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WASTEWATER INFORMATION
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Note: Additional reports located at bottom of page.
Adobe Acrobat Reports:
DRAFT WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ORDINANCE FINAL WASTEWATER FACILITIES PLAN
THE WASTEWATER ISSUE SUMMARY FACT SHEET – July 2010 GOAL The goal of this effort is to establish a 20-year strategy to assure that wastewater in Portsmouth is processed in the most cost efficient manner consistent with all Federal and State requirements under the Clean Water Act through the adoption of a Wastewater Facilities Plan (WWFP). PROJECT SUMMARY The establishment of this strategy requires an examination of the Town to determine which areas are suitable for on-site disposal (generally septic systems), and which areas are not. Areas found to be unsuitable for on-site disposal are studied further to determine the optimum method of off-site disposal suitable for the area (generally sewer system or innovative collective system, or a combination thereof). All areas determined suitable for on-site disposal will be incorporated into a Town operated Wastewater Management District. (A Wastewater Management District is a geographic area in which property owners are required to have their septic systems professionally inspected and replaced if needed, within a set period of time. Requirements vary, dependent on soil conditions, density of development and other relevant factors. Click here for further information and click here for WWMD FAQ's.) Areas designated for a sewer system, if any, would require significant up-front costs of a magnitude to necessitate a bond referendum. Areas suitable for continued on-site disposal within a Wastewater Management District will incur modest up-front costs, but may require significant cash outlays by homeowners over time to repair or replace systems. LATEST STEPS · A draft final consultant report was issued and posted on this web site in August 2009. · A public hearing on that report was held on Dec. 2, 2009.
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The engineering consultant submitted its final WWFP to
the Town and the R.I. Dept. of Environmental Management (DEM) in
January 2010. · On January 25, 2010, the Town Council took the plan under advisement, and directed the Town Administrator and Town Planner to produce a cost-benefit analysis comparing the installation of sewers with implementing a Wastewater Management District. On April 7, 2010, the Town Administrator and Town Planner presented their findings. · On April 12, 2010 the Town Council decided to implement a Town-Wide Wastewater Management District. NEXT STEPS · On June 28, 2010, a draft “Wastewater Management District Ordinance” was forwarded to the Town Council for their consideration. · Assuming adoption of the ordinance, a 7-year phasing plan, a computer tracking program, property owner notifications, a public education program, etc. will be developed by the Town Planner. · In the Spring of 2011, a Wastewater Program Manager will be hired to run the program. · At the current time, the Wastewater Management Program is likely to begin on July 1, 2011. · As information and procedures are formalized, they will appear on this web site. Cesspool Phase-out Act: The 2007 RI Cesspool Phase-out Act requires all cesspools in the State that are within 200 ft. of a water body to be replaced by Jan. 1, 2013. Approximately 300 homes in Portsmouth have septic systems within 200 ft. of the shore are over 40 yrs. old and likely to be cesspools. Concentrated in northern parts of Town. If an area is scheduled to be sewered by 2018, do not need to replace cesspool. (The Town’s web site has a link to the latest “Frequently Asked Questions page at DEM, or go to www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/permits/isds/pdfs/cessfaqs.pdf for updates.) HISTORY In 1987 the RI Dept. of Environmental Management (RIDEM) discovered pollution in the southern half of Blue Bill Cove and the northernmost part of the Sakonnet River. RIDEM completed a so-called a TMDL plan in 2005, with the goal of eliminating all pollution in the water and along the shoreline there. Pollution is attributed to failing and inadequate septic systems in the TMDL area of Island Park and Portsmouth Park (including Valhalla). The Town began its studies, with RIDEM financial assistance, in 2001, to lead to a town-wide Wastewater Facilities Plan, to be made public and considered for adoption in the 2009-10 timeframe. Studies include: § 2002 Berger Report: Evaluated the above TMDL area and recommended a “Wastewater Management District” for that area due to problems with siting a treatment plant and high cost to homeowners. $71,000 (funded by a RIDEM grant and CDBG grant). § 2003 Lombardo Report: Using data from septic system applications, as well as lot sizes and soil types, performed a statistical extrapolation for the entire town. It concluded that Island Park, Portsmouth Park, Common Fence Point, the Hummocks and the small neighborhood across from the post office would be best served by sewers in the long run. $53,000 ($42,000 from RIDEM grant, $11,000 Town). § 2004 - Town-Wide Survey: Planning Office, with an advisory committee appointed by the Town Council, surveyed the attitudes of the entire town toward sewers. Excellent 44% response rate. Areas possibly interested in sewers (over 50% within a margin of error) lie east of East Main Rd. from Clements Market north through Common Fence Point plus the neighborhoods either side of Boyd Lane. $20,000 Town funds. § 2005-06 - Town hired Woodard & Curran to develop cost estimates for a variety of sewer combinations for the above areas and the West Side. Cost estimates higher than what was mentioned in the above survey. In 2006 the Town’s Wastewater Advisory Committee concluded that sewers were too expensive, and recommended a Wastewater Management District for the entire Town. $49,200 Town funds. § 2006 - RIDEM informed the Town Council that the above conclusion was unacceptable because it was inconsistent with its studies and engineering studies. RIDEM advised the Town that it must work toward a final town-wide WWFP that integrates the 2003 Lombardo report. § 2007-09 –Woodard & Curran hired to complete the Wastewater Facilities Plan as above, plus a separate system for the West Side. Results summarized above. $182,000 RIDEM grant, plus $150,000 Town funds. It recommended a ‘North End’ sewer area including Island Park, Portsmouth Park (roughly between Hathaway School and Boyds Lane), Common Fence Point, the Hummocks and the small neighborhood across from the post office (called West of Chase in the report).
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