All About the Town of Franklin Sewer Services - Part 2 of 3 (audio)

FM #1027 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1027 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent . 

We had our conversation in the Franklin Public Radio studios on Hutchinson St. This is one of three in a series exploring the status and operations of the Franklin’s Water & Sewer Division. During 2021, we did a 3-part series on the water supply. With the Beaver St interceptor project starting later this year, we decided to cover the sewer side of the business. A little more dirty talk although we do start out with some updates on water.

Part 1 - approx. 25 minutes

• PFAS - the EPA is looking to update their regulation

• Mitigation of PFAS for Well 7 is costly and starting later this year

• If the proposed regulations go through, it will be more costly as "60% of our water sources are currently above that (proposed) threshold"

• Likely water rate increase coming in a future year (TBD)

• New diagram shows lines of responsibility for water (and sewer) between Town and property owners

• What to flush or not flush (3 ps - poop, pee & (toilet) paper)

Part 1 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer.html

Part 2 - approx. 42 minutes

• We get into the core of the sewer system, historical design (or lack thereof)

• Beaver St interceptor, construction overview and project plan

• System capacity (both water & sewer), annual conservation measures

• Oct 14 - Touch a Truck, hydrant painting, snow plow naming contest, and reveal of communication plan for the Beaver St construction project

Part 3 - approx. 27 minutes

• We get to the sewer budget and rate increases approved for FY 2024, FY 2025, FY 2026

• Review of the projects being completed or being worked, and planned for near term

• Sahlin circle (final touches)

• Monterrey Dr off Pleasant St (Jan/Feb - awaiting pump delivery)

• Phase 7 lining - this summer

• next level of I&I study

• asset mgt grant

• easement clearing & mapping

• Good things about the community cooperation

• Last but not least mention of the lead service connections (not supposed to be many)

The final section includes a budget recap which summaries as the following:

• $500K for expenses, 

• approx. $1M for personnel

• $3.4M for Charles River flow and assessment

• $1M for project debt and interest payments

Part 3 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer_0306615856.html

The show notes include links to the Franklin water & sewer division page 

Let’s listen to this part of my conversation with Doug and Jake and learn all about Franklin’s sewer services. Audio Part 2 -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1027-tof-all-about-sewer-series-06-14-23-part-2-of-3

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Water Sewer Division - https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division

Water Smart program ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/welcome-watersmart-program

Leak or Blockage diagram of lines of responsibility between Town and property owners for water and sewer service  https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/have-leak-or-blockage

Consumer Confidence Reports -> archive   = https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/consumer-confidence-reports

Charles River Pollution Control https://www.franklinma.gov/charles-river-pollution-control   and https://www.charlesriverpcd.org/ 

Charles River Update to Town Council begins at 57:50 in the Franklin TV meeting video for May 3, 2023  ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og

Beaver St interceptor update to Town Council begins at 1:36:30  in the same meeting video https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og

The most recent PFAS update to Town Council begins at 1:52:56 in the same meeting video https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og

-----------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Construction of the Beaver Street Interceptor. The houses in background are West Central Street, Panther Way area.

All About the Town of Franklin Sewer Services - 1st of a 3 part series (audio)

FM #1026 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1026 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent . 

We had our conversation in the Franklin Public Radio studios on Hutchinson St. This is one of three in a series exploring the status and operations of the Franklin’s Water & Sewer Division. During 2021, we did a 3-part series on the water supply. With the Beaver St interceptor project starting later this year, we decided to cover the sewer side of the business. A little more dirty talk although we do start out with some updates on water.

Part 1 - approx. 25 minutes

• PFAS - the EPA is looking to update their regulation

• Mitigation of PFAS for Well 7 is costly and starting later this year

• If the proposed regulations go through, it will be more costly as "60% of our water sources are currently above that (proposed) threshold"

• Likely water rate increase coming in a future year (TBD)

• New diagram shows lines of responsibility for water (and sewer) between Town and property owners

• What to flush or not flush (3 ps - poop, pee & (toilet) paper)

Part 2 - approx. 42 minutes

• We get into the core of the sewer system, historical design (or lack thereof)

• Beaver St interceptor, construction overview and project plan

• System capacity (both water & sewer), annual conservation measures

• Oct 14 - Touch a Truck, hydrant painting, snow plow naming contest, and reveal of communication plan for the Beaver St construction project

Part 2 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer_02109748944.html

Part 3 - approx. 27 minutes

• We get to the sewer budget and rate increases approved for FY 2024, FY 2025, FY 2026

• Review of the projects being completed or being worked, and planned for near term

• Sahlin circle (final touches)

• Monterrey Dr off Pleasant St (Jan/Feb - awaiting pump delivery)

• Phase 7 lining - this summer

• next level of I&I study

• asset mgt grant

• easement clearing & mapping

• Good things about the community cooperation

• Last but not least mention of the lead service connections (not supposed to be many)

The final section includes a budget recap which summaries as the following:

• $500K for expenses, 

• approx. $1M for personnel

• $3.4M for Charles River flow and assessment

• $1M for project debt and interest payments

Part 3 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer_0306615856.html

The show notes include links to the Franklin water & sewer division page 

Let’s listen to this part of my conversation with Doug and Jake and learn all about Franklin’s sewer services. Audio Part 1 -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1026-tof-all-about-sewer-series-06-14-23-part-1-of-3

---------------------

Water Sewer Division - https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division

Water Smart program ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/welcome-watersmart-program

Leak or Blockage diagram of lines of responsibility between Town and property owners for water and sewer service  https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/have-leak-or-blockage

Consumer Confidence Reports -> archive   = https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/consumer-confidence-reports

Charles River Pollution Control https://www.franklinma.gov/charles-river-pollution-control   and https://www.charlesriverpcd.org/ 

Charles River Update to Town Council begins at 57:50 in the Franklin TV meeting video for May 3, 2023  ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og

Beaver St interceptor update to Town Council begins at 1:36:30  in the same meeting video https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og

The most recent PFAS update to Town Council begins at 1:52:56 in the same meeting video https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og

-----------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Construction of the Beaver Street Interceptor. The houses in background are West Central Street, Panther Way area.

The Guardian: "PFAS levels in ground and air could be higher than expected, research suggests"

"Background levels of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in the ground and air may be much higher than previously thought, federal testing of spatially random soil samples from across New Hampshire suggests.

The analysis found high levels of PFAS in all 100 shallow soil samples, which were taken from undisturbed land not close to known polluters. The chemicals are thought to largely have gotten there through the air, and the study, along with recent EU research, suggests similar levels of soil and air contamination throughout the world.

The findings are “pretty disturbing” and raise fresh questions about contamination of food and water, said Mindi Messmer, a former New Hampshire state representative who advocates for stronger PFAS bans.

“However it got here, it’s there and it is widespread,” she added. “It’s the fault of decades of regulatory inaction.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required) ->

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/26/pfas-ground-air-pollution-study

Studies have found rain to contain high PFAS levels. Photograph: Joe Portlock/Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited/Getty Images

The Guardian: "US food pesticides contaminated with toxic ‘forever chemicals’ testing finds"

We heard at the Town Council meeting last week that PFAS regulations will require additional cost to mitigate yet, PFAS is still prevalent and not yet stopped being produced. This article helps to confirm the extensive spread of PFAS in our environment.

"Some of the United States’ most widely used food pesticides are contaminated with “potentially dangerous” levels of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”, new testing of the products finds.

The Environmental Protection Agency has previously been silent on PFAS in food pesticides, even as it found the chemicals in non-food crop products. The potential for millions of acres of contaminated food cropland demands swifter and stronger regulatory action, the paper’s authors say.

“I can’t imagine anything that could make these products any more dangerous than they already are, but apparently my imagination isn’t big enough,” said Nathan Donley, environmental health science director at the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), which co-authored the study. “The EPA has to take control of this situation and remove pesticide products that are contaminated with these extremely dangerous, persistent chemicals.”

Continue reading online (subscription maybe required) ->

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/07/food-pesticides-toxic-forever-chemicals-pfas

PFAS at the Town Council meeting skip to 1:51:00 of the recording to view

https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og?feature=share

Spraying pesticide at grape vineyard in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Photograph: Education Images/UIG/Getty Images

EPA proposes updates to PFAS regulations

"The US Environmental Protection Agency has taken the extraordinary step of setting legal drinking water limits for six of the most studied and toxic PFAS compounds, known commonly as “forever chemicals”, that are at the center of an ongoing environmental crisis.

The new limits mark the first time in 26 years that the EPA has set legal limits for a contaminant in drinking water. Municipal utilities will be required to remove the compounds from drinking water, which could set off a wave of lawsuits directed at PFAS polluters, including the US military and chemical producers like 3M, DuPont and Chemours.

The new rules are “groundbreaking”, said Erik Olson, senior strategic director for the Natural Resources Defense Council non-profit, which tracks PFAS pollution.

“We have a five-alarm fire, and setting strong standards will help ensure the fundamental right of every family to have safe water flowing from their kitchen tap,” he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/14/epa-drinking-water-limits-pfas-forever-chemicals

The EPA page has more information on the proposed regulation changes  ->    https://www.epa.gov/pfas

Franklin currently has one well offline due to PFAS. The annual water quality report shows the results of regular water testing. A podcast series (approx. 90 minutes total) talks through the process of water quality from well to faucet. It can be found posted on the Town page 

Water quality (consumer confidence reports) https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/consumer-confidence-reports

The water system podcast series https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/news/franklin-matters-conversations-doug-martin-jake-standley

 

EPA proposes updates to PFAS regulations

Webinar: Health and Environmental Hazards of Artificial Turf and Safer Alternatives - Thursday, Jan 5, at noon

Topic
Health and Environmental Hazards of Artificial Turf and Safer Alternatives

REGISTER: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArfu2vqzwrEtXOhMxCBiNvslECnxAeHwdj

Description: Many schools, municipalities, and parents are faced with decisions on creating healthy and safe play spaces for children. Research on the production, use, and disposal of artificial turf and synthetic playground surfacing has raised concerns about environmental  contamination, human health hazards, and adverse effects on wildlife. This includes concerns about carcinogens and other toxic chemicals found in materials used to make these play surfacing options. 

Chemicals of concern found in these materials can include metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and 6PPD-quinone, among others. There are also concerns about heat-related illnesses, skin infections, and microplastic pollution, among other health and environmental issues. 

During this webinar, Rachel Massey and Lindsey Pollard will discuss their research on health and environmental implications of artificial turf and safer alternatives.

Time: Jan 5, 2023 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Note: A similar webinar was held last year.  Find the details ->  https://www.healthandenvironment.org/webinars/96595

Webinar: Health and Environmental Hazards of Artificial Turf and Safer Alternatives

"EPA Announces New Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFAS Chemicals"

"The Environmental Protection Agency is warning that two nonstick and stain-resistant compounds found in drinking water are more dangerous than previously thought — and pose health risks even at levels so low they cannot currently be detected. 

The two compounds, known as PFOA and PFOS, have been voluntarily phased out by US manufacturers, but there are a limited number of ongoing uses and the chemicals remain in the environment because they do not degrade over time. The compounds are part of a larger cluster of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS that have been used in consumer products and industry since the 1940s. 

The EPA on Wednesday issued nonbinding health advisories that set health risk thresholds for PFOA and PFOS to near zero, replacing 2016 guidelines that had set them at 70 parts per trillion. The chemicals are found in products including cardboard packaging, carpets, and firefighting foam."

Continue reading the Boston Globe coverage (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/15/business/epa-forever-chemicals-pose-risk-even-very-low-levels/

The EPA press release ->  https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-new-drinking-water-health-advisories-pfas-chemicals-1-billion-bipartisan 

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan speaks at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, in Greensboro, N.C., April 14, 2022. The EPA is warning that two nonstick and stain-resistant compounds in drinking water pose health risks at levels below the government's ability to detect them.CAROLYN KASTER/ASSOCIATED PRESS