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Colchester’s IWRM grant has three parts: (1) technical, including the mapping of existing public and private stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, as well as a detailed assessment of existing septic capacity in relation to need, to support the town’s current zoning and land use plans; (2) public education, including presentation of the technical findings, and a participatory process to identify residents’ preferred alternatives and priorities; and (3) the IWRM plan itself, which includes the development of recommendations and a draft IWRM plan to preserve, protect and manage Colchester’s water resources today and for the future. The following is a more detailed description and explanation of each part.
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Technical Assessment of Capacity
The technical component of the grant started in January 2009. It involves an extensive data gathering effort that includes the identification and mapping of all water resources as well as a capacity inventory of existing public and private stormwater and wastewater systems.
For private systems, the vast majority of properties will be evaluated through the use of existing records and information available within the Town Offices. For a representative sample of properties in vulnerable areas, such as those near the lake or other water resources, a more detailed assessment will be performed through physical inspections of wastewater and stormwater systems. Specific lots may also be selected for additional on-site testing of soil conditions, with the permission of the property owner. For on-site testing of soil conditions, representative lots will be identified to help more accurately assess on-site capacity within the surrounding area.
Extensive water quality sampling will also be performed within the Malletts Bay area using DNA ribotyping analysis to determine the sources of e-coli contamination. DNA ribotyping analysis assists in determining the likely culprits of ongoing water quality problems and the best approach to improving management of the community’s water resources.
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Public Education and Participation
The next phase, the public participation and education component, includes the presentation of data and findings to Colchester residents, and multiple opportunities to understand residents’ priorities and criteria for evaluating alternative solutions. Bryan Osborne, Director of Public Works for the Town of Colchester says, “For this program to be successful, it is important that the residents of Colchester are engaged and informed throughout the process. We need the help and feedback from our residents in order to formulate the best possible options to protect our natural water resources.”
To that end, the IWRM includes a series of public meetings held throughout the course of the three-year program. A June 3, 2009 kick-off meeting will explain what the study will cover and why. Additional public meetings will be held throughout the project to provide updates on the status of the study, inform the public of interim findings and gain the public’s input toward the crafting of final recommendations. Project update information will also be regularly posted to the Town’s web site.
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Draft IWRM Plan
The third component of the EPA grant includes the development of recommendations and a draft water resources plan. With the public’s help and involvement, the Town will explore the development of various preservation measures and management plans to ensure the protection and preservation of the community’s water resources today and for the future. Among those alternatives will be consideration of a municipal wastewater and stormwater utility that could include both public and private infrastructure.
The IWRM study will help Colchester determine if either utility is warranted, whether it is needed throughout the entire community or only in designated areas, how it would be implemented and managed, and the likely costs. The plan is also expected to include a community assistance funding program where a combination of low interest loans and grants are made available to assist residents in the upgrade or repair of their on-site septic systems.
Project Goals:
The overall project goal is to demonstrate the development of an Integrated Water Resource Management Plan which will improve the overall management of non-point source pollution control infrastructure, and can be supported by the community at large.
This will require a technical component that includes the development of a sufficient knowledge base to support the creation of a comprehensive plan sufficient to address the community’s needs and concerns, an educational component to convince the community that the plan is necessary, and finally the forging of a public private partnership, including a funding strategy to make the plan economically feasible. Failure on the Town’s part to provide some form of financial assistance will serve as a road block preventing public support and acceptance of this holistic management approach. These three components are intricately linked and are therefore dependent of one another, and are all critical to the successful implementation of the Town’s overall plan. The sub- components of this goal are as follows:
- The development of a knowledge base relating to the location, capacity and general condition of the Town’s decentralized wastewater and storm water systems, and the Town’s natural resources.
- The completion of a risk assessment through the identification of known or probable sources of pollution, or circumstances that may lead to pollution problems.
- The prioritization of pollution prevention or abatement efforts, to include policy development, regulatory changes or infrastructure improvements.
- The development of a comprehensive management plan that recognizes and supports the important relationship between wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, natural resources, and land use planning and development.
- Education and outreach to citizens and state regulators promoting the understanding and acceptance of an integrated approach to managing water resources.
- Promoting community acceptance of an integrated approach to managing water resources through the creation of public private partnerships that provide financial aid for the upgrade or repair of private waste water or stormwater infrastructure.
- To improve the coordination between planning, design and regulatory review of non-point source pollution control infrastructure, and land use planning.
- To enable long-term and sustainable management and protection of water resources in Colchester.
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