- The war against Nitrogen
requires further study before billions of dollars are, again, likely wasted on
unnecessary wastewater treatment plants in places like Cape Cod Massachusetts
and coastal Towns in Connecticut for the alleged purpose to free the coastal
embayments from nitrogen originating from Septic Systems..........
- It is alleged that 74% of the nitrogen in Buttermilk Bay comes
from Septic Systems (see study by Joe Costa, PhD, Buzzards Bay Organization,
1990's) or
60 -80% as reported in a document, dated May 2000 entitled, "CAPE COD a
Community Connected by Water", prepared by the Cape Cod Commission Resources
Staff. These estimates are utmost questionable since they assume that
nitrate nitrogen can travel in the subterranean, with little or no reduction, for several miles
(and years) before
entering the embayments. The studies also vastly underestimate the impact
of nitrogen from lawn fertilizers, atmospheric deposition, run-off from land
surfaces, biomass decomposition and bird deposits, etc.
Studies by the
US Geological Survey at Walden
Pond in Concord, Massachusetts demonstrates that the eutrophication
supporting nitrogen components, such as nitrate nitrogen, are reduced
approximately 80 - 90% in 450 feet of subterranean travel. For more
details from the USGS study
CLICK HERE.
- The Cape Cod Commission have adopted recommendations from
eight years of citizens collecting samples in various water bodies on the Cape.
It is being interpreted that nitrogen in open waters is mainly from Septic
Systems with only scant evidence to connect the two, when in fact there is
mountainous evidence to the contrary. It is commendable that citizens are
participating in collecting samples, however, the interpretation and application
of the data needs thorough peer review and third party scrutiny.
- The "Blame the Septics" nitrogen issue will likely backfire
and by constructing huge Sewer Treatment Plants, the Cape would be open for
explosive growth with the endless possibilities of packing the Cape with new
homes, apartment buildings, strip malls, automobile traffic and people with all adverse environmental
impact as a consequence.
- The
urgency at which the State of
Massachusetts and Connecticut Departments of Environmental Protection are
forcing the retirement of improved well functioning Septic Systems is totally
irrational. Massachusetts residents with Septic Systems have been forced to
spend vast sums of money on their Septics to comply with the 1995 Title 5
regulations to now be told that the title 5 upgrades were not what they were
advertised to be and need to be replaced by Central Wastewater Treatment Plants
with additional billions to be paid for by home and business owners.
Estimated, potential, liens on single family homes, on Cape Cod, are reported to be as high
as $ 150,000.00 or as much as the recession-reduced value of some of their homes.
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