Take action to improve our pond!
Please support our efforts by making a tax-deductible donation to
Friends of Long Pond Marstons Mills.
Mail your check to:
Friends of Long Pond Marstons Mills
Post Office Box 514
Marstons Mills, MA 02648-0514
or use a credit card or PayPal via the below box.
THANK YOU!
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We appreciate our members!
Thank you to the following donors for the 7/22-6/23 fiscal year:
Thank you to the following donors for the 7/22-6/23 fiscal year:
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Abelman, David & Marilyn Amara, Blair & Sam Anderson, Deanna Barnaby, Susan Bartlett, Ray Brennan, Katy Chodes, Joanna Cummings, Tina Doctoroff, Hermine Duffy, Joseph & Colleen Finn, John & Marilyn Fowles, Heather |
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Solutions to Long Pond’s problem of excess phosphorus causing cyanobacteria blooms include action to be taken by the Town and action needed by individual homeowners.
TOWN SOLUTIONS:
1. Floating Treatment Wetlands
Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) or islands are artificial platforms filled with aquatic plants which sit on the pond’s surface. The plant roots spread through the floating islands and down into the water creating dense columns of roots with lots of surface area. FTWs mimic natural wetlands. They improve water quality by assimilating and removing excess phosphorus that fuel cyanobacteria growth while providing a valuable ecological habitat for a variety of beneficial species. The plants are harvested after 1-3 years, permanently removing phosphorus from the pond. New plants are then added to the platforms and the process begins again.
The Town of Barnstable DPW is currently obtaining quotes to install 300-500 sq.ft. of FTWs at the northern end of the pond as a pilot study to determine the extent of phosphorus removal of FTWs. Phosphorus removal effectiveness is known to vary from 0.1 kg to 1.8 kg per 100 sq.ft. of FTW.
2. Biochar Filtration Socks
Biochar is a pure carbon, charcoal-like substance made through a process by which organic matter is subjected to high temperatures in an environment with limited oxygen. It has been used throughout history to enhance soil fertility and has been recently championed as a useful technique for water quality management. Biochar-filled filtration socks can be tethered along a shoreline, suspended from ropes which are anchored to the bottom of the pond and marked at the surfacer with buoys, or suspended from docks. Studies show that biochar has the capacity to absorb phosphorus from the water. The filtration socks sit in the water for 6 months to 2 years, and are then removed from the pond, permanently removing the phosphorus contained in the socks.
The Town of Barnstable DPW is obtaining quotes for a pilot study of biochar filtration socks.
3. Sewers
The Town of Barnstable has begun to implement it’s 30-year comprehensive wastewater management plan by installing sewers, beginning at the eastern end of the town. Our neighborhood is projected to be sewered in 20-30 years. Thus, this is a long-term solution.
HOMEOWNER SOLUTIONS
1. Innovative / Alternative (“I/A”) Phosphorus-Reducing Septic Systems
I/As which remove phosphorus are currently in the “pilot” stage in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (“MASSTC”) is looking at testing eight different systems. The cost of these systems varies widely, depending on the model selected and the home’s septic plan. Some units are retrofittable (tank, leach field and/or chamber) and others are a complete replacement of the home’s existing system. After installation, ongoing costs include maintenance and two years of monitoring by MASSTC. MASSTC will be applying for a State grant to help offset the cost of these systems for Long Pond MM homeowners.
To date, 4 phosphorus-reducing septic systems have been installed in Massachusetts. They are located at homes in Centerville, Yarmouth, Brewster and Eastham. Preliminary test results show that they are successful in removing phosphorus, although they are still considered to be in the early phase of evaluation.
2. Urine Diverting Toilets and Urinals
People produce about 90 gallons of urine per year. Urine contributes 55% of the phosphorus entering groundwater from septic systems. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the key fertilizers for food crops, and their supply is limited. “Pee Cycling” is a process whereby urine is diverted from the waste stream and recycled back into fertilizer for crops, a circular sanitation strategy. It involves separating urine from other waste via a urine diverting toilet or urinal, collecting it in a storage tank, transporting it to a treatment facility for sanitization, and then selling it to farmers for use as fertilizer.
There are several different types of urine diverting toilets, with varying levels of sophistication and cost. One type is a teapot effect toilet bowl which make urine travel a different path than water and allows collection in a holding tank. Urine diversion is invisible to the user. Another, split bowl toilet, allows urine to flow down a receptacle in the front of the bowl, and feces and toilet paper down the back as they normally would. A waterless urinal carries urine from the urinal to a holding tank in the basement or outside. The simplest and least expensive options are a "nuns' cap" (specimen collector used in hospitals) and "the cubie", a plastic portable waterless unisex urinal.
3. Composting Toilets (“Eco-toilets”)
Eco-toilets use little or no water. Waste travels from the toilet via a pipe to a holding tank where it decomposes naturally into humus. They are variable in design and process, but all take waste materials and turn them into safe compost which can be returned to the soil.
Phoenix composing toilets have been installed in a Cotuit home. They resemble conventional toilets and are waterless, odorless (with the help of a scoop of cedar chips) and hygienic. The holding tank, located in the home’s basement, holds composted waste for as many as 10 years before needing to be emptied. An air pump aerates material, and a hand crank is used to occasionally rotate the contents of the tank.
4. Incineration Toilets
Incineration toilets are manufactured in Norway by a company called Cinderella. These toilets require no water supply or sewage connection. Waste is incinerated at high temperatures, leaving only a minimal amount of sterile ash. Four people using the toilet for a week will only produce about one teacup of ash.
TOWN SOLUTIONS:
1. Floating Treatment Wetlands
Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) or islands are artificial platforms filled with aquatic plants which sit on the pond’s surface. The plant roots spread through the floating islands and down into the water creating dense columns of roots with lots of surface area. FTWs mimic natural wetlands. They improve water quality by assimilating and removing excess phosphorus that fuel cyanobacteria growth while providing a valuable ecological habitat for a variety of beneficial species. The plants are harvested after 1-3 years, permanently removing phosphorus from the pond. New plants are then added to the platforms and the process begins again.
The Town of Barnstable DPW is currently obtaining quotes to install 300-500 sq.ft. of FTWs at the northern end of the pond as a pilot study to determine the extent of phosphorus removal of FTWs. Phosphorus removal effectiveness is known to vary from 0.1 kg to 1.8 kg per 100 sq.ft. of FTW.
2. Biochar Filtration Socks
Biochar is a pure carbon, charcoal-like substance made through a process by which organic matter is subjected to high temperatures in an environment with limited oxygen. It has been used throughout history to enhance soil fertility and has been recently championed as a useful technique for water quality management. Biochar-filled filtration socks can be tethered along a shoreline, suspended from ropes which are anchored to the bottom of the pond and marked at the surfacer with buoys, or suspended from docks. Studies show that biochar has the capacity to absorb phosphorus from the water. The filtration socks sit in the water for 6 months to 2 years, and are then removed from the pond, permanently removing the phosphorus contained in the socks.
The Town of Barnstable DPW is obtaining quotes for a pilot study of biochar filtration socks.
3. Sewers
The Town of Barnstable has begun to implement it’s 30-year comprehensive wastewater management plan by installing sewers, beginning at the eastern end of the town. Our neighborhood is projected to be sewered in 20-30 years. Thus, this is a long-term solution.
HOMEOWNER SOLUTIONS
1. Innovative / Alternative (“I/A”) Phosphorus-Reducing Septic Systems
I/As which remove phosphorus are currently in the “pilot” stage in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (“MASSTC”) is looking at testing eight different systems. The cost of these systems varies widely, depending on the model selected and the home’s septic plan. Some units are retrofittable (tank, leach field and/or chamber) and others are a complete replacement of the home’s existing system. After installation, ongoing costs include maintenance and two years of monitoring by MASSTC. MASSTC will be applying for a State grant to help offset the cost of these systems for Long Pond MM homeowners.
To date, 4 phosphorus-reducing septic systems have been installed in Massachusetts. They are located at homes in Centerville, Yarmouth, Brewster and Eastham. Preliminary test results show that they are successful in removing phosphorus, although they are still considered to be in the early phase of evaluation.
2. Urine Diverting Toilets and Urinals
People produce about 90 gallons of urine per year. Urine contributes 55% of the phosphorus entering groundwater from septic systems. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the key fertilizers for food crops, and their supply is limited. “Pee Cycling” is a process whereby urine is diverted from the waste stream and recycled back into fertilizer for crops, a circular sanitation strategy. It involves separating urine from other waste via a urine diverting toilet or urinal, collecting it in a storage tank, transporting it to a treatment facility for sanitization, and then selling it to farmers for use as fertilizer.
There are several different types of urine diverting toilets, with varying levels of sophistication and cost. One type is a teapot effect toilet bowl which make urine travel a different path than water and allows collection in a holding tank. Urine diversion is invisible to the user. Another, split bowl toilet, allows urine to flow down a receptacle in the front of the bowl, and feces and toilet paper down the back as they normally would. A waterless urinal carries urine from the urinal to a holding tank in the basement or outside. The simplest and least expensive options are a "nuns' cap" (specimen collector used in hospitals) and "the cubie", a plastic portable waterless unisex urinal.
3. Composting Toilets (“Eco-toilets”)
Eco-toilets use little or no water. Waste travels from the toilet via a pipe to a holding tank where it decomposes naturally into humus. They are variable in design and process, but all take waste materials and turn them into safe compost which can be returned to the soil.
Phoenix composing toilets have been installed in a Cotuit home. They resemble conventional toilets and are waterless, odorless (with the help of a scoop of cedar chips) and hygienic. The holding tank, located in the home’s basement, holds composted waste for as many as 10 years before needing to be emptied. An air pump aerates material, and a hand crank is used to occasionally rotate the contents of the tank.
4. Incineration Toilets
Incineration toilets are manufactured in Norway by a company called Cinderella. These toilets require no water supply or sewage connection. Waste is incinerated at high temperatures, leaving only a minimal amount of sterile ash. Four people using the toilet for a week will only produce about one teacup of ash.
Septic system failure can have a significant negative impact on the pond. According to the U.S. EPA, those continuing to use a conventional septic system can take the following steps to reduce the risk of failure:
The following additional guidelines are provided by the St. Lawrence County NY Health Department:
- Keep a record of pumping, inspections, maintenance and repairs
- Map out the septic tank and components
- Don’t drive or park heavy equipment over the septic system
- Don’t build structures over the absorption field
- Don’t flush strong chemicals down the drains
- Avoid septic tank additives (Some pumpers do recommend beneficial bacteria)
- Direct drainage away from the septic system
- Plant grass or only shallow-rooted plants over the field
Look out for these signs of system failure:
- Water and sewage are backing up into the home
- Bathtubs, showers and sinks drain very slowly
- You can hear gurgling sounds in the plumbing system
- There is standing water in the drainfield
- There are algal blooms in nearby ponds or lakes
- There are high levels of nitrates and/or coliform bacteria in water wells
Wipe out the wipes!
So-called “flushable wipes” have become a clogging disaster not just across the U.S. and Canada, but worldwide. Wipes are not in fact flushable and should be disposed of in the garbage — if they are used at all. The rule is simple: Flush bodily waste and toilet paper, and nothing else.
Brands and types of toilet paper that break down the best in a septic tank
(according to the well-known home improvement expert, Bobvila)
Best overall: Cottonelle Ultra CleanCare
Runner-up: Angel Soft
Best bang for the buck: Scott 1000 Sheets Per Roll
Best biodegradable: Scott Rapid-Dissolving
Best recycled: Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Bath Tissue
Best bamboo: Caboo Tree Free TP
Best large roll: Presto! 308-sheet mega roll
Further, tissue marketed as “ultra-plush” is often not the most septic-safe choice. Also avoid papers that are highly chemically treated as they may impact healthy bacterial action in the tank. Stick to one- and two-ply papers, recycled papers and less-plush papers in general for use in septic tanks.
Native plants along the shoreline and in shallow water are important for a healthy ecosystem. Not only do they prevent erosion and provide cover for small fish, amphibians and birds, but submerged plants also absorb excess nutrients in the water and add oxygen, thereby reducing cyanobacteria growth. Please do not pull the Pickeral Weed we have growing in the shallow water along the east and north sides of Long Pond.
- Don't flush chemicals or medicines down the toilet. Bring hazardous waste to the Barnstable Transfer Station on collection days.
- Use phosphate-free household cleaning products.
- Don't use a garbage disposal. Throw out or compost food waste.
- Have your septic system inspected and pumped every 2-3 years (scroll down for information on discounted services.)
- Consider installing a phosphorus-reducing alternative septic system www.masstc.org/project/the-phosphorus-project
- When installing a new septic system or upgrading an existing one, ensure that the drain field is as far as possible from the pond.
The following additional guidelines are provided by the St. Lawrence County NY Health Department:
- Keep a record of pumping, inspections, maintenance and repairs
- Map out the septic tank and components
- Don’t drive or park heavy equipment over the septic system
- Don’t build structures over the absorption field
- Don’t flush strong chemicals down the drains
- Avoid septic tank additives (Some pumpers do recommend beneficial bacteria)
- Direct drainage away from the septic system
- Plant grass or only shallow-rooted plants over the field
Look out for these signs of system failure:
- Water and sewage are backing up into the home
- Bathtubs, showers and sinks drain very slowly
- You can hear gurgling sounds in the plumbing system
- There is standing water in the drainfield
- There are algal blooms in nearby ponds or lakes
- There are high levels of nitrates and/or coliform bacteria in water wells
Wipe out the wipes!
So-called “flushable wipes” have become a clogging disaster not just across the U.S. and Canada, but worldwide. Wipes are not in fact flushable and should be disposed of in the garbage — if they are used at all. The rule is simple: Flush bodily waste and toilet paper, and nothing else.
Brands and types of toilet paper that break down the best in a septic tank
(according to the well-known home improvement expert, Bobvila)
Best overall: Cottonelle Ultra CleanCare
Runner-up: Angel Soft
Best bang for the buck: Scott 1000 Sheets Per Roll
Best biodegradable: Scott Rapid-Dissolving
Best recycled: Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Bath Tissue
Best bamboo: Caboo Tree Free TP
Best large roll: Presto! 308-sheet mega roll
Further, tissue marketed as “ultra-plush” is often not the most septic-safe choice. Also avoid papers that are highly chemically treated as they may impact healthy bacterial action in the tank. Stick to one- and two-ply papers, recycled papers and less-plush papers in general for use in septic tanks.
Native plants along the shoreline and in shallow water are important for a healthy ecosystem. Not only do they prevent erosion and provide cover for small fish, amphibians and birds, but submerged plants also absorb excess nutrients in the water and add oxygen, thereby reducing cyanobacteria growth. Please do not pull the Pickeral Weed we have growing in the shallow water along the east and north sides of Long Pond.
