Buzzards Bay homeowners can upgrade septic systems — here's why it's needed
NEW BEDFORD — It’s going to be more affordable for homeowners on Buzzards Bay to upgrade their septic systems by mandate or by choice with financial assistance.
New language in the state budget signed by Gov. Charlie Baker July 28 provides residents around Buzzards Bay with access to low interest loans through their local boards of health to repair or upgrade their current septic systems to nitrogen reducing septic systems.
In addition to helping ease the burden on homeowners, the Buzzards Bay Coalition says it’s an environmental win for the bay where eelgrass has died off in many areas and fish and shellfish have slowly disappeared.
Korrin Petersen, vice president of Clean Water Advocacy for the Buzzards Bay Coalition, said the only way to protect the coastal waters is through improved wastewater treatment. This opportunity uses an existing program to assist homeowners who want or need to install nitrogen reducing septic systems.
“New systems that are nitrogen reducing systems will remove a significant amount of that nitrogen, thereby reducing pollution to our coastal waters,” she said. “For folks who want to reduce the amount of nitrogen that they are responsible for, this new change in the law allows them to go get a low-interest loan to voluntarily upgrade their system.”
The Coalition calls individual septic systems the single largest source of nitrogen polluting the coastal waters around Buzzards Bay and says that the single greatest barrier in combating pollution is the cost of wastewater infrastructure.
Rep. Paul Schmid, D-Westport, worked in close partnership with the Coalition and sponsored the language that enables homeowners to obtain assistance from their local boards of health for the repair, replacement or upgrade of septic systems that are not designed to reduce nitrogen.
“It has been great to partner with the Buzzards Bay Coalition on such a crucial water quality issue,” he said in a news release. “Their knowledge on this issue has been critical. I am thrilled to see this legislation passed and signed into law.”
Passage of the language was the Coalition’s top legislative priority this year.
Nitrogen reducing systems do cost more than conventional septic systems because they do more to reduce nitrogen pollution, Petersen said, estimating that they may be $10,000 to $12,000 more expensive due to the technology, but they are hopeful more people will make the change with the loans as an incentive.
Some communities around the bay, including Westport, Marion, Wareham and Tisbury, are required by their boards of health to upgrade to a nitrogen reducing septic system under certain conditions including adding a new bedroom to their home can apply for a loan, she said.
The low interest loans are in the form of a betterment agreement between the community and homeowners. The town agrees to provide financial assistance to the homeowner to repair, replace and/or upgrade their on-site system.
The town will establish an account, just like a loan, that will be paid back over time. The loan will show up as an additional line item on the homeowner’s real estate tax bill. These loans can be spread out over a maximum of 20 years. Applications are available through local boards of health.
Previously, the community septic loan program only provided low interest loans to homeowners who were required to upgrade a failed septic system.
Now homeowners who are required or choose to upgrade their existing septic systems to nitrogen reducing systems can take advantage of that same loan program.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: MA budget helps Buzzards Bay area residents upgrade septic systems
