By WAYNE CASTONGUAY
Stormwater pollution from uncontrolled and untreated runoff is the single largest source of contamination impacting the coastal waters of Ipswich. Pollutants including sediments, heavy metals, nutrients, pathogens (bacteria and viruses), oils and other organic compounds wash over the surfaces of developed land and are transported to coastal areas via street drains and direct runoff. The largest sources of these pollutants are failing septic systems, animal waste (farm animals, pets and wildlife), lawn treatment chemicals, road sand, and vehicles.
Pathogen contamination is by far the most serious of these pollutants because it can cause illness in humans. When certain concentrations of bacteria are reached in coastal waters, public health officials must close those areas to shellfishing because as filter feeders, shellfish can concentrate those pathogens and transmit disease to people when eaten.
The Ipswich Coastal Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), a volunteer committee appointed by the selectmen to address the problem of shellfish bed closures, identified stormwater as the number one source of these pathogens. In some cases, samples of stormwater collected from roadways during rainstorms had bacteria levels comparable to raw sewage!
The impact of shellfish bed closures has been devastating to the multimillion dollar shellfishing industry in Ipswich. About 1/3 of the town's productive shellfish beds are closed at all times and all of the remaining beds are closed following rainstorms for 5-8 days (depending on the amount of rain) because of pathogen contamination. The CPCC found literally hundreds of sources of stormwater contamination affecting the coastal area and summarized the stormwater problem as “overwhelming.” It was quickly realized that due to the extent of the problem, a long-range, multifaceted management plan was needed.
Fortunately, there are a host of solutions available for most stormwater problems. Every successful stormwater remediation program should include three major components: source reduction, prevention and treatment. Ipswich has initiated a long-term stormwater management program which includes each of these components.
To date, the installation of stormwater treatment systems known as BMP's (Best Management Practices) has been the most successful component of the program, thanks largely to the assistance of Armand Michaud, Ipswich Director of Public Works, and grantwriting and technical assistance provided by 8T&B. By the end of 1998, ten systems will have been installed at little or no cost to the town. BMP's that have been completed or are in the works include: constructed wetlands, infiltration systems, retention basins, grass swales, and commercially-available treatment technologies such as Vortechnics, Downstream Defender, and Stormtreat brand systems.
Recent sampling has indicated that after a long period of decline, our coastal water quality has begun to improve. It is hoped that in the near future, we can reopen some of our shellfish beds and reduce the length of the rain closures on the other areas. Although Ipswich is far from declaring a victory over stormwater pollution, it is clear that with a comprehensive long range plan, a series of small, inexpensive successes over time can reduce the coastal pollution problem and provide cleaner waters for generations to come.
We Can Help
The Eight Towns and the Bay Coordinator is available to assist your community in the development of a stormwater management plan by providing grantwriting services and other forms of technical assistance at no cost to your community. For more information about assistance on this and other coastal issues, please contact the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission: 978/374-0519
Reducing and preventing stormwater pollution is one of the fifteen 'Action Plans' identified in the Massachusetts Bays Program's (MBP) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), a document signed by all coastal communities in 1996. The CCMP serves as a blueprint for coordinated action aimed at restoring and protecting water quality and natural resources and has created action steps at federal, state and local levels. During the next couple of years, 8T&B will be working in their communities to implement these action plans.
