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to other sources (Valiela and Costa, in press), but they may be 

 important sources of pathogens and other pollutants (Heufelder, 1985). 



A more widespread problem in the region is the siting of septic 

 tanks nearshore. One of the difficulties with coastal management in 

 Massachusetts is that nutrients are not considered pollutants. Septic 

 tanks and leaching systems are designed to reduce contamination of 

 bacterial pathogens into groundwater; even a properly constructed septic 

 tanks release large volumes of nutrients into the groundwater. When the 

 State considers an application for a septic tank nearshore, it considers 

 only the impact of a single proposed project on public health, rather 

 than the effects of similar projects on water quality and nutrient 

 loading. Because it is difficult to demonstrate that nutrients from a 

 single septic will have a deleterious impact on a bay, such projects are 

 usually approved, even if serious water quality declines would occur if 

 every parcel of land along shore were similarly developed. 



Presently, Massachusetts guidelines specify that these systems may 

 not be placed within 15 m (50 ft) of wetlands or bodies of water (the 

 "setback"). Many towns have set their own stringent setback bylaws, 

 because the state regulations are viewed by many as inadequate to 

 protect the publics interest in the coastal system. This is a positive 

 step, but what is needed is town planning boards to set maximum nutrient 

 loading limits for watersheds, and State managers to accept nutrient 

 loading as a form of pollution, and hence regulate it. 



