The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) will be hosting a forum for residents regarding a new sewer and septic facilities plan study on March 22, at 5:30 p.m., at the Senior Center. The forum is being conducted to answer questions, provide information regarding the town’s update of its Facilities Plan, and alert property owners of how or even if the study might affect future septic and construction projects in specific areas.

According to WPCA officials, they are required to develop and update a Water Pollution Control Plan, which is enforced and administered by the Town of Madison Health Department. Under this plan, the Health Department issues permits for private septic systems, community systems, and privately owned treatment facilities in the town.

Director of Public Health Trent Joseph said the town hasn’t updated this plan in decades, and the study is needed to address potential issues that have arisen in the interim between the last review.

“There are no sewers in Madison, and all wastewater is disposed of into the ground through septic systems. Periodically, the DEEP requires that a municipality perform a review of existing and future conditions to determine if septic systems can continue to meet the needs of the community without creating pollution problems related to ground or surface water.”

Joseph said the town last completed a facilities plan in 1981. First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons said that the update is necessary to ensure the town remains in compliance with both WPCA and DEEP regulations.

The WPCA has recommended a new one-year update to the plan, and that update is coming from consultant Weston & Sampson Engineers. The plan is funded, in part, by a grant from DEEP’s Clean Water Fund. Joseph said the information-gathering effort is already underway.

“The work completed by Weston & Sampson so far included a review of soil drainage classifications via existing soil testing data, lot sizes, groundwater and surface water characteristics, FEMA flood zones, future sea level rise, and other factors that may affect septic system performance. These conditions have been categorized and identified as areas of concern,” said Joseph. “The study also focuses on potential impacts to public health and the quality of our groundwater, salt marshes and beaches. Our next step is to determine if the empirical data collected so far is consistent with property owner’s experiences, health department records, and environmental analysis.”

According to Joseph, septic and wastewater is one of the focal points of any development or construction project undertaken in Madison.

“We’ve already presented this at a Town Meeting, and the forum is an information opportunity for residents to understand the Town’s obligation in relation to DEEP and then also some of things that are likely to come about as a result of this study based on recommendation,” said Joseph.

The director added that no one from the town or the consulting firm will contact residents or enter properties in this part of the study.

“This is not where we are in this phase. Weston & Sampson won’t be knocking on anyone’s door. I think the public forum is an opportunity for the Town, WPCA, and Weston & Sampson to inform the public and to answer questions. No one will be contacting homeowners. We have scheduled [this] public forum to inform the public and solicit input from property owners. We will discuss the role and responsibilities of local officials in developing a long-term, environmentally sound plan for the next 50 years. After this forum, we will begin to refine our analysis to see if any improvements need to be made to our plan and offer recommendations.”

Lyons noted that updating the plan is important for the town's long-term planning.

"The plan is extremely important because it allows us to prepare for possible future issues in town or infrastructure needs in town,” said Lyons. “If you want to forecast the future, you have to have good information, and our information was just not current. So, this will allow us to understand where we might have areas in town that need further review or investigation and possible further investment."

The WPCA public forum is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 29 Bradley Road.