WASTEWATER FACILITIES PLANNING2014 Public Information Session

August 26, 2014

Town of Clinton, CT

Water Pollution Control Commission

Introductions and WPCC Mission

• Introductions of Town and Project Personnel– First Selectman William W. Fritz Jr, and the Board of

Selectmen – Water Pollution Control Commission– CT River Area Health District – Jim Monopoli– CT Department of Energy and Environmental

Protection – Carlos Esguerra and Dennis Greci– Consulting Engineer CDM Smith – Kristie Wagner• N.L. Jacobson & Associates – Wade Thomas

– Consultant – Mary Jane Engle• Mission of the WPCC

Agenda

• Overview of CRAHD Responsibilities and Activities • Ongoing WPCC Activities:– Pumpout Ordinance

• Facilities Planning Project Background and Necessity per DEEP

• Ongoing Facilities Planning Work:– Refining Areas of Concern– Evaluating Treatment Alternatives– Analyzing Sites for Groundwater Discharge

CRAHD – We are your local health department

• Regulate On-Site Systems < 2000 gallons per day– Including site evaluations, plan review, permits to install,

inspections, permits to discharge

• On-Site Sewage Disposal Program Activities– Regulate repairs and system malfunctions/failures, property

improvement projects under Reg 19-13-b100a– Provide education and training – Approve well construction and determine potability– In fiscal year 2013: 72 repairs, in FY2014: 67 repairs

• CRAHD and the WPCC– Helped facilitate regional POB: Cedar Is. Marina– Will work cooperatively to blend responsibilities as this project

moves forward

What is being reported about Clinton

• NRDC: “The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates of the BAV in 2013 were Town Beach (Clinton) in Middlesex County (27%)” 2014 Testing the Waters report

• CT Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture: There can be no recreational shellfishing program in Clinton until the water quality improves and a plan is in place to address and eliminate sub-standard sewage disposal systems along Clinton’s shoreline. Paraphrase of DA/BA to shellfish commission

• CT DEEP: “The Clinton Estuary includes one segment impaired for commercial shellfish harvesting and four segments impaired for direct shellfish harvesting due to elevated bacteria levels.” 2013 TMDL report

Ongoing WPCC Activities – Pumpout Ordinance

• Requires septic pump-out and inspection by a Licensed Septic Tank Cleaner at least every five years

• Cleaner must be registered with WPCC and submit report to WPCC electronically (Carmody)

• Administered by WPCC Clerk, Shirley Mickens• Approximately 5,559 septic systems in town– Every owner has been notified of pump-out requirement at

least once (some on 2nd and 3rd notice)– Currently approximately 470 non-compliant

• Clinton has conducted numerous wastewater studies since the 1970s which recommended town-wide or regional solutions

• Focus of current study has evolved to looking at more localized solutions

• DEEP providing grants covering 55% of cost of current study

CT DEEP - Project History and Background

Ongoing Activities – Completion of Wastewater Facilities Plan

• Wastewater Facilities Plan Goals: – Develop a comprehensive plan for wastewater management in

Clinton– Refine Areas of Concern and need for off-site treatment– Find sites for groundwater discharge of treated wastewater

(River not preferred by Town)– Evaluate treatment alternatives– Balance Need with available capacity of subsurface disposal sites– Monitor and improve individual on-site systems where

appropriate

• Find the most economical and effective solutions for each area of Town

Ongoing Activities – Refining Areas of Concern

• Areas of Concern total approximately 600,000 gallons per day of wastewater (based on existing use), but nature and degree of problems vary

• Manual File Search– Reviewing historical paper files at Town Hall and CRAHD– Looking for information on soil testing, depth to

groundwater, septic failures, and anecdotal information from past site activities

– Goal is to reach educated, substantiated conclusions regarding off-site solutions or on-site improvements

Ongoing Activities – Refining Areas of Concern

• Rocky Ledge area – unique, potential public water extension

• Long Hill – majority off-site• Coastal – mix of on- and off-site; refining boundaries• Manufactured Mobile Home Communities – responsibility

of community owner• Downtown, Route 1 Corridor, Boulder Lake –

– Final phases of evaluation and prioritization– likely a mixture of solutions

• Prioritization is an iterative, comparative process

Rocky Ledge Needs Area- water sampling and file search project

• Historical concern regarding small lots, presence of ledge and groundwater making septic system functioning difficult, and dependency of wells for drinking water

• Historical water testing info also showed water quality issues• 48 of 122 (39%) properties had wells sampled by WPCC and

CRAHD since 2011• All property files searched for available info on water/septic• All properties studied for potential to upgrade septic on site

to current health code standards if wells were not present. – 99% of the properties can meet this criteria

Rocky Ledge Needs Area-Results by Street

Street and # ofproperties # (%) sampled

Of sample set, # (%)

contaminated(Coliform or

nitrates only)

Of all parcels, # (%) known health code exceedance

Total # (%) contamination

and/or exceedance

Happy Acres (23) 10 (43%) 4 (40%) 8 (35%) 12 (52%)

KillingworthTpke. (19) 7 (37%) 3 (43%) 11 (58%) 11 (58%)

Margo La. (8) 1 (13%) 0 (0%) 3 (38%) 3 (38%)

Oakwood La. (15) 8 (53%) 4 (50%) 7 (47%) 10 (67%)

Rocky Ledge Dr. (35) 16 (46%) 14 (88%) 7 (20%) 19 (54%)

Woodland Dr. (20) 6 (30%) 2 (33%) 7 (35%) 9 (45%)

Total (122) 48 (39%) 27 (56%) 43 (35%) 64 (52%)

Ongoing Activities – Evaluating Treatment Alternatives

• Community Treatment and Disposal Facilities, and Individual On-Site Improvements

Ongoing Activities – Finding Sites for Groundwater Discharge of Treated Wastewater

• Looking for favorable geology• Desktop screening, site walks,

subsurface exploration, hydraulic load testing

Ongoing Activities – Finding Sites for Groundwater Discharge of Treated Wastewater

• Working with property owners since 2010– Walked or tested dozens of parcels– 2013-2014: completed study phase testing

• “Top Four” Parcels:– Carter Hill Rd – 50-60,000 GPD– Ninety Rod Rd – 75-90,000 GPD– Pleasant Valley Rd – 150-300,000 GPD– Old Post Rd – 100-120,000 GPD

• Total 375,000 to 570,000 GPD, assuming all can be acquired and utilized

“Pulling It All Together” – Range of Solutions for Different Areas

• Sewers to community treatment facilities and disposal sites– Refining areas most in need of off-site solutions and balancing

with off-site disposal capacity– Treatment facilities will provide high level of treatment

including disinfection and nutrient removal

• Enhancement of on-site systems• Inspection and monitoring of on-site systems• Rocky Ledge – possible public water extension• Continuation of Pumpout Ordinance

Schedule for Facilities Planning

• Subsurface Disposal sites – study phase testing complete

• Refinement of Areas of Concern– through end of 2014• Facilities Plan – Draft end of 2014, Finalize in 2015• Public Outreach and Approvals – through 2015– *Town Residents*– WPCC– CT DEEP

• Commence Conceptual Design – 2016, focusing on highest-priority areas first

– Board of Selectmen– Board of Finance– CRAHD

Thank you all for your interest and for attending!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS