About IWRM

FAQs

 

We've compiled a list of questions that frequently being asked of our IWRM team members at public meetings, through emails, or just around town. If you have a question you'd like answered, please email us using our Contact Us form or attend one of our upcoming meetings.

Q: Is there another town or model in Vermont where this type of study has been done? Have we learned what to do and what not to do?

A: This is not the first time a stormwater systems study has been conducted, but this is the first truly comprehensive program as far as integrating stormwater and onsite systems.  The EPA is funding this as a demonstration project to see if the program will be successful.

Q: There have been a lot of studies done by the University of Vermont and by the State over the years. Will you use any of those studies and reports for this program?

A: We plan to use all of the past and current studies, report and resources available to us for this effort. We have tapped into various other organizations and groups throughout the state to be sure we have all the information available to us allowing us to enhance our work.

Q: How long will it take to complete the study?

A: The study has been designed to be conducted over three years.  There will be two phases.  The first phase is the evaluation phase. This began in April 2009 and will take two years to complete. The second phase is the study phase, which we plan to begin in 2011 and finish in 2012. This phase will take one year to complete and will include the ribotyping work.

Q: Will future IWRM meetings be taped so that they can be accessed by the public?

A: We hope to have a television or audio/visual crew here at each meeting to document our meetings so that the meetings can be archived for public use.

Q: During the study are there any success criteria that the EPA has established that the study must meet to continue receiving funding?

A: Colchester has been given a unique opportunity by the EPA to be a test site for the study and we have been given a grant to fund the study.  Because of the pilot nature of the program there are no specific requirements that we have to meet.  We do have to report quarterly to the EPA concerning our timeline and any budgeting issues that we may have and why.

Q: Will you collect data on the current water quality condition of the lake and ground water in Colchester?

A: We will not be collecting data on the ground water in Colchester. We will also not be sampling other sections of the lake other than the beach areas and areas related to the impaired watersheds that the state has already identified.

Q: Will you be testing the levels of chemical waste in addition to biological waste?

A: We are focused on biological waste and we will only be testing the bacterial levels in and around the water.  The goal of the project is to identify areas that have high levels of pathogens that have the potential to become public health concerns.

Q: Will you be sampling at Rossetti Beach?

A: Yes. We have been sampling at Rossetti Beach and we will continue to do so. We have a sampling program that runs independently of this project and we will use the data collected from those samplings to supplement this project, particularly with the DNA ribotyping.

Q: Will your testing areas include all of the marina areas as well as public access areas where people swim?

A: Marinas and public access areas will be sampled. We will look at historical data to strategically locate the best areas to perform sample testing. We are unable to sample every stream in Colchester, but we will focus on areas where there is a heightened potential for contamination or public health concerns.

Q: How will you locate the areas that have wastewater treatment systems and how will you determine if others need one?

A: The town has substantial information on nearly every lot with a wastewater treatment system.  If we are missing information, our field testing team will be in charge of locating areas that may be at high risk for contamination. We will use historical septic records to locate these areas and they will be supplemented with onsite field testing.

Q: What would be the expected lifespan of an advanced onsite wastewater system like a mound system?

A: The soil quality, the system design, and the use and maintenance of the system will affect the lifespan of the system. In good conditions, a mound system could last 20 – 25 years.  Regular inspections to find problems at an early stage will increase the lifespan and make repairs easy and inexpensive to fix.

Q: Will you be assessing the locations and extent of impervious surfaces?

A: Yes. Assessing impervious surfaces is part of the study.  We will be looking at where the stormwater discharge locations and the condition of the water at the discharge sites.

Q: What are the sources of sediment buildup because it also seems like a problem that needs to be addressed?

A: When it rains the water naturally permeates the ground but in areas where the ground is impervious the stormwater flows along the ground sweeping up debris which is then deposited into the water.

Q: There are construction projects that are occurring at the same time as the EPA study.  These construction projects will change the landscape of the area.  How will you collaborate with these projects to ensure that what they are doing does not interfere with the study process?

A: We have established an entire project planning team lead by the Town’s Director of Planning and Zoning, the Town planner and the Town’s Chief Financial Officer.  It will be their responsibility to collaborate with the project leaders of the various construction projects to establish best practices and to ensure that our study will not be heavily impacted.