 29.858 0.0% School Street Marsh 9.496 9.496 0.0% Bass River – Middle 54.512 16.671 -69.4% Grand Cove 6.159 6.159 0.0% Dinah’s Pond 3.559 0.000 -100.0% Kelleys Bay 16.408 0.142 -99.1% Follins Pond 27.085 0.822 -97.0% Mill Pond and Stream 19.416 0.025 -99.9% Total 173.507 70.187 -59.5% Source: Table vIII-2 page 177 of Bass River MEP Report ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 8 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change values in RED indicate that the value is above the standard and must be reduced. As shown in Table ES-2, the finalized Bass River MEP results concluded that approximately 59.5 percent of the total septic load will need to be removed from the watershed, of which Yarmouth is responsible for approximately 56 percent. This is a much more significant amount of nitrogen removal than what was initially assumed in Yarmouth’s wastewater needs analysis (CWMP, 2011). The North and South Bass River study area rankings were re-evaluated based on these results and the new analysis categorized both the watersheds as Category 1, need off-site solution. This NPC discusses how the Recommended Program for wastewater manage- ment was revised to incorporate the North and South Bass River Watershed study areas in the off-site solution wastewater program. Additionally, there are four major bridge crossings over the Bass River system: Route 28, Route 6, High Bank Road, and the Cape Cod Rail Trail Bridge.. Three of these four bridge crossings (Route 6, Route 28, and the Cape Cod Rail Trail Bridge) were analyzed by MEP to determine potential scenarios to remove the tidal restrictions present by the bridge crossings. Reduction and removal of these tidal restrictions would increase flushing in the Bass River watershed. ES7.2 Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole Watershed Evaluation The draft report titled, ““Linked Watershed-Embayment Model to Determine Critical Nitrogen Loading Threshold for the Barnstable Great Marshes-Bass Hole Estuarine System” was issued in June 2017. Figure ES-3 shows the Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole Watershed System in Yarmouth. Results from the report indicate that nitrogen removal from this watershed will not be required. The primary source of nitrogen in the Barnstable Great Marsh/Bass Hole watershed is septic system effluent, which accounts for a majority of total and controllable nitrogen loading. However, as mentioned above, the system is not currently experiencing negative impacts due to this presence of nitrogen and as such is able to accept additional nitrogen without deleterious impacts. It is estimated that the current total septic load in the Great Marshes/Bass Hole watershed would need to increase by 53.1 percent, as shown in Table ES-3, to exceed the threshold load. Table ES-3 Decrease in Present Great Marshes-Bass Hole System Attenuated Septic Loading to Meet Nitrogen Thresholds Sub – Embayment Present Septic Load (kg/day) Threshold Septic Load (kg/day) Threshold Septic Load Decrease (% change) Barnstable Great Marshes – West 26.364 50.737 +92.4% Barnstable Great Marshes – Mid 19.488 48.719 +150.0% Barnstable Great Marshes – East 32.397 32.397 0.0% Millway 7.205 2.522 -65.0% Bass Hole - West 23.107 30.385 +31.5% Bass Hole – East 20.822 36.438 +75.0% Bass Hole 5.847 5.847 0.0% Total 135.230 207.045 +53.1% ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 9Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change Nantucket Sound W E I R C R E E K KELLEY'S PONDLONG PONDYARMOUTH DENNIS BREWSTER HARWICH BASS RIVERSWAN POND RIVERSWAN POND KELLEYS BAY FOLLINS POND MILL POND AND STREAM GRAND COVE North Dennis Wells Pine PondBakers Pond Flax Pond Northwest Dennis Wells East West Dennis Wells Grassy Pond Old Bass River Wells Simmons Ponds North Yarmouth Wells North Main Yarmouth Wells Kelleys Bay LT10 Follins Pond LT10 Mill Pond GT10 Dennis Weir Stream LT10 Dennis Mill Stream GT10 Dennis Mill Stream LT10 Weir Road Gauge LT10 Dinah's Pond GT10 Bass River Mid GT10 Yarmouth Dinah's Pond LT10 Follins Pond GT10 YarmouthMill Stream GT10 Yarmouth Mill Pond GT10 Yarmouth Mill Pond LT10 Kelleys Bay GT10 Yarmouth Kelleys Bay GT10 Dennis Follins Pond GT10 Dennis Bass River Mid LT10 Bass River Mid GT10 Dennis Fresh Pond Fresh Pond Gauge Bass River Lower LT10 Horsefoot Cove Grand Cove Uncle Stephans Pond Kelleys Pond School Street Marsh Bass River Lower GT10 Yarmouth Run Pond Weir Road Gauge GT10 Weir Stream LT10 Yarmouth Figure ES-2 Bass River Watershed Nitrogen Removal Required NEWELLJD F:\Yarmouth_MA\Yarmouth_ES-2_BassRiverSystem.mxd 12/13/2021 Town of Yarmouth, MA 0 0.5 1 Miles N Notice of Project Change 1 in = 4,000 ft Watershed Bass River Bass River Subwatersheds -100.0% -74.0% Septic Nitrogen Removal to Meet Threshold/ Total Controllable Nitrogen Removal to Meet Threshold 0.0% 0.0% -100% -82.1% -99.9% -71.2% 0.0% 0.0% ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 10 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change W E I R C R E E K LONG PONDBARNSTABLE YARMOUTH DENNIS BarnstableGreatMarshesEast Millway BassHoleWest BassHoleEast BassHole Figure ES-3 Barnstable Marshes Bass Hole Watershed NEWELLJD F:\Yarmouth_MA\Yarmouth_Barnstable_Marshes_2-1.mxd 12/13/2021 Town of Yarmouth, MA 0 0.5 1 Miles N Notice of Project Change 1 in = 3,500 ft Watersheds Barnstable Marshes/Bass Hole Watershed Subembayments ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 11Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change Source: Table vIII-2 of the June 2017 Barnstable Great Marshes-Bass Hole MEP Report The threshold septic loading for the Great Marshes/Bass Hole system is the sum of seven threshold loads developed in the MEP report for Barnstable Great Marshes-west, Barnstable Great Marshes-mid, Barnstable Great Marshes-east, Millway, Bass Hole-west, Bass Hole-east, Bass Hole sub-embayments. Together these seven thresholds combine to give a total threshold septic load for the watershed. To exceed the requirements of check and sentinel stations, attenuated septic loading to the system would need to increase by 53.1 percent. Under buildout conditions, in order to exceed the MEP established threshold total nitrogen loads, it is estimated that the total buildout load in the Great Marshes-Bass Hole watershed would need to increase by 10.1%. ES.8 Recommended Program The Town of Yarmouth proposed a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Recommended Program in 2011. Implementation of that program would allow for the town to meet its water resources management needs, consistent with MEP nitrogen reduction goals known at that time. However, analysis of the subsequent Bass River watershed MEP results concluded that updates to the 2011 recommended program would be necessary to fully meet nitrogen reduction goals. Sections 3, 4, and 5 describe the updates to the recommended program components for collection systems, wastewater treatment, and effluent recharge, respectively. This section summarizes the updated CWMP Recommended Plan and discusses the updated alternatives to this program. ES.8.1 Recommended Plan: Collection System and Wastewater Flows The updated recommended sewer collection system plan shown in Figure ES-4 provides a town-wide perspective of the areas proposed for sewering and locations of the Water Resource Reclamation Facility (WRRF) and effluent recharge sites. Table ES-4 summarizes the phased implementation plan which is expected to last a total of 40 years. This plan provides collection, treatment and effluent recharge for about 3.54 mgd (ADF) of wastewater. This flow is a build- out flow as discussed in Section 3. The build-out flows were originally developed from the build-out analysis in the MEP model with assistance from the Yarmouth Planning Department. In 2019, a town-wide buildout analysis was performed to further refine build-out projections and related flow estimates. ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 12 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change Table ES-4 Updated CWMP Recommended Master Plan Sewer and Wastewater Flow Summary Phase Watersheds Served Proposed Sewer Type Number of Parcels Served Linear Feet of Pipe Total Current Flow1 (gpd) Total Flow at Build-out With I/I (gpd) 1 Lewis Bay/ Parkers River/ Bass River/ Nan. Sound Gravity 605 78,000 417,000 910,000 Pressure vacuum Force Main 2 Lewis Bay/ Parkers River/ Nan. Sound Gravity 2,475 162,000 403,000 486,000 vacuum Pressure Force Main 3 Lewis Bay/ Parkers River/ Bass River Gravity 2,125 137,000 390,000 435,000 vacuum Pressure Force Main 4 Parkers River/ Bass River Gravity 1,450 101,000 252,000 290,000 vacuum Pressure Force Main 5 Lewis Bay/ Parkers River/ Bass River/ Nan. Sound Gravity 1,175 82,000 225,000 280,000 vacuum Pressure Force Main 6 Parkers River/ Bass River Gravity 2,030 144,000 393,000 482,000 vacuum Pressure Force Main 7 Bass River Gravity 695 65,000 181,000 226,000 vacuum Pressure Force Main 8 Bass River/ Nan. Sound Gravity 1,645 144,000 290,000 432,000 vacuum Pressure Force Main 12,200 173 miles 2.55 MGD 3.54 MGD 1 Current flow identified through MEP Reports. The proposed sewer collection system shown in Figure ES-1 has been developed for planning purposes. Focus should be placed on the first couple of phases which need to be constructed prior to future phases being built. The type of sewer to be utilized is likely to be evaluated by town staff after the initial gravity sewers are built. While sewer types shown were selected in discussions with prior planning committees mainly for cost reasons, there may be a greater benefit to using a consistent type of sewer versus the hybrid approach. Similarly, the phasing sequence may change to meet town needs going forward. ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 13Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change "M "M "M !I !I !I !I !I !I !I "M "M "M "M "M "M "M "M "M "MWestYarmouthRoadWillow StreetForest RoadStation A venue U n io n Stre et Setucket R o ad NorthMainStreetLon g P o n d D riveNorthDennisRoadWinslo w G rayR oad O ldM ainStreetW o o d R o a d Old Town House Road GreatWesternRoad Town Brook RdH ig h b a n k R o a d White s Pa th Buck Island RoadHigginsCrowe llRoadCamp Street£¤6 £¤6 £¤6 !(6A !(28 !(28 !(6A !(28 W Great Western Rd Dennis 0 0.5Miles Yarmouth Recommended Plan November 2021 Figure 3-2 N Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Phase 6 Phase 7 Phase 8 Wastewater Pump Station Vacuum Sewer Pressure Sewer Force Sewer Gravity Sewer Effluent Recharge Sites "M Vacuum Station!I Effluent Pump Station"M Effluent Recharge Site Yarmouth Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) Effluent Recharge Site Barnstable Yarmouth Figure ES-4 ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 14 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change ES.8.2 Recommended Treatment Technology The recommended treatment approach is a centralized Water Resource Reclamation Facility (WRRF) to be located at Buck Island Road as was recommended in the 2011 CWMP and as shown on Figure ES-4. In selecting the best treatment technology for the proposed facility, the Town had to consider that the facility would initiate operation with much lower flows than the design flow projected following installation of all the proposed sewers. Despite this, the major facility components would need to be constructed during the first phase of sewer installation to provide the complete level of treatment required to meet the anticipated Groundwater Discharge Permit requirements and the MEP goals. The proposed initial capacity of the WRRF is 1.8 MGD of av- erage daily flow, which is anticipated to be the total buildout flow for Phases 1 through 3 of the collection system project. Therefore, the recommended treatment technology for the first phase of sewering is a new WRRF with threeSequenc- ing Batch Reactor (SBR) process tanks, with the intent to construct additional tanks as the collection system expands Phase 4 to handle flows and loads from the later phases. Final SBR sizing will be established during design to accommodate initial flows and loads. The key reasons for constructing a SBR process are to both minimize the immediate capital and operating costs and provide the best operational flexibility associated with the initial low plant flows. The SBR option is cost-effective, easily expandable, and is able to treat to stringent limits. Following the SBRs, tertiary treatment consisting of denitrification filters is also anticipated to achieve the effluent nitrogen target. ES.8.3 Recommended Effluent Recharge A site screening analysis was conducted to identify candidate effluent recharge sites in the CWMP process. The site screening identified Site R1 at Buck Island Road and Site R2 at the Bass River Golf Course as potential recharge sites. Both of these sites remain as the recommended recharge sites in this Notice of Project Change. Site R1 at Buck Island Road has an anticipated recharge capacity of approximately 1.2 MGD assuming a 3 mg/L concentration of nitrogen and 30% attenuation, allowing the site to accommodate effluent from the initial phases of the Recommended Plan. The 2011 Buck Island Road hydrogeologic evaluation determined there is a potential to recharge up to 2 MGD at the site. The Parkers River bridge on Route 28 was recently widened (completed in 2021) by MassDOT as recommended in the 2011 CWMP. This will allow for increased flushing in the Parkers River embayment resulting in a higher effluent recharge capacity in the watershed. The treated effluent from the first few phases of the Recommended Plan will be recharged in open infiltra- tion basins at the Buck Island recharge site. The actual recharge rate possible is dependent on the hydrogeologic conditions at the site and the actual attenuation rates for nitrogen within the system. In the future, a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) could be assessed to remove Buck Island Road Site of Proposed WRRF ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 15Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change additional nitrogen from the effluent. This type of a system utilizes a carbon source within the reactive barrier that removes nitrogen from effluent under anaerobic conditions. Based on limited data, certain types of reactive barriers have the ability to consistently reduce treated wastewater nitrogen levels. The finalized Bass River MEP results suggested that the Bass River Golf Course (BRGC), Site R2, could be a feasible recharge option for the town after Site R1 at Buck Island Road reaches its full capacity. Field work and transient groundwater modeling efforts were conducted by CDM Smith in 2018 to confirm the previous estimated recharge capacity at the BRGC. An initial assessment of recharge loading technologies for the BRGC proposed recharge areas was done as well. The BRGC site has an estimated effluent recharge capacity of approximately 2 to 2.5 MGD so it is sufficient for recharging the remaining treated effluent. ES.8.4 Non-Infrastructure Components Non-infrastructure components of the recommended program include a public participation and outreach program, fertilizer education, stormwater best management practices (BMPs), inflow prevention programs, on-site system support, school education programs, and an innovative and alternative technologies committee. The Friends of Bass River is conducting the Upper Bass River Watershed Restoration Project, beginning in 2022. The project “will conduct data gathering and modeling, and develop engi- neering plans to document and demonstrate the necessary steps to achieve improved water quality through removal of barriers, increased water exchange, and the reintroduction of 57 acres of wetlands (abandoned cranberry bogs) to the riparian ecosystem.” (source: https://www. friendsofbassriver.org/new-page) Public Outreach Public participation and outreach have been a priority during the Notice of Project Change process and previous CWMP efforts. Outreach efforts were conducted to gain participation and feedback from residents and business owners. Buy-in from involved citizens, stakeholders like business and community groups, and the public at large is vital to gain acceptance of proposals to fund this water quality effort. The Town will incorporate components from the vision Plan 2021 in its public outreach docu- ments. The Yarmouth Community visioning project was undertaken by the Planning Board to identify values, challenges, and shared vision for Yarmouth’s future. Providing municipal wastewa- ter was identified as a goal in both the Environment and Economy visions identified in the Plan. Avenues of public outreach that the WRAC have used and will continue to use throughout implementation are listed below. ƒWebsite ƒPublications ƒMailings ƒSocial Media ƒCommittee Meetings ƒCommunity Meetings ƒCoordination with Groups (i.e., Friends of Bass River, Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce) ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 16 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change Fertilizer Education The fertilizer education program will focus on ideal application types and rates of fertilizer use and on resident awareness of the negative effects of over-fertilization or inappropriate use. The program will target portions of Yarmouth located upstream from the most sensitive water sources and may include website resources, handout materials, collaboration with local landscaping companies, and other regional and County initiatives for the benefit of the Town. Stormwater BMPs The stormwater BMP program will focus on ideal application of BMPs at drainage features in Yarmouth. The program will target those portions of town located upstream of the most sensitive water sources in subwatersheds with the highest nitrogen loads as well as phospho- rus in freshwater ponds from stormwater and will include several stormwater controls and/or practices on all new work. As the program is developed, the Town will decide which types of controls are most appropriate. Innovative and Alternative Technologies Committee through WRAC Because of the high costs of providing proven nitrogen removal treatment technology to the very stringent standards required to meet the proposed TMDLs, there are several innovative and alternative (I/A) technologies being tested. The currently available I/A technologies either do not meet the nitrogen removal requirements or their use was not cost effective. However, development of new technologies should always be monitored and evaluated for incorpora- tion into this recommended wastewater program. The Yarmouth CWMP Recommended Plan has been designed with significant flexibility such that it would allow potential technology improvements to be incorporated in the future as appropriate. The Yarmouth WRAC will monitor alternative systems going forward. ES.9 Recommended Plan Costs Based on the revised Recommended Plan, the opinion of probable project costs (OPPC) have been updated and are summarized below in Table ES-5. Stormwater Retention Basin ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 17Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change Table ES-5 Opinion of Probable Project Costs (OPPC) by Phase Phase Town Only Collection and Conveyance System5 Treatment Facility OPM Effluent Recharge with Conveyance and PRB Non- Infrastructure Components Total 1 $65.4 Mil $79.9 Mil $1.4 Mil $15.6 Mil $.03 Mil $162.4 Mil 2 $59.1 Mil    $.03 Mil $59.1 Mil 3 $52.3 Mil    $.03 Mil $52.3 Mil 4 $43.6 Mil $26.9 Mil $.5 Mil $27.8 Mil $.03 Mil $98.8 Mil 5 $36.8 Mil    $.03 Mil $36.8 Mil 6 $49.0 Mil    $.03 Mil $49.0 Mil 7 $21.2 Mil    $.03 Mil $21.2 Mil 8 $61.5 Mil    $.03 Mil $61.5 Mil Total (Rounded) $389 Mil $107 Mil $1.9 Mil $43.4 Mil $.24 Mil $541 Mil All costs are projected to Year 2024 with an estimated Engineering News Record (ENR) Construction Cost Index of 13,060. As discussed in Section 3, an additional 10% contingency has been added to collection and conveyance costs to reflect increased industry costs. Additionally, all capital costs include 25% for construction contingency and 15% for engineer- ing, permitting, and planning. Estimated annual operations and maintenance (O&M) costs for the recommended program are shown below in Table ES-6. These costs represent the estimated annual costs to operate and maintain the entire wastewater program during the first phase and at the final phase with a buildout flow of 3.54 mgd. Table ES-6 Estimated Operations and Maintenance Costs Category Estimated O&M Cost in Phase 1 (0.43 mgd) Estimated O&M Cost at Build-out (3.54 mgd) Collection System $0.5 Million $ 3.5 Million WRRF $2.2 Million $ 8.6 Million Effluent Recharge w/ PRB $0.1 Million $ 0.3 Million Non-Infrastructure Components $12,000 $12,000 Total $ 2.8 Million $ 12.5 Million The assumptions used in this estimate are based on operations and maintenance experience at several similar facilities as well as guidance from the 208 Plan Comparison Costs for Wastewater Management Systems Applicable to Cape Cod by the Cape Cod Commission issued in 2014. The Town is continuing to evaluate various cost recovery models with the intent of using a combination of funding sources to not impact the general tax rate. A potential wastewater capital cost funding plan for Phase 1 of the program has been developed, with the potential funding sources as listed below: ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 18 Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change ƒMassDEP SRF Zero-Percent Loan ƒMunicipal Water Infrastructure Fund, including 0.78% property tax surcharge ƒCape & Islands Water Protection Fund ƒBetterment program ƒ25% capital surcharge on operating rate ƒDedication of short-term rental bill revenues ƒSeptage host fee and water operation cost sharing ƒBoard of Selectmen Financial management policies regarding new growth ƒFree cash when possible ƒStimulus funding and other possible grants ES.10 Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency and Environmental Justice Stakeholders The Town is committed to a long term, resilient wastewater solution that allows for the incorporation of features to address climate change. As part of this NPC, resiliency options were identified and reviewed in conjunction with the Water Utility Resilience Program and the Resilient MA Action Team’s “Climate Resilience Design Standards and Guidelines.” These resilien- cy options are described in detail in Section 8. Also as part of this NPC, the Town of Yarmouth has reviewed the environmental justice areas located within five miles of the town-wide project. The 2020 MA Environmental Justice Map viewer identifies environmental justice populations in Yarmouth, as well as its neighboring communities of Barnstable and Dennis. The Town has performed public outreach as part of its wastewater planning efforts. The Town will perform additional public outreach during the preliminary design stage of each phase of its wastewater program, including environmental justice outreach. Each phase of the project will ensure compliance with the state’s environmen- tal justice protocols. ES.11 Organization of this Notice of Project Change This Notice of Project Change report is divided into nine (9) sections. The sections are as follows: ƒExecutive Summary presents an overview of the report and the findings. ƒSection 1 introduces the changes to the previously approved CWMP and details the purpose, the scope, existing conditions, and the organization of the report. ƒSection 2 describes the findings of the MEP Reports for the watersheds not previously included in the 2011 CWMP. ExECUTIvE SUMMARY 19Town of Yarmouth: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Notice of Project Change ƒSection 3 provides a summary and recommendation on the various collection system options and changes to the Recommended Plan from the 2011 CWMP. ƒSection 4 provides a summary and recommendations on the wastewater treatment options and changes from the 2011 CWMP. ƒSection 5 includes a summary and recommendations of the effluent recharge system options and changes from the 2011 CWMP. ƒSection 6 describes the Cape Cod Commission’s 208 Plan and Technology review. ƒSection 7 details the components of the recommended program including, capital and O&M costs, phasing, and non-infrastructure components. ƒSection 8 includes the updated Environmental Impact Analysis and Mitigation plans.