Ipswich-Parker Suburban WATershed CHannel

EMPACT/ IPSWATCH Web Project

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Ipswich River

The Ipswich River is located in northeastern Massachusetts, and flows from its "headwaters" in Burlington, Wilmington and Andover, until it reaches Plum Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean in Ipswich (Click for map) . The river travels a meandering and relatively flat course. The change in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth of the river is only about 115 feet over more than 40 meandering miles (about 26 miles as the crow flies).

Tributaries are the smaller feeder streams that drain parts of the watershed and flow into the Ipswich River. The Ipswich River's tributaries include Bear Meadow, Black, Boston, Emerson, Fish, Gravelly, Howlett, Kimball, Lubbers, Maple Meadow, Martins, Mile, Mosquito, Norris, Nichols, Pye, Sawmill, School and Wills Brooks, Labor-in-Vain and Greenwood Creeks, and the Miles and Skug Rivers.

A watershed is the land which drains to a body of water, and all the streams, ponds and underground water which are part of that river system (See example). The watershed is also an ecosystem, supporting myriad plants and animals, as well as all the people who live here. Watersheds are important, because what happens in the watershed affects the river.

The Ipswich River Watershed includes all or part of these communities in northeastern Massachusetts: Andover, Beverly, Billerica, Boxford, Burlington, Georgetown, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynnfield, North Andover, North Reading, Peabody, Reading, Rowley, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Wenham, Wilmington and Woburn. (See towns in Ipswich R. and Parker R. watersheds)

Watersheds are also called "basins," "river basins," "drainages," etc.

Return to top

The Water Cycle

Groundwater is water that is stored in the ground, in the spaces between soil or rock particles. Picture filling a container with dry sand, and then pouring water into the container. The water that fills the spaces between the sand represents "groundwater." The more water you add, the greater the depth of soil that is saturated. The top of the saturated soil represents the "water table." The saturated soil represents an aquifer - a soil/rock layer that can store and potentially yield a substantial amount of water.

In the Ipswich River Watershed, groundwater and the river are closely interrelated. Groundwater flows into the Ipswich River, and maintains flow between rainfall events - this is called "baseflow." Pumping groundwater (wells) can interrupt this flow into the river, resulting in lower flows or even no flow in the Ipswich River (See water pumping effects).

If your "groundwater container" (described above) had some leaks or drains in it, allowing water to seep out into a trough, this might be a simple model representing the connection between groundwater and the Ipswich River.

Picture what would happen to the groundwater, if you covered your container with a lid, and then poured water on it. The water would not be able to sink into the soil, but would "run off" the lid. This represents what happens to groundwater when land is paved over, built upon or even cleared and compacted. The water can't penetrate into the ground, and therefore groundwater is not replenished. This loss of groundwater results in less flow in the river in between rainstorms.

Activities in the watershed affect the Ipswich River in several ways. During rainstorms, pollutants wash into the river from roadways and parking lots, construction sites, lawns, landfills and other "non point" sources.

Clearing land not only exposes soil to erosive forces, but also results in changes to the "water cycle," affecting flows in the river (See water cycle diagram). When land is paved or covered with buildings or other "impervious" or hard surfaces, the ground cannot absorb water from rain or snow. Instead, the water flows off the ground as "runoff." This situation can result in higher peak flows during storm events. (See graph of effect of urbanization). At the same time, less water is stored in the ground. This "groundwater" is what provides continuous flow in a river even when it is not raining. So decreasing groundwater results in less flow in the river during low-flow periods.

Other activities which affect the Ipswich River are water withdrawals for human use, and the loss of water via sewers. These activities reduce the amount of water available for the river.

The "water budget" refers to how much water enters the watershed and how much leaves - and where and how the water flows in or out (See water budget example for Ipswich R. Watershed). The water budget tracks the amount of water that moves through the hydrologic cycle or water cycle - the natural pathways of water into, through and out of the watershed. The natural "water budget" accounts for all the water entering the watershed, how it travels through the watershed or is stored, and all the water leaving the watershed:

• Rainfall and snowfall (the average precipitation here is about 47" a year)
• Evaporation and "evapotranspiration" ("ET," the water taken up and used by plants). Evapotranspiration returns about 50% of precipitation to the atmosphere, and is affected by climate (temperature, sunshine, wind) and vegetative cover
• Water that infiltrates into the ground, replenishing groundwater and later providing baseflow
• Runoff, or water that runs off the land into drainageways, streams and rivers
• Water that flows downstream, supporting the river's ecology, before reaching the estuary and ocean.

• How much water is pumped out of the ground or the river and where that water ends up
• How much water is stored in reservoirs and later pumped out
• How much water is "imported" from other watersheds
• How much water is "exported" to other watersheds or lost from the Ipswich River watershed (via water pipes, sewers, or through increased evaporation)

Return to Top

Population, Development and Growth

About 115,000 people live in the watershed, and another 220,000 who live outside the watershed receive drinking water from Ipswich River watershed sources. See population from 1860 to present in the Ipswich Watershed.

(link to "picture of a changing environment" and data from Clark U, UNH, MBL, MAPC?)

Growth results in higher water demand, unless effective water conservation measures are implemented. Also, development changes drainage patterns, resulting in more runoff and less replenishment of groundwater. These factors cause higher high flows and lower low flows. Increased development typically results in more pollution and less wildlife habitat.

Overall, about 36% the Ipswich River Watershed is developed - about 31% residential and about 5% commercial and industrial areas. Approximately 41% of the watershed is upland forest and open space, roughly 20% wetland and 2% open water.

Of the undeveloped land which existed in 1971, 26% of open land, 10% of farm land, and 11% of forests were developed by 1991.

About 25,000 acres, or 25%, of the watershed is protected from development. This protected land includes state forests and parks, local lands held for conservation, water supply protection, parks and recreation; and reservations owned by private organizations such as the Trustees of Reservation, Massachusetts Audubon Society and Essex County Greenbelt Association.

These properties include Harold Parker, Boxford and Willowdale/Cleaveland Farm State Forests, Bradley Palmer State Park, the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Appleton and Greenwood Farms, Long Hill, Steep Hill Beach, part of Crane Estate properties, Ipswich River Park and many other lands.

Since the Ipswich River provides drinking water to 335,000 people and thousands of businesses in 14 communities, this use of the river is most widely known. However, the river, streams, lakes and ponds also provide recreation, including canoeing and kayaking, other boating, swimming and wading, and fishing. The watershed lands provide many other recreational opportunities, including walking and hiking, on- and off-road biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, birding and nature observations, hunting, golf and even clamming Link to IPSWATCH recreation page.

Return to Top

Wildlife and Habitat

The watershed is home to a wide variety of plants and animals that are native to the area, as well as introduced species. The native forest is dominated by white pine and mixed hardwoods, including red and white oak; sugar, red and silver maple; white ash, hickories and walnuts. Other trees of note include swamp white oak, American elm, Eastern hemlock, Atlantic white cedar and green ash. Junipers, dogwoods, aspens, willows, blueberries and huckleberries, cranberries, wild cherries, viburnums, alders, buttonbush, azaleas, rhododendrons, and numerous other plants make up the shrub layers. There are many wildflowers, grasses, rushes, sedges, ferns, mushrooms, lichens and mosses. More information about native plants is available from the New England Wildflower Society at www.newfs.org.

Mammals living in the watershed include river otter, fisher, mink, skunk, ermine, weasel, beaver, muskrat, raccoon, grey and red fox, coyote, porcupine, white-tailed deer, woodchuck, chipmunk, grey and red squirrel, opossum, eastern and NE cottontail, snowshoe hare, bobcat, numerous species of mice, voles, shrews, moles and bats. Seals frequent the mouth of the river in winter, and an occasional moose wanders south into the watershed.

Amphibians include bullfrogs, spring peepers, wood frogs, gray treefrogs, green frogs, leopard and pickerel frogs; salamanders (Jefferson, marbled, spotted, blue-spotted, northern dusky, redback, four-toed, two-lined), red-spotted newt, and toads (American and Fowler's). More information about amphibians is available on the Internet at .www.frogweb.gov.

Reptiles include painted, snapping, spotted, Blandings, wood, Eastern box turtles and stinkpots, as well as various snakes (Northern black racer, water, brown, ringneck and redbelly; Eastern garter, milk, smooth green and ribbon).

Fish: The current fish community is dominated by generalist species that can tolerate warm water and ponded conditions. Three generalist species -- redfin pickerel, American eel and pumpkinseed - make up almost 70% of the fish population. Other species currently found in the river include of bluegill, chain pickerel, redbreast sunfish, and small numbers of creek chubsucker, fallfish, yellow perch, white sucker, largemouth bass, golden shiner, yellow bullhead, sea lamprey, swamp darter, green sunfish, brown bullhead, brown trout, brook trout (<.1%), rainbow trout and black crappie.

Andromous fishes - those that spawn in freshwater but live most of their lives in oceans - once were very abundant in the Ipswich River. However, dams constructed in the 1800's blocked their spawning migrations. An effort to restore river herring is currently underway, including recent reconstruction of the fish ladder at the Ipswich Dam, and annual stocking with spawning blueback herring harvested from the Charles River. Other anadromous fishes documented historically in the Ipswich River include shad and salmon.

Birds: In addition to rare bird species listed below, the Ipswich River Watershed hosts many species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, etc. Some of these include herons (great and little blue, green-backed, black-crowned), ducks (wood, black, blue-winged teal, northern shoveler, gadwall, goldeneye, bufflehead), mergansers, hawks (Cooper's, red-shouldered, red-tailed, broad-winged, rough-legged, northern goshawk), owls (screech, great-horned, barred, long-eared, short-eared, saw-whet, barn), American kestrel, woodpeckers (downy, hairy, pileated, northern flicker), pheasant, wild turkey, bobwhite, killdeer, spotted sandpiper, woodcock, flycatchers (least, alder, willow, great-crested), pewee, phoebe, eastern kingbird, horned lark, swallows, sparrows, finches, wrens, nuthatches, kinglets, eastern bluebird, ovenbird, veery, thrushes, warblers, waterthrushes, meadowlark, bobolink, Baltimore oriole, scarlet tanager, numerous gulls, blackbirds, etc. For more information about birds in this region, contact Massachusetts Audubon Society (www.massaudubon.org) or their Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield (978-887-9264).

Invertebrates: The watershed is home to so many invertebrates that they defy listing here. The Ipswich River Watershed Association monitors macroinvertebrates (aquatic creatures without a backbone, visible with the naked eye). These creatures serve as good indicators of water quality and river health. They include the larvae of aquatic insects such as stoneflies, mayflies, caddisflies, dragonflies and damselflies, crustaceans (such as crayfish), mollusks such as freshwater clams and mussels, and other creatures.

A growing number of naturalists enjoy watching odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) as well as butterflies and other interesting invertebrates. Of course, the watershed's estuary is famous for "Ipswich clams," and hosts extensive mussel beds as well.

The following is a partial list of rare species (including endangered, threatened, special concern and watch list) that have been documented in the Ipswich River Watershed: bridle shiner, piping plover, least tern, least bittern, golden-winged warbler, pied-billed grebe, Cooper's hawk, northern harrier, spotted, blue-spotted, marbled and four-toed salamanders, Eastern pond mussel, spotted, Blandings and eastern box turtles, and a number of invertebrates, including Mystic Valley amphipod, Hessel's hairstreak, coppery emerald, Kennedy's emerald, mocha emerald and ringed boghaunter (banded bog skimmer).

Rare plants include dwarf mistletoe, arethusa, seabeach needlegrass, reed bentgrass, variable sedge, broom crowberry, small yellow showy lady's slipper, slender cottongrass, Andrew's bottle gentian, New England blazing star, tiny cow-lily, adder's-tongue fern, pale green orchis, lion's foot, pod-grass, river bulrush, hall's bulrush and small burreed.

Certain plant communities, including Atlantic white cedar swamps, quaking bogs and even cranberry bogs, are also rare in the watershed. Vernal pools (explained in more detail below) are also considered threatened habitats.

More detailed information about rare species is available from the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program at www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhdat.htm.

Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that have negative effects on the ecosystem. These species typically spread rampantly and are difficult to control. Species which have been introduced from other parts of the world (also called "exotic" or "alien" species), and which do not have natural controls (such as predators) to keep them in check here, may become invasive. Invasive species can take over the habitat of native plants or animals, thus disrupting the natural ecosystem. Examples of invasive plants include multiflora rose, buckthorn, Norway maple, honeysuckle (Morrow or Tartarian), common and Japanese barberry, Scotch broom, autumn and Russian olive, forget-me-not, butter-and-eggs, creeping and tall buttercup, yarrow, purple loosestrife, thistle, burning bush, oriental bittersweet, water milfoil, watercress, water chestnut, and numerous turf grasses. Many invasive plant species are regularly sold at area nurseries, exacerbating the threat to native plant communities.

Zebra mussel is a non-native animal species that has become invasive in areas such as Lake Champlain. It is hoped that this damaging species will not become established in the Ipswich River Watershed. More monitoring for invasive species is needed.

For more information about invasive species, go to www.invasivespecies.gov.

Vernal pools are temporary pools which provide essential habitat for fairy shrimp, amphibians including wood frogs, spotted and blue-spotted salamanders. The Vernal Pool Association web site at www.vernalpool.org provides excellent information about vernal pools.

Habitat is the combination of environmental conditions that provides the food, shelter, breeding areas, migration routes and other life needs of creatures. While humans are amazingly adaptable, and also transform the environment to suit our needs or wants, most creatures do not have the capability to adapt themselves, or the environment, to meet their needs. Fish, for example, can't survive out of water - and many species have very specialized needs and cannot survive if these conditions are not available to them. For example, brook trout need cool, flowing water with sufficient oxygen, as well as availability of the aquatic insects they eat, hiding places, spawning areas, clear enough water (for sight-feeding predators), etc. If these conditions don't exist, brook trout cannot survive.

The vast transformation of habitats results in loss of sensitive, or "intolerant" species, which cannot adapt or move to new surroundings to meet their needs. Thus the disturbances of natural habitats result in ecosystems with fewer species, and those that survive and thrive are the most adaptable to changing or unfavorable conditions. The result is an ecosystem with less biodiversity, poorer environmental quality, and less ecological value.

Historically, the Ipswich River Watershed was home to a number of large predators, such as black bear and wolf, which are no longer found in this region. The lack of predation has allowed explosion of some other species, such as white-tailed deer. Some species, such as New England cottontail, are now extremely rare, whereas the Eastern cottontail has proliferated.

The fish population has been vastly altered. In early colonial times, the Ipswich River was noted for its outstanding spawning runs of salmon, shad and river herring. Alewife harvests were a mainstay of the colonial economy as far upstream as Wilmington, and Wenham Lake was the largest alewife nursery in the region. The construction of dams on the Ipswich River in the 1800's doomed this fishery.

The river has also lost its population of brook trout, fallfish and other species that depend upon flowing water. These fish cannot survive the low-flow problems of the river. The fish community is now dominated by just 3 fish species that can tolerate warm, ponded conditions: redfin pickerel, American eel and pumpkinseed. A "target fish community" has been developed to restore the river's fisheries.

In general, plant and animal species which are dependent on wetlands or aquatic habitats have declined in the Ipswich River Watershed (and elsewhere), due to the loss of these habitats. Fish, freshwater mussels and other creatures which cannot find other suitable habitat during low-flow events are especially affected.

Beavers are friends. They create essential habitat for many other wildlife, and their low dams are important in enhancing groundwater recharge and maintaining flows during dry periods. Beaver dams, which typically release some flow downstream, are transient features of a dynamic landscape. These dams do not cause the environmental damage that larger, more permanent human-made dams do.

The main problem with beavers is that they share much of the same "habitat" as humans want to use, thus causing problems with flooded roadways, septic systems and yards. Peaceful coexistence is possible through use of devices such as "beaver deceivers."

Return to Top

Recreation

The Ipswich River Watershed is one of the most outstanding recreational areas in Massachusetts (Link to IPSWATCH recreation page). Some of the recreational activities which are popular in the Watershed are:

• Canoeing, kayaking and sea kayaking
• Boating
• Swimming and wading at freshwater and saltwater beaches
• Birding and nature observations
• Hiking and running
• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
• On-road and off-road biking
• Fishing
• Hunting
• Camping

The Ipswich River Watershed is blessed with extensive protected open spaces, many of which are open to the public for recreation. State-owned properties include Harold Parker, Boxford, Willowdale/Cleaveland Farm and part of Georgetown/Rowley State Forests, along with Bradley Palmer State Park and Sandy Point State Reservation. Privately owned conservation lands open to the public include Massachusetts Audubon Society's largest sanctuary, the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary; properties of the Trustees of Reservations including the Ward Reservation, Appleton Farm, Crane Estate Properties, Long Hill, Greenwood Farm and the Hamlin Reservation; reservations of Essex County Greenbelt Association; and lands owned by local land protection organizations such as the Andover Village Improvement Society and the Boxford Open Land Trust. Municipal open spaces include the wonderful Ipswich River Park in North Reading and extensive land along the river in Reading. Ipswich has preserved a good deal of land locally, and Hamilton has a good trail network through the town. The Bay Circuit Trail includes sections passing through the northern tier of the watershed.

The Ipswich River Watershed Association publishes an Ipswich River Canoe Map, and will soon be releasing a Recreation Guide highlighting all the key properties and activities to be enjoyed in the region.

(Link to Ipswich River Watershed Association).

or

(Link to the Parker River Cleanwater Association).

Return to Top

Ipswich River Water Quality

There are some water quality problems in the Ipswich River. These are reported on the S. 303(d) list of impaired waters in Massachusetts, issued by the Department of Environmental Protection. The listed waters do not meet state or federal water quality standards. The largest problem remains flow impairment, which affects the Ipswich River from its sources in Wilmington throughout its course to the sea in Ipswich. In the Ipswich River, water quality and water quantity cannot be considered independently.

The upper reaches of the river often do not meet water quality standards for dissolved oxygen (DO), especially during low-flow periods. On several occasions during the past 5 years, DO of 0-1 mg/l has been recorded and verified; the standard is 5 mg/l. An investigation of the factors which result in low dissolved oxygen is being done by the Ipswich River Watershed Association, to try to identify how DO is affected by low-flows, oxygen-demanding pollutants, high temperatures and other human-influenced factors.

Incidents of high fecal coliform occur in some locations, most commonly after heavy rainfall, which washes pollutants into the river. Fecal coliform is a bacteria which lives in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded creatures (mammals and birds) and its presence in water is associated with pollution from fecal waste. Levels above the water quality standard of 14 colonies/100 milliliters of water result in closures of shellfish beds in the estuary; these closures are mandatory following heavy rainfalls (0.5" or more). Fecal coliform levels higher than the contact recreation standard of 200 colonies/100 ml result in occasional closures of swimming beaches.

Some sections of the river and tributaries exhibit growth of aquatic weeds, a sign of increased nutrients in the water. Sources of nutrients include stormwater runoff, which carries pollutants into the river. Fertilizers used on lawns are a common source of nutrients.

There are localized problems with hazardous wastes, which have polluted groundwater in numerous locations, especially in the more urbanized communities of the watershed. A gasoline spill on Route 93 in 1992, and gasoline which leaked from a service station on Route 62 in North Reading in 1995, were two of the serious contamination events of the past decade. Illegal landfills and other contamination problems in Wilmington continue to pose threats to public health and the environment, and are the subject of current investigations.

Public water supply wells in at least 6 communites (Wilmington, Reading, North Reading, Danvers, Peabody, Topsfield) have been affected by hazardous waste during the past two decades, resulting in well closures and expensive cleanup operations. A surface water source, Wenham Lake in Beverly, is undergoing remediation of flyash contamination, and has been threatened by leaks of gasoline from service stations along Route 1A. Wenham Lake is a major water source for Salem and Beverly. The public can obtain information about the safety of drinking water in each community through Consumer Confidence Reports, which must be published annually by public water suppliers.

A study currently being conducted by the United States Geological Survey has detected high levels of methyl mercury - a highly toxic chemical - in the water, sediments and fish tissues in the Ipswich River near the South Middleton streamflow gage. Further investigation is ongoing regarding the source of the methyl mercury. Because of the high toxicity of this substance, fish advisories have been issued by the Department of Public Health for lake fish throughout Massachusetts (LINK). Methyl mercury is especially threatening to fetuses and young children.

Water quality and water quantity are closely related. Less water for dilution results in higher concentrations of any pollutants that wash into a river or stream.

Reduced flows also result in higher water temperatures in the Ipswich River in summer - another type of pollution, because of the effect of temperature on aquatic creatures such as brook trout, and because warmer water cannot hold as much dissolved oxygen, which is essential to aquatic life. Low dissolved oxygen creates an environment for other water quality problems, such as the overenrichment (eutrophication) due to phosphorus releases from sediments, and possibly conversion of mercury to toxic forms.

The Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards set criteria by which water quality is assessed.

Water quality is measured in a number of ways. One way is to use special probes and meters, which are designed to measure concentrations of dissolved oxygen or pollutants. Equipment of this type is deployed in the Ipswich River and tributaries as part of the IPSWATCH study. Another way to monitor water quality is to take water samples, and use test kits to measure how much of different chemicals are found in the water. Temperature is a very important water quality parameter, which is easily measured with a thermometer. But other water quality measurements are more complicated or expensive to measure; for example, bacterial contamination, hydrocarbons, or metals require a rigorous sampling procedure, careful handling of samples, and expensive laboratory analyses.

The Ipswich River Watershed Association's monitoring program uses trained volunteers to take samples once each month at 30 sites along the Ipswich River and its tributary streams. This approach allows extensive sampling on the same day each month, providing data to better understand the whole river system.

Another important aspect of river monitoring is biological monitoring. In the case of the Ipswich River, this includes sampling macroinvertebrates, which are aquatic insects and other creatures (without a backbone) that can be seen without a microscope. These creatures are monitored because their presence or absence gives important information about water quality and other aspects of river health. IRWA monitors macroinvertebrates each year to learn more about how low-flows affect these organisms, which are essential to the aquatic food web.

The following organizations play a role in measuring water quality in the Ipswich River Watershed:

• Ipswich River Watershed Association
• University of New Hampshire: Water Systems Analysis Group
• Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
• United States Geological Survey
• Local Boards of Health

Nutrients are essential to make things grow, but like anything else, too much of a good thing can be harmful in our waterways. A moderate amount of nutrients support the growth of diatoms and other algae, as well as other plant materials which provide the basic food upon which other aquatic creatures feed. However, excess nutrients result in water pollution, algal blooms and overgrowth of aquatic plants. This condition is called "eutrophication."

Bogs are a specialized type of wetland which have very low nutrient inputs, and the bog ecosystem has developed specialized adaptations to obtain nutrients in unusual ways. One example is insect-eating plants, such as sundews and pitcher plants. Increasing nutrients in bogs can vastly change the ecology of these rare, sensitive and interesting wetlands.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is important because most aquatic creatures - those that live in the water - breathe by obtaining oxygen that is dissolved in the water. If there is not enough oxygen in the water, the creatures have to breathe more frequently to obtain sufficient oxygen, stressing their systems. Insufficient DO basically suffocates fish and other aquatic creatures.

Low dissolved oxygen can also result in chemical changes that affect water quality. For example, anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions result in the release of phosphorus from sediments. This phosphorus acts as a fertilizer, and can result in algal blooms. Low dissolved oxygen may also be a factor in the conversion of mercury to the toxic form, methyl mercury.

Local boards of health, water commissioners and conservation commissions share authority for protecting water quality in each community. Boards of health address water quality issues which may impact public health, including wastewater management and water quality at public beaches. Water commissioners, working with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), are responsible for identifying measures needed to protect public water supplies from contamination. These measures typically include zoning protections, which are likely to involve both the local planning board and zoning board of appeals. The conservation commission also has authority to protect water quality of both surface and groundwaters in the community.

DEP is the state agency with the largest responsibility for protection of water quality in Massachusetts. DEP establishes regulations to protect drinking water from contamination; properly manage on-site wastewater systems; and set water quality standards for the state. DEP also conducts water quality assessments; publishes a list of impaired waters, identifying those that do not meet standards; and is charged to identify management measures and provide funding assistance to address water quality problems. Other state agencies, such as the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), also play a role in identifying and remediating pollution.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency that oversees water quality issues. EPA establishes the nation-wide standards that state agencies such as DEP must meet in their regulatory programs, and provides oversight of state initiatives, as well as funding to clean up pollution.

Return to Top

Flow Problems

The Ipswich River is considered one of the most threatened rivers in North America, and has been designated a "stressed basin" in Massachusetts, and "impaired" under the Federal Clean Water Act. The reasons include extremely low-flows, loss of fish species, low dissolved oxygen and some pollution problems.

The Ipswich River experiences extremely low-flows, and even periods of no flow in parts of the river. The flows are much lower than they would be under natural seasonal conditions, as a result of three main factors which alter the river's flows:

• water withdrawals
• the effects of sewers, which transport both clean and polluted water from the region
• the effects of paving over or building upon the land, which prevents absorption and storage of water in the ground, and diminishes the water available to replenish the river

Flows in the Ipswich River in summer and fall are typically only a small fraction of what they would be under natural conditions. A USGS hydrological model determined that flows in the upper river were less than 10 percent of what they would naturally be. Sometimes low flow conditions continue throughout the winter and even into spring. The main factors which cause unnaturally low-flows are water withdrawals, transfers of water out of the watershed, and the effects of development in preventing the recharge or replenishment of groundwater. Pumping of water supply wells located near the river or tributary streams is particularly damaging. This pumping depletes groundwater that would otherwise keep the river flowing, and also induces flow from the river into the well, as shown in illustrations below. These wells pump the most in summer, when there is least water available, to meet high demand for lawn watering and other non-essential uses of water.

The Ipswich River experiences low-flows which are much more severe than what would occur under natural conditions. Typically, rivers in New England have high flows in the late winter and spring, and lower flows in the summer and early fall. In between rainstorms, the river's flow is supplied by baseflow, or water which flows into the streams and river from underground storage in soil/rock formations called groundwater aquifers.

However, in the case of the Ipswich, these natural streamflow patterns have been changed because of human activities and alterations, resulting in a loss of streamflow. These alterations include:

• Groundwater withdrawals: groundwater wells pump water which otherwise would flow into the river, and large wells may actually draw or "induce" water from a stream or river to flow into the well. (INSERT Graphics)
• Surface water withdrawals: four communities (Salem, Beverly, Peabody and Lynn) divert water from the Ipswich River into reservoirs. These diversions take place between December 1 and May 31 and are not a significant factor in causing the extremely low flows which occur in summer and fall; however, the surface water withdrawals sometimes cause unnaturally low-flows during that pumping period.
• Decreased groundwater recharge (the water stored in underground soil/rock layers): roadways, parking lots, buildings and other impervious surfaces prevent adequate replenishment of groundwater. When less water is stored in the ground, there is less water available to provide baseflow to the rivers and streams.
• Sewers: in the Ipswich River Watershed, sewers transport wastewater out of the watershed - and along with it, they carry clean groundwater which leaks into the sewer pipes, as well as stormwater runoff (the water and pollutants which runs off the ground during storms). Think of sewers as underground streams carrying water (some clean, some dirty) out of the watershed.
• Lawn watering is an especially important factor in the Ipswich River Watershed. Watering lawns demands a lot of water - in some towns, water use doubles or even triples in the summer, mostly to water lawns. This high demand for water occurs at the same time that the river has the lowest flows. In fact, the drier the weather, the more lawn watering - placing the most demand on the river when it can least afford to supply more water.

Low water levels have resulted in the loss of biodiversity in the Ipswich River. Those fish species that depend on flowing and/or cool water cannot survive or thrive in the Ipswich River. Recent studies of the Ipswich River by the United States Geological Survey and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife documented the loss of river fish species, and a significant change in the river's ecology.

When flows diminish in the river, two very important scenarios occur which result in the loss of essential fish habitats. The riffles, those shallow, rocky and turbulent sections which are so important in supporting the aquatic food web, are the first areas to dry up. When the riffles go dry, the habitat is lost. In addition, the river stops flowing continuously, and segments into a series of ponds. The loss of continuous flow is a major change - rivers are flowing waters, and when flows stop, the ability to support the native river ecosystem is lost. Flow-dependent fish species, such as brook trout and fallfish, cannot survive in these conditions.

As flows diminish, water levels recede and no longer reach the edges of the channel, which are very important areas in the Ipswich River. Some species must inhabit the channel margins for all or part of their lives. The loss of this habitat means that these species, which depend upon these areas for food, cover, nurseries, shade and other needs, can no longer survive.

The loss of cool groundwater inflow (about 50-55(F) to the river results in higher water temperatures in summer. Species such as brook trout cannot tolerate warm water.

These factors may also affect the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. Dissolved oxygen is an extremely important factor in any aquatic ecosystem, and low dissolved oxygen can result in loss of species, including fish and important food chain insects and other macroinvertebrates. Low oxygen can also result in the release of nutrients from sediments in the river, and may be implicated in other water quality impairment, such as increased levels of methyl mercury recently documented in the Ipswich River at the South Middleton streamflow gage.

There are several dams on the mainstem of the Ipswich River, and many more on the tributaries that feed into the Ipswich. The mainstem dams include the Ipswich Dam in downtown Ipswich; the Willowdale Dam and a smaller dam of the United States Geological Survey, also in Ipswich; and the South Middleton Dam, adjacent to the Bostik-Findley industrial site. Many of the Ipswich River tributaries have at least one dam, and several have a series of dams. What are the effects of these dams on the river?

The first effect is to alter the flowing nature of the river, creating ponded habitat instead, and reducing (or stopping) flows downstream. The change from flowing to ponded conditions is very significant to the river's ecology. Important fish species, such as brook trout and fallfish, must have flowing conditions for their survival, and cannot survive in ponds. The downstream river reaches may dried up completely, and also become "starved" for sediments, which help distribute nutrients throughout the river system.

Dams also block fish movement, preventing migrating anadromous and resident freshwater species from accessing habitats which they may need for food, shelter, spawning or survival during adverse conditions. (Anadromous fishes are those which spawn in freshwater and migrate to the sea as juveniles, returning to their native river again as spawning adults.) The Ipswich River had remarkably productive fisheries in pre-colonial and colonial days, but the movement of anadromous species was blocked by the construction of the dams in Ipswich, and the fisheries never recovered. Resident fish species, such as brook trout and fallfish, are also prevented from moving to more suitable habitat by dams. Thus the available habitat in the river system is greatly reduced because of these barriers to fish movement.

Dams are often constructed on riffles, which are steeper, shallow, rocky and turbulent sections of a river. These areas help aerate the river, mixing oxygen which is essential for a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Riffles are very important habitats, supporting diverse populations of aquatic insects upon which fish and other creatures feed. The Ipswich River has few riffles, due to its very low gradient - the river channel is relatively flat. Because dams must be built in areas where there is some slope, they are typically built on riffles. The dams thus result in loss of some of the most important habitat in the river system.

A healthy river is a great asset and amenity in a community or region. Rivers provide recreation, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, water supply and wetlands help to assimilate nutrients and assist in stormwater managment. . They support the region's economy by providing water and assimilating pollutants, as wells as by providing a high quality of life, an attraction for the region's workforce. Rivers also provide educational opportunities to teach young and old alike about the natural world, and to provide the benefits of an unspoiled environment.

An unhealthy river with no little or no water in it cannot provide these values, and can detract from the quality of life nearby. Low flows in the Ipswich River threaten the sustainability of the region's water supply, and degrade its value as a recreational asset. Portions of the river are unsuitable for canoeing and kayaking during much of the summer - an important period for these activities. Lower water quality may occur because there is not enough water to dilute pollutants. The river's loss of biodiversity, described below, is a loss not only for fish and other wild creatures, but for people who benefit from a healthy, diverse environment. The degradation of the Ipswich River is a loss to all who live in this region.

Rivers are nature's lifelines. All creatures need water, and a healthy river teems with life in and along its channel. Fish are the most obvious river dwellers, but the river's wildlife community includes birds, amphibians and reptiles and mammals, as well as shellfish, aquatic insects, and creatures too small to see, but nevertheless very important to a healthy river ecosystem. Because of the richness of the habitat in and along rivers, these areas are highly valued and receive special protection under the law.

However, when rivers dry up artificially, the ecosystems they support can no longer remain healthy. Aquatic creatures have no where else to go - if the river dries up, they die.

The most dramatic effects of low flow conditions are on the Ipswich River's fish community. The old saying about "fish out of water" is a regular occurrence on the Ipswich - fishkills are commonplace. Species such as brook trout and fallfish, which were once plentiful here, cannot survive when flows stop, water gets warm and oxygen levels drop. Instead, species that can tolerate warm water, ponded conditions and low oxygen now dominate the fish community. Even these species are regularly decimated when the river dries up, resulting in kills of thousands of fish. It is hard to find big fish in the Ipswich River - they simply can't survive the river drying up.

Fish spawning may also be affected by artificially low flows, even in winter and spring. Some fish species spawn in the floodplain, and cannot access these areas if low flows persist during spawning season. Spawning runs of river herring are triggered in part by high flows, and weak flows may not provide sufficient attraction for these fish to successfully return to their native river and spawn. In some cases, fish eggs may dry out prior to hatching. As river levels drop, fish cannot access the important habitat along the river banks, which provides essential food, hiding places, shade and other necessities of a fish's life. As the streambed dries up into a series of stagnant pools, fish become stranded there. They are subject to predation from more mobile creatures, such as raccoons, herons and other "opportunistic" predators.

The river's biodiversity is affected in other ways. Aquatic insects and other invertebrates, which provide food for fish and other creatures, are also affected by low flows. The prime habitat provided by riffles is lost when these areas dry up, and the sensitive macroinvertebrates (stoneflies, mayflies and caddisflies) that inhabit these habitats are lost. Most species of freshwater mussels cannot survive extreme low flow and no flow conditions.

Mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles may also be impacted by low-flows. Species such as otters, which eat fish and other aquatic creatures, may be impacted by loss of food. Premature drying up of breeding pools (which are common in floodplains) may impact salamanders and frogs.

The impacts of low flows on plant communities are not fully understood. Wetlands which border rivers, and floodplain plant communities, may be particularly susceptible to frequent drying up. Plants which do not tolerate being in standing or flowing water, and normally live along river banks, have been observed crowding into the river channel as frequent dry conditions allow their survival. Exotic invasive species, which can usually tolerate disturbed and fluctuating conditions more so than native species, may have a greater competitive advantage.

The Ipswich River was named as one of the most threatened rivers in the nation (American Rivers, 1997), and is considered a "stressed basin" in Massachusetts as well as "impaired" under the Federal Clean Water Act. The primary reason for these dubious distinctions is the fact that the river dries up on a regular basis, resulting in fish kills and other environmental damage. Water quality impairment, especially low dissolved oxygen, is another serious concern.

• Join and/or volunteer with the Ipswich River Watershed Association
• Reduce the waste of Ipswich River water by
  • Pledging to save at least 5 gallons per person per day in your household (LINK to Water Conservation page)
  • Working with your community to improve water efficiency
  • Forgoing watering your lawn. In some communities in the Ipswich summer water use is triple water-use in the rest of the year, and lawn watering accounts for most of the difference.
  • Install a cistern or rain barrel to provide water for your lawn or garden
  • Reduce your lawn size and make it more drought resistant
  • Work with your local conservation commission, planning board, to make sure that protection of the Ipswich River is a top priority
• Plant only native species (need LINK LIST )

Return to Top

Healthy River, Healthy Residents

The answer is yes if you live in Beverly, Danvers, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Middleton, North Reading, Peabody, Reading, Salem, Topsfield, Wenham or Wilmington. Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, North Reading and Peabody also draw water from other watersheds. Reading, Wilmington and Danvers are considering purchasing some water from other sources.

It is NOT SAFE to drink any water directly from the Ipswich River, or any other streams, ponds or rivers. Even in pristine environments, water can be contaminated by Giardia and other organisms that cause waterborne disease. Campers or boaters should bring drinking water with them, or have an effective water filter or treatment system.

Public water supplies are regularly tested to ensure that they comply with drinking water standards. Contact your water department to obtain a copy of their Consumer Confidence Report. This report provides details about your community's water system, any pollutants found in the water, and compliance with drinking water standards.

You may wish to become familiar with what measures are taken to protect drinking water supplies for your community. Are there strict zoning rules prohibiting the use of toxic chemicals in the areas that drain to surface waters or groundwater wells? Are there any threats in the areas that recharge water supplies -- such as chemical processors, service stations, landfills, trucking depots or the like? Have any releases of hazardous materials or toxins occurred that may affect water supplies? Information on such releases and on measures that communities can take to protect their water supplies is available from the Department of Environmental Protection at _____ or the US Environmental Protection Agency at ________. Concerned citizens should become involved to make sure that your drinking water is not threatened.

The river is cleaner than many other rivers in eastern Massachusetts, and water quality is usually good for swimming, wading and paddling sports. Low flows may inhibit paddling, especially in the upper river. Be aware that, despite the river's common low flow problems, it does experience extremely high flows at times; the river can be very dangerous during flood conditions.

There are a limited number of public swimming beaches in the region. Those at Berry Pond, Frye Pond, Hood Pond, Silver Lake, Martins Pond, as well as Pavilion Beach and Crane/Steep Hill Beach are open to the public. Access is restricted to residents only at several other public beaches.

While water quality is usually good for swimming and wading, the period after heavy rain may not be a good time for water-contact sports. Heavy rains typically wash whatever pollutants are on the land and roadways into the water, which may result in high bacterial counts or other pollution problems. Local boards of health test water regularly at the public swimming beaches in their community; you may wish the local board of health to ask whether swimming advisories are common.

Be aware that the color of the Ipswich River (tea colored) limits visibility and may pose a danger to swimmers, especially at unsupervised locations. The color is natural and not harmful in itself.

There are several public beaches along the coast and at ponds in the watershed. For ponds, be aware that areas with large patches of aquatic plants may entrap swimmers. If proper safety precautions are observed, the Ipswich River and the ponds of the watershed provide some excellent recreational opportunities.

Return to Top

The River as a Water Supply

Fourteen communities draw all or part of their water supply from the Ipswich River Watershed: Beverly, Danvers, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Middleton, North Reading, Peabody, Reading, Salem, Topsfield, Wenham and Wilmington. These communities are currently authorized to pump a total of almost 37 million gallons a day from the river, reservoirs and wells, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

DEP regulates large water withdrawals (100,000 gallons per day or more), under the Water Management Act. Water withdrawals that had been established prior to the passage of that law (in 1986) were essentially "grandfathered" through a registration process with DEP. The law allows permitting of additional water withdrawals, above these "registered volumes," only if the "safe yield" of the water source is not exceeded. The law requires that the interests of the Act be protected in a balanced way. Despite this mandatory provision, the registrations in the Ipswich River Watershed total 32.81 million gallons a day, and additional withdrawals totaling 5.74 million gallons a day are currently permitted. The chart below details how much water communities are allowed to pump on average. Summertime pumping is typically 1.25-3 times higher than the year-round average.

There is no public water supply system in Boxford, but thousands of residents in that community also receive their private water supply from the Ipswich River watershed. There are some private wells in other communities throughout the watershed.

How much water is each town/ city allowed to withdraw (and when)?

How can I track the level of water in the Ipswich River?

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) operates two streamflow gages on the Ipswich River. The upstream gage is located a short distance downstream of the South Middleton Dam, and the Ipswich gage is located just below the Willowdale Dam in Ipswich. Data from these gages are updated several times a day, and are accessible through the USGS web site (South Middleton gage readings) (Ipswich gage, located at the Willowdale Dam)).

Water restrictions/ bans are in effect in some communities on a permanent basis, yet other communities in the region have never (as of spring 2002) instituted bans or restrictions. Every community now has the authority to do this.

Restrictions usually involve limited hours and/or days when outdoor water use can occur. These restrictions vary in their effectiveness. Even/odd restrictions are not consistently effective in reducing overall water use, whereas restrictions to hand watering only during very limited hours are generally quite effective. Bans typically prohibit the use of water outdoors or for other non-essential purposes. The following chart shows water use restrictions in place in the Ipswich River Watershed as of DATE:

INSERT CHART (Wil has this from Duane LeVangie)

• Lawn watering: ~250-600 gallons/hour; thousands of gallons per day or more
• Toilet flushing: .8 - 7.5 gallons/ flush (gpf) or about 3-30 gallons per person per day
  • Current plumbing standard is 1.6 gpf
  • Leaking toilets can waste up to 50 gallons per day
• Showers:
  • efficient showerhead: 7.5-12.5 gallons for a 5 minute shower
  • inefficient showerhead: up to 25 gallons for a 5 minute shower
• Baths: filling a tub about a foot deep uses about 50 gallons
• Laundry: some washers use 30-50 gallons per load; efficient front loading models use about 13-20 gallons per load

How can my town save water?

There are many tools available to communities to save water. The first step is to determine where or when the greatest water use occurs, by doing a water audit or detailed review of the water system. The town should establish water conservation goals and a plan to reach those goals, including action steps, funding and accountability.

Reducing "unaccounted for" or unbilled water is a first step that every community should take. This means doing regular leak detection surveys and repairs, because leaky or broken pipes waste literally millions of gallons a day throughout the watershed. Accurate water meters are essential; many meters, especially large meters, are notoriously inaccurate. All water use, even municipal, should be metered and billed. Schools and other municipal buildings should be equipped with water efficient toilets and fixtures. Athletic fields and other municipal properties should be managed so that they do not require regular watering, and should set a good example for the community as a whole. Education of town employees about how to save water and the importance of conservation is important; and recognition of their success can provide motivation to do a good job saving water.

"Conservation" water rates can provide an incentive to save water. Pricing which charges more per gallon for high water use, or an increased seasonal (summer) rate, can provide an economic incentive to save water. Those who conserve water will not pay more, and may actually pay less than with typical "flat" rate structures, which usually penalize the very lowest waters.

If summertime water use doubles or triples compared to the winter use, it would be wise to focus on reducing lawn watering in the community. Water restrictions or bans can be very effective, especially if they limit watering to hand-held hoses or devices, and restrict hours. Even-odd water use restrictions do not necessarily save water, and may be counterproductive.

The community should identify its largest water users and meet with them to identify water saving opportunities. Technical assistance is available for businesses, hospitals and other such facilities through the Massachusetts Office of Technology Assistance (OTA); they can be reached at www.state.ma.us/ota/.

Providing water audit services may be helpful, especially when combined with subsidies for toilet replacements, installation of low-flow showerheads and the like. Educational programs focusing on water conservation and water-efficient landscaping can be effective when combined with follow up, pledges and requests for commitments. Community water-wise awards can provide recognition to those who save water in your town.

The Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA) is developing a regional water conservation program, and provides assistance to municipalities to improve water efficiency. Contact April Bowling at 978-356-0418 for more information, or visit their web site at www.ipswichriver.org.

Private wells pump groundwater out of storage for use in homes or for irrigation purposes. Where private wells are used solely for indoor use, and the water is returned to the watershed via septic systems, there is not much impact on the river. However, private wells which are used for irrigation basically pump water out of safe storage in the ground, and the water is lost to the air, either directly through evaporation, or after being used by plants. Private irrigation wells are not a good solution in the Ipswich River, because they cause additional water losses which the river cannot afford.

Return to Top

Wastewater

Andover	Much of Andover is sewered; wastewater is treated at South Lawrence Wastewater Treatment Plant and then discharged to Merrimack River. A current project is expanding Andover's sewer system.
Beverly	Sewered; wastewater is treated at South Essex Sewerage District in Salem and discharged to Salem Harbor
Boxford	All properties use on-site wastewater systems
Burlington	Sewered; wastewater is treated at MWRA Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant and discharged to Boston Harbor
Danvers	Sewered; wastewater is treated at South Essex Sewerage District in Salem and discharged to Salem Harbor
Hamilton	All properties use on-site wastewater systems
Ipswich	Partially-sewered; wastewater is treated at the Ipswich Wastewater Treatment Plant and discharged to Greenwood Creek in the Ipswich River estuary. Remaining properties use on-site wastewater systems.
Lynn	(Not located in the Ipswich River Watershed, but receives part of its water supply from the Ipswich River). Sewered to the Lynn Wastewater Treatment Plant; discharge is to Atlantic Ocean.
Lynnfield	Most of the town uses on-site wastewater systems; part of the commercial zones along Route 1 and 128 are sewered to the MWRA system (CHECK THIS)
Middleton	All properties use on-site wastewater systems, except the Bostik-Findley plant which is sewered to the South Essex Sewerage District.
North Andover	Partially sewered to (??); partial on-site wastewater systems
North Reading	All properties use on-site wastewater systems except for two facilities on Concord Street, which are sewered to MWRA Wastewater Treatment Plant via Reading. North Reading is currently investigating the feasibility of building a wastewater treatment plant in town.
Peabody	Sewered to South Essex Sewerage District Wastewater Treatment Plant in Salem; treated wastewater is discharged to Salem Sound
Reading	Sewered to MWRA Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant; discharge is to Boston Harbor
Salem	Sewered to South Essex Sewerage District Wastewater Treatment Plant in Salem; discharge is to Salem Sound
Topsfield	All properties use on-site wastewater systems
Wenham	All properties use on-site wastewater systems except for a small area of town
Wilmington	Part of town is sewered to MWRA Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, with discharge to Boston Harbor. The remainder of community uses on-site wastewater systems. Wilmington is currently evaluating wastewater treatment needs and options

Wastewater discharges include both sanitary wastewater and industrial wastewater, and these are discharged either directly to surface waters, or into the ground, usually through leachfields or other methods of releasing water slowly into soils. Soils provide additional treatment for numerous pollutants, thus helping to protect water quality.

There are very few surface wastewater discharges in the Ipswich River Watershed. The only large discharges are the Bostik-Findley Corporation discharge (cooling water, now almost entirely discontinued thanks to implementation of a closed loop cooling system) and the Ipswich Wastewater Treatment Plant discharge into Greenwood Creek in the Ipswich River estuary.

Use of on-site wastewater treatment systems (including conventional septic systems and alterative systems) and small-scale (cluster) systems can allow treatment and discharge of wastewater effluent within the watershed. So long as these systems are properly sited, designed and maintained, they provide good to excellent treatment of wastewater and recharge aquifers, which supports streamflows.

Sanitary (wastewater) sewers typically have a negative impact on groundwater levels, and the depletion of groundwater leads to loss of baseflow. Sewers which are located in saturated soils (for all or part of the year) often "de-water" these areas, because groundwater leaks into the sewers through cracks or loose joints.

Improper siting or design of septic systems, lack of maintenance, and use of damaging chemicals in the system can result in septic system failures. Typically, if septic systems are sized too small or are not pumped out when the septic tank is full, some solids from the tank migrate to the leaching fields. This causes clogging of the leachfield, so that water is not able to drain into the soils below. Proper siting and maintenance can avoid this problem. One of the most important ways to keep septic systems functioning well is to save water in your home. (Look at George Heufelder's piece...)

Under the state Sanitary Code (Title 5), houses with septic systems cannot be sold without an inspection and certification that the system is functioning properly. This requirement is the primary way in which local Boards of Health detect septic system deficiencies. Other evidence of failures may be frequent pumping of systems, septic system odors or evidence of breakout of septic effluent on the ground surface, or overgrowth of lush vegetation in the area of the septic system.

Some communities in Massachusetts have established septic system management districts or other such entities, which enable the town to provide centralized management of private, on-site wastewater systems. These districts gain the authority to conduct inspections to ensure that proper functioning and maintenance of septic systems is occurring. Fees may be charged for this service, but the septic system management districts also relieve the homeowner of much of the responsibility of septic system maintenance. The districts may establish contracts to procure septic system maintenance and repair services at a reduced cost. The Marine Studies Consortium (at Brandeis University) reports that centralized septic system maintenance is cheaper than centralized collection/ treatment systems (sewers and centralized wastewater treatment plants).

Numerous alternative treatment technologies are now approved for use in Massachusetts. These include recirculating sand filters (RSF's), trickling filters (including proprietary technologies such as Bioclere, Waterloo Biofilter, SeptiTech, Orenco), aerobic units (such as Jet, Singulair), Fixed Activated Sludge Treatment (FAST), and sequencing batch reactors (Amphidrome, Chromaglass). Filtration, ultraviolet disinfection, and drip irrigation and other alternative discharge approaches are also now used to solve wastewater problems. For more information, contact George Heufelder at the Barnstable County Department of Health and the Environment/ Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) at Superior Courthouse, Route 6A, Barnstable, MA 02630. The Small Flows Clearinghouse also has extensive information about alternative systems. Their web site is www.nsfc.wvu.edu. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's site at www.state.ma.us/dep/brp/wwm/wwmhome.htm also contains information about conventional and alternative wastewater technologies.

Tight tanks are closed tanks which do not allow wastewater effluent to "leach" into the ground, thus requiring regular pumping. There are solutions to the tight tank dilemma that can be very effective, avoiding the need for costly regular pumping. The simplest approach is to install composting toilets or ultra-low-flow toilets (eg .8-1.6 gallons per flush), and a graywater reuse system. There are a number of companies which sell these products, which have been used for decades to solve wastewater management problems. The cost of a composting toilet can run from $1000-1500 for a self-contained model (such as BioLet, Cotuit or SunMar) to $15,000 for a full house composting and graywater system by Clivus Multrum, the industry leader. These systems are highly effective and environmentally beneficial. They result in extremely low water use, which can save hundreds of dollars a year, and also allow you to avoid paying the cost of pumping out the tight tank, which can run up to about $4000 dollars a year, depending on water use.

Return to Top