Chapter 7 - INSTITUTIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS 



Cape Cod Aquifer Management Project Final Report Page 67 



possible, a sludge management program and must examine the issues involv- 

 ing the composting of septage sludge. 



7.2.6 Septic Systems (See Appendix L) 



The State should actively pursue amending Title 5 of the State Environ- 

 mental Code which governs septic systems to enable more effective regula- 

 tion of contaminants that are not being adequately addressed, particularly 

 nitrogen and synthetic organic compounds. Special emphasis must be placed 

 on conducting the necessary research so that adequate guidelines can be 

 developed for the proper siting of septic systems relative to private 

 wells, surface water bodies and wetlands. Management of Title 5 at the 

 local level requires substantial improvement. Health agents and boards of 

 health must upgrade the level of expertise for program administration, in 

 addition to adding more staff. DEQE should provide yearly training in the 

 Title 5 program, and ultimately devote one position in each regional of- 

 fice to serve as a coordinator and technical assistance liaison. 



7.2.7 Construction Grants (See Appendix M) 



The Massachusetts DEQE Division of Water Pollution Control (DWPC) has 

 primary responsibility for granting funds to construct wastewater treat- 

 ment plants, as well as determining the acceptability of the chosen loca- 

 tion, and the level of treatment required. This is especially difficult 

 on Cape Cod because all supply wells are groundwater fed and any land 

 discharge must consider possible impacts. Furthermore, state law (the 

 Ocean Sanctuaries Act) prohibits any new discharges to the waters surround- 

 ing Cape Cod. The construction grants process must respond to the serious 

 environmental problems on the Cape by putting more effort into the facili- 

 ties planning phase and working more closely with the towns and the con- 

 sultants to move the program along. RPAs should become directly involved 

 in working with towns to promote regional solutions. The local governments 

 themselves must take more of a leadership role in working to solve their 

 communities' wastewater-management problems. 



7.2.8 Groundwater Discharge Permits (See Appendix M) 



DEQE's Groundwater Discharge Permit Program, administered by the DWPC, 

 regulates ground discharges of domestic wastewater greater than 15,000 gpd 

 and industrial discharges to the ground in any quantity. It has the poten- 

 tial to be an extremely powerful groundwater protection program but it has 

 been underutilized by DEQE and lacks the resources to carry out its mis- 

 sion. As a result, numerous sources of domestic and industrial groundwa- 

 ter discharges remain unregulated on Cape Cod. Entire categories of small 

 businesses may be discharging toxic contaminants to septic systems illegal- 

 ly. DEQE must considerably increase the resources available to this pro- 

 gram for regulating these commercial and industrial waste discharges. 



