Chapter 7 - INSTITUTIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS 



Cape Cod Aquifer Management Project Final Report Page 66 



At a minimum, information should be provided as: 



o An information brochure for use by private well owners . This 

 document should be developed by the Barnstable County Health and 

 Environment Department and the Cape Cod Planning and Economic 

 Development Commission. 



o A guidance document for use by local boards of health and other 

 appropriate boards . This document should be developed by DEQE and 

 include such information as model bylaws , a techical appendix of 

 useful information such as geological and chemical factors 

 affecting private -well -supply protection. 



7.2.4 Underground Storape Tanks (See Appendix K) 



CCAMP found that underground storage tanks (USTs) are one of the most 

 serious, and most prevalent threats to groundwater quality on Cape Cod. 

 The major problems observed were the large nvunber of aging, leak-prone 

 tanks and the large number of tanks in close proximity to private- and 

 public -water supplies. Local communities must utilize land-use controls, 

 UST bylaws or aquifer protection district zoning to discourage USTs in 

 sensitive well recharge areas. In addition, towns must adopt bylaws to 

 protect and inventory all tanks including those exempt from the 

 registration and testing requirements of the state regulations. To 

 coordinate the town program and ensure that tank data is shared and 

 utilized, municipalities should appoint an UST coordinator. The state 

 must provide guidance on tank cleaning and disposal. All levels of 

 government have important roles to play in providing sorely needed public 

 education. 



7.2.5 Septage and Sludge Management (See Appendix L) 



Cape Cod has a very serious septage management problem that is jeopar- 

 dizing groundwater quality from one end of the peninsula to the other. 

 Progress toward establishing long-term septage treatment facilities has 

 been very limited for over a decade. Currently, 69 percent of the septage 

 generated on the Cape is disposed of in septage pits or lagoons that do 

 not afford adequate treatment before the waste is returned to groundwater. 

 DEQE should continue to bring enforcement action against these illegal 

 disposal areas. This will encourage towns to plan for their future sep- 

 tage -disposal needs. EPA, DEQE and regional planning agencies must cooper- 

 ate to encourage regional solutions to septage disposal problems. Planned 

 regional facilities should then receive the full attention of the con- 

 struction grants staff through a "fast track" process which expedites 

 projects . 



A Residuals Unit was recently created within DEQE to work on issues 

 involving septage and sludge disposal. CCAMP applauds this as recognition 

 of an area that has been neglected statewide for years. This Unit should 

 be given the appropriate resources to deal with residuals issues in a 

 comprehensive way. In particular, the Department must develop, as soon as 



