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Home My WebLink About1984-08-08 . .... Ii BOARD OF HEALTH Meeting of August 8, 1984 The Board of Health conmenced at 7: 40 after a brief rreeting as of the County Carnnissioners with the following members present: Chainnan Bernard D. GrosSIPaIl, Select:rren's Charles "Jack" Gardner, Harry "Bud" Clute, Nancy Sevrens, Rogers "Skip" Cabot and Executive Secretary Keith A. Bergman. In attendance for discussion, Health Inspector Richard L. Ray. Minutes of August 1, 1984 meeting were accepted as tyPed and reading of the same was waived on a lIDtion from Selectrren Cabot, seconded by Selecbnen Clute, so voted. Water Quality Progress Report: FollONing last Wednesday's vote to close Children's and Francis Street Beaches, the Health Inspector has been pursuing the matter of water quality in an atterrpt to identify the cause of the high coliform counts there. A written report has been sutrnitted by Fred Neal of Sheaffer & Roland Engineers outlining what steps have so far been taken and what further actions are recorrmended. Selectmen Cabot read suhnitted letter. The letter outlined the fo110Ning: The investigation of Children's Beach of potential sources of contamination began on Thursday, August 2, 1984 with the fo110Ning sequence of events taking place: -"water samples were collected at critical points in the storm drains tributary to the Harbor Vieil outfall for bacteriological analysis". -"Storm drains connected to the Harbor VieH outfall were temporarily plugged by DPW staff until the source of pollution is identified and eliminated". 11 -"Water sample test results indicated a probable pollution source at the upper end of the Lily Pond Drain". -"Health Officer and DEW Superintendent dye-tested SeHer services fran the homes in the vicinity of the Lily Pond and found three apparent Seiler discharges". i II I: 'i Ii Ii I I , " I' Ii I' II Ii I, II Ii I' I' Ii I ! -"Water sample test results indicated a possible pollution source at the underdrain manhole at the intersection of Easton and Beach Streets". -"Sheaffer & Roland/Clark errployees dye-tested all SeHer services along the east side of North Beach and found that all were properly connected into the sanitary SeHer. The positive pollution indication in this manhole may be a result of a backf1ushing action fran the Lily Pond Drain. In any event this line has also been temporarily plugged until the location of the source of pollution is verified". -"DPW staff and Sheaffer & Roland/Clark errployees made a visual inspection of the entire East Lincoln and Walsh Street storm drain which also discharges to the Harbor View outfall. No visible signs of SeHage contamination were found, but this line should be sampled and bacteriologic tests perfonned to confirm this visual inspection. This line has also been temporarily plugged". "Based on these initial investigations it appears that the prirrary sources of pollution are seHage contaminated discharges fran the Lily Pond Drain. Until construction of the neH by-pass s::orm sewer along South Beach Street the Lily Pond Drain did not have an outlet the Harbor view outfall, but conveyed its flows directly to Brant Point. In any event, SeHage discharges to a storm drain are illegal and should be corrected inmediately". II BOARD OF HEALTH cont'd page 2 "Our recanmendations for continuing this investigation are as follONS": -"All illegal SeHage connections should be disconnected frc:m the Lily Pond Drain and the Lily Pond Drain should remain isolated fran the Harbor View outfall until this is done and bacteriological testing confirms same". -"Additional investigations should be made along Easton Street to confirm that no other illegal tie-in' s occur. This would entail dye- testing of house services frc:m Center street back to Beach Street". -"The water sampling program instituted earlier should continue on a daily basis for at least a week as a way of determining if there are other sources of pollution. This is especially irrportant for the E. Lincoln/Walsh St. drain as no testing has been done on this line to date. Review of the test results can be used as a guideline for unplugging the various storm lines when it is determined that their bacteria counts are wi thin normal levels for storm sewer discharges. The bacteria levels at Children's Beach should also be monitored daily nON what all outlets to it are plugged". i II ! I I I' I' il I' II ,I Ii 11.1, lXmald Oliver, DPW Superintendent also in attendance for discussion on this subject. Mr. Oliver stated Lily Pond Drain was just connected and he can't Ii see where its under Sheaffer & Roland's jurisdiction to be a case of raw i I seHage and it has been apparent this is been happening for years. 1:,1 Mr. Blair also carmented as this to be a on-going problem. Mr. Oliver explained II various people involved on this item has been the Health Inspector, Mr. Iii Kelley, Marine Biologist, and Sheaffer & Roland. He stated various tests have been made to isolate the problem and will continue to do so but he adds, this II is difficult job to get to these drains, grONth has overtaken the drains. I Discussion also fol10Ned as to a reimbursement or grant lIDney available III and Mr. Neal stated no reimbursement since this deals with a storm drain I not a case of overload. Discussion follONed with concerned citizens in I' III ~~~~~~Jr:~~O~~d f=gP~~O:s e~~o~~s~~~~. t: ~o~= :ted ,I serious problem but this is a Imlch broader, wider problem for just Sheaffer & 'I Roland. He stated this is a problem tied in with Public Health and Planning I and a suggestion brought forth would be to hire a ta.vn engineer to supervise , on policy matters and be the "right arm" for the corrmunity on problems such 1'1' as the Lily Pond Drain. Mr. Neal stated Mr. Chainnan' s suggestion is not 'II' a bad idea to hire a professional engineer and this would also help relieve Mr. Oliver of the large responsibli ty he has at this tirre. II t1 'I Ii II II ,I ,I " Ii Iii ,i Ii I I i -"Additional dye-testing of house sewer connections along E. Lincoln/ Walsh St. Drain may be warranted upon review of sarrpling results". - "Visual inspection of drain lines may also be warranted using 'IV lIDnitoring equipment. It is planned to have such equipment on the Island next week". Ms. Dorothy Martinson also spoke out on Children's Beach, stating, in 26 yrs. she cannot remember the beach closed for as long as it has been this year. She stated being a guest house o.vner and not to be able to-,use:~this .beach, she will loss out in the lonq run. She also asked the Board if the Children's Beach Concession lessee will be given a reimbursement for the beach being closed for such a long period. Mr. Chainnan stated this is being looked into and they have spoken to the lessee. Mr. Ray added everyone is trying very hard to solve the problem and testing will continue. Mr. Grossman added,the Marine Superintendent and Coast Guard should also be asked for there carments on this subject and a written update should be sub- mi tted fran the Health Inspector, Donald Oliver, DPW Superintendent, and Sheaffer & Roland for next week's meeting. Being no further business of the board, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. BOARD OF HEALTH Barbara M. Dale Assistant Executive Secretary