In This Issue
Title 5 Inspections
Title 5 Inspections for Real Estate transfers are different from the inspections that are a part of an operations and maintenance (O&M) contract!

If you are listing your home, or entering into a purchase and sales agreement, you will still need a Title 5 Inspection.

Call us for a proposal to provide your Title 5 Inspection services, as will be needed for the closing!
BEA Staff
Our dedicated team includes 

Licensed Site Professionals, Third Party Inspectors, Professional Engineers, 

Wetland Consultants, Registered Sanitarians, Professional Geologists, Environmental Scientists, Public Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Operators.


 

For a complete list of team members and their credentials, click Here.



TESTIMONIAL from
F.R. Mahony & Associates, Technical Sales:

"You guys have done a great job with us and I would not hesitate to recommend you in any situation."

~ Eric


Share the Community News:
January is National Blood Donor Month -- Please Donate!

See Give Blood for Cape Cod for Cape Cod Healthcare January 5th Brewster blood drive info.
Winter 2016 Newsletter
Welcome to BEA's complimentary Newsletter with helpful information for the owners of Innovative/Advanced "I/A" Septic Systems or Wastewater Treatment plants, and others who may be interested.

Our specialized staff offers insights and best management practices (BMPs) to preserve our common interests in protecting water quality and the sensitive Cape and Islands environment, shared here with YOU -- the community of homeowners, businesses, and concerned agencies or NGOs. Together, we are all invested in resource protection!

What is an Innovative/Alternative
Or "I/A" Septic System? What is a Title 5?

A conventional septic system, such as many properties on the Cape and Islands have, is a simple wastewater disposal design to direct the flows from your plumbing into a tank for holding/settling, followed by a leaching area that disperses to the soils. This is often referred to as a "Title 5" septic system, and by design offers treatment mainly targeting the reduction of pathogens in the wastewater stream, returning discharge to our sole-source aquifer.

However, an "I/A" system offers additional treatment with components which target the reduction of nutrients. Nitrogen specifically has become a growing environmental concern. Now many local Boards of Health are requiring this advanced treatment to protect our drinking water source as well as our estuaries.

Where the arid and desert parts of the country have begun requiring property owners to have conservation methods in place to return prescribed percentages of their water use, our typical on-site I/As and Title 5s are progressive and on-trend, providing an important contribution to the recharge of our most precious resource, the aquifer. 

As a coastal community, Cape and Island towns have become increasingly concerned with protecting the water quality of our embayments and estuaries that support recreational and commercial uses, such as fishing and aquaculture, boating and bathing. Too much nitrogen entering our waterways from the influence of groundwater acts like a fertilizer in the marine environment, causing algae blooms that are both aesthetically unpleasant and have detrimental impacts to those uses we value. With your advanced septic treatment technology, the strength of nitrogen concentration in your wastewater is presumed reduced by about half! For more information, visit the Barnstable County County Department of Health & Environment webpage about the nitrogen cycle.

SO, as an owner of an "I/A" septic system you are part of the solution to one of the Cape's greatest environmental challenges, and serve as a steward of protecting water quality.
How Do I Take Care of My Septic System?

Whether it's a conventional "Title 5" or an "I/A" system, the first Best Management Practice (BMP) is to plan for regular pumping, which removes the accumulation of sludge and scum.

Pump out every 3 - 5 years is a good recommendation. This prevents the sludge from building up to where it escapes into the leachfield and clogs soils, preventing absorption of wastewater and potentially backing up into the plumbing or breaking out with unsanitary ponding. For more information, visit the Barnstable County Department of Health & Environment webpage about wastewater.

With an I/A septic system, an operation and maintenance "O&M" contract is required, with some prescribed frequency of inspections and often sampling, to assure system performance and compliance with regulatory requirements.  The specifics vary according to the brand of technology installed and local approvals, but all I/A system owners must have an O&M contract in place for the life of their septic system, assuring the smooth function of your advanced treatment investment!

BEA wastewater treatment operators handle the O&M for I/A and wastewater plants Cape-wide and on the Islands, keeping owners compliant with state and local regulations and protecting the longevity of these guardians of the public health and environment.  

If BEA is not currently your service provider, please call today for a free consultation and estimated costs for a service contract.
We hope you find these and upcoming articles that BEA will share with you to be useful, and we welcome your suggestions -- tell us what you wish to hear more about! Perhaps your idea will be discussed in an upcoming edition.

Happy New Year from the BEA Staff!

Sincerely,
KMR headshot







Kara Risk,
Business Manager
Bennett Environmental Associates

Quick Links
Environmental Permitting

Winter is Coming

Best Management Practices (BMPs):

Do you know where your septic system components are located? During the epic winter of January - March 2015, many owners discovered I/A components were buried under snow, in some cases not just the 3-4' accumulation we all endured, but the piles resulting from plowing or shoveling too. 

 

In order to stay compliant with your system inspections and/or sampling requirements, know where the components are and do your best to keep them accessible during the upcoming winter!

 

Even for conventional Title 5 owners, it is very important to be able to access the tank in the event pumping is suddenly needed.

 

Here are a few more BMPs to keep in mind, year-round:

 

Do not cover over septic system parts with hard structures, like decks, porches or stairs, which may then need to be removed for access.

 

Landscaping/plantings should also be kept away from interfering with septic access and function. Roots have been found infiltrating and clogging important system parts. 

 

Don't flush personal hygiene products or diapers; there is nothing in the design of a septic system that can break down these wastes.

 

Be mindful of water usage, and choices of cleaning products. Bleach can be harmful to the community of micro-organisms your septic system relies on to treat your wastewater.

 

Do not use a garbage grinder or disposal with either a Title 5 or I/A septic system.

 

Avoid driving over or the use of heavy equipment around your septic system, even if components are "H20 rated" for vehicle traffic.

 

Bennett Environmental Associates, Inc. | | krisk@bennett-ea.com 
 Mail: P.O. Box 17431 Location: 1573 Main Street
Brewster, MA 02631