What this means to Barnstable homeowners is those who don’t have enough property/leech field size, or land area to percolate effluent now have the option to process virtual nitrogen-free effluent.
The legal amount of nitrogen a family home can discharge is 19 (milligrams per liter) or 1 gallon per day over an area of 7.5 square feet.
Title V leech field regulations is the engine that drives zoning for new home construction.
The Board of Health’s decision to consider innovative/alternative (I/A) septic systems gives people the option to acquire a cheaper alternative septic system that is virtually nitrogen-free (the nitrogen is transformed into a gas that escapes into the atmosphere, instead of a liquid that leeches into the groundwater).
On June 25th the Barnstable town council, all but shut the door, on the monolithic colossal cost-prohibitive sewer plan by rejecting the sewer agenda item, which lead to the BOH's decision to open the door to simpler and cost effective septic systems.
Yesterday’s Barnstable Board of Health meeting revealed that there are a number of innovative/alternative septic systems that aren’t much better than conventional Title V systems.
but if they are four times better, let's get it on with them.
The Barnstable Board of Health has been testing the Nitrex system since 2001 with consistent results.
The FDA requires 4 to 8 years of clinical testing before approving a new drug, and Nitrex has been under the microscope by Barnstable County for 8 years.
The EPA, DEP, and local boards of health set the number, 19, or 19 milligrams per liter.
When a system generates only 3, or 4, or 5 milligrams per liter, we've got to give it the opportunity to proliferate, because Barnstable County residents can use the $1 billion to be spent on sewers to buy goods and services to improve their standard and scale of living, and boost the economy.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it tenets prevail.
Instead of tossing every septic system into the trash can, let’s fix the ones that are broke.
The BOH’s willingness to review new technology will assure that there will be a lot of new technology;
“Why invent a product if Big Brother won’t let you market it?”
The real winners yesterday were the people and representative democracy.
You spoke and the Barnstable BOH heard.
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN....
It was only fifteen years ago around this time of the year when I argued against the DEP formula that determined the amount of waste water generated at new school constructions.
I can’t recall the exact number of gallons per day of wastewater the DEP claimed each student generated, but it was quadruple the real number.
The 5th and 6th Grade Horace Mann Charter School in Marstons Mills was under construction as a second middle school, and was required to build a waste water treatment plant on site at an additional capital cost of $3 million plus $150,000 annually to operate.
As I recall the DEP predicted the school would generate 10,000 gallons per day of waste water.
I collected five years of water bills for the 1,200-student Middle School in Hyannis, and discovered the average water consumption was only 2,500 gallons per day.
Why would the DEP postulate that 600 of those kids would suddenly generate 11,000 gallons per day?
The DEP ordered, yes ordered, me to duke it out with fifteen of its suits at the Lakeville office.
I asked David Still from the Barnstable Patriot to witness the bout, and he went along.
At the end of the day I made my case, and the DEP scrapped its school waste water generation formula and new school construction regulations.
Unfortunately for Barnstable the waste water treatment plant was 2/3rds complete at the time, so the waste water treatment plan went into operation anyway.
WAS I RIGHT ON?
The wastewater treatment plant at the school never had enough waste water to keep it operational.
For many years the town allowed honey wagons to dump loads directly into the plant.
A few years ago the school's waste water treatment plant was connected to a sewer system of a 30-home development to process its waste water.
Septic systems should be evaluated by nitrates, nitrogen, phosphorous, BOD’s, TSS, or other chemical issues,
NOT POLITICS.
I want to thank Barnstable County Health Director, George Huefelter, and Barnstable Board of Health members, Dr. Wayne Miller, M.D., and Junichi Sawayanagi for opening the door to innovative/alternative septic systems.
Yesterday was a huge win for Barnstable property owners, and COGgers.
Today’s my birthday, and I couldn’t have received a better gift.
Happy Birthday!!!
Posted by: bugsy | July 15, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Gary,
Happy Birthday!
I did make some progress yesterday at the hearing and I have hired an engineer to design a new system. Will keep you posted with details and costs.
I am also trying to tie my neighbors into it to make it even more cost effective.
Posted by: Rob Anderson | July 15, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Did anyone see the 7\13 Planning Board meeting? It may be on Ch.18 tonight at 8:30. Lang took a verbal swipe at Penn and then launched into a long tirade in praise of Klimm. It ended with his statement,"I would trust my life to John Klimm." A truly bizarre performance, well worth enjoying.
Posted by: huh? | July 15, 2009 at 10:29 AM
You do a lot of good research and work. Thanks for being the number one advocate for the citizens of Barnstanle. Happy Birthday and many more.
Posted by: smokey | July 15, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Great post, but where are the youtubes of the argument? Maybe you get a reprieve for your birthday.
So if you have more candles on your cake today, then Klimm has on his on his big day, does that make you not only older, but wiser?
Posted by: Lopez is smarter than Klimm | July 15, 2009 at 02:50 PM
There was nearly two solid hours of discussion and it was all good stuff in everyday jargon.
I'm limited to ten minutes on You Tube and I didn't want to be presumptuous. Not my style. Won't restate or redact tutorial stuff.
Posted by: Gary Lopez | July 15, 2009 at 03:09 PM
No cake...Type II diabetes...too fat...too long...paying the piper
Posted by: Gary Lopez | July 15, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Have a stock of celery with a big fat candle on it. Your contributions to muncipal politics are immeasurable. You are controversial, but are of great vintage. At this point, the piper should be paying you.
Posted by: You're still the Sultan, and diabetes kind of makes you sweet from time to time... | July 15, 2009 at 04:34 PM
Happy Birthday!!! Wish you many, healthy more! Great job as usual! The BEST Barnstable has!!
Posted by: Bruce | July 15, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Great job Gary. May you have many more birthdays.
Posted by: artful dodger | July 15, 2009 at 05:05 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - IMAGINE YOUR WIFE WILL BAKE YOU A NICE CAKE!!!
Posted by: Old Timer from Marstons Mills | July 15, 2009 at 05:14 PM
thanks no cake...yogurt with strawberries and blue berries.
Posted by: Gary Lopez | July 15, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Happy Birthday, Gary. May you have many more!
Posted by: Prissy | July 16, 2009 at 07:14 AM
I LOVE YOU DAD!!!!! I know you dont like birthdays but I LOVE YOUR BIRTHDAYS!! You are AMAZING in everyway and the BEST father I could EVER ASK FOR!!!! No Cake.. Just Ice Cream :c)
Posted by: Little Lopez | July 16, 2009 at 10:53 AM