Spotlight on Cape Cod

from October 2022 Construction Outlook

Judge Strikes Down Rhode Island Truck-Only Tolls

Independent RevIew of pRovIncetown vacuum SeweR SyStem undeRway; modeRnIzatIon fundIng on tap foR novembeR 9

PROVINCETOWN — Almost two months after a sewer emergency forced the shutdown of downtown restaurants on the eve of Carnival Week, at the peak of the summer tourism season, the Select Board has asked a consulting group to investigate the trouble.

The board approved on September 6 a $168,100 contract with Environmental Partners Group to conduct an independent review and assessment of the vacuum sewer system, where the core of the breakdown occurred.

About 356 sewer system connections were affected, according to town officials.

The hiring of the firm is the latest step in the town’s $75 million sewer modernization and expansion project, according to comments and presentation materials from town officials.

Environmental Partners Group will examine the central vacuum system’s operating history and emergency response plan, and review proposed improvements.

“It’s really a full overview of what’s happened to try and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said town Department of Public Works Director James Vincent at the Select Board meeting. “It will give us more information as we move into the spring. And this is all being paid for by the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund.”

The fund was established by the state Legislature in 2018 to help Cape Cod and Islands towns pay for necessary wastewater infrastructure and water quality remediation projects. The money comes from a 2.75% excise tax on traditional lodging and short-term rentals.

The August 11-12 sewer emergency, triggered during a storm on August 9, forced the town to tell residents and business owners along much of Commercial and Bradford streets to stop using water and flushing their toilets. Restaurants were shut down.

A power surge from the storm damaged some breakers, according to Vincent. Hours later the vacuum system wasn’t operating and there wasn’t pressure in the system. The system was effectively waterlogged, he said.

The system was restored just hours before Carnival Week kicked off on Saturday, August 13. By August 18, Thursday, more than 100,000 visitors were in town for the Carnival parade, according to the Provincetown Business Guild.

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At a November 9 special town meeting, residents will vote on a plan to both modernize the central vacuum system to prevent further shutdowns and extend gravity sewers to every property in town.

Currently, only 50% of properties are connected to either the central vacuum or gravity sewer system, and instead use cesspools and other on-site systems.

“We hope everybody will have access to the gravity sewer system by 2030,” Vincent said.

Modernization of Sewer System Poses no Burden on Taxpayers, According to Town

As proposed, the project’s $75 million price tag will not impact Provincetown taxpayers, according to town officials.

“We’ll get $25 million through grants, $45 million through betterments and another $5 million through Chapter 90 funds and other grants,” Vincent said.

A betterment is the cost charged to a property owner for connecting to the new gravity system. The cost for a single-bedroom residence will be about $7,150, Vincent said. There will also be connection costs, ranging from $3,000 to $20,000, depending on the property, he said.

A third public meeting is planned on October 12 to discuss the modernization plans

About 150 people attended the sewer project’s second public forum on September 13.

“It was great,” Vincent said. “It was a very engaged audience. They had very specific questions. They really are paying attention to what’s going on.”

A Third Public Meeting is Scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 12 at Town Hall.

“Some of the neighborhoods are pretty complicated with their geography — high points and low points,” Vincent said. “We’re very open to any neighborhood that wants us to explain this stuff and look at individual problems. We’re trying to be out there and pay attention to new information as it comes in.”

The sewer project team is putting together what Vincent called “a reference report” that will summarize the project and attempt to answer residents’ questions. There is information posted now at www. provincetown-ma.gov/476/Sewer-Department.

Special Town Meeting Articles

The five articles at the November special town meeting related to the sewer project are:

Wastewater Expansion Authorization, requires two-thirds vote: To approve $75,000,000 to extend gravity sewers and improvements to the treatment disposal capacity of the wastewater system.

Borrowing Authorization, requires two-thirds vote: To use $2.2 million in additional funding from the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund for the replacement and modernization of the existing wastewater infrastructure.

Home Rule Petition, requires two-thirds vote: To alter the allowed uses within Motta Field to include subsurface wastewater disposal.

Alteration of layout of Route 6, requires majority vote: To alter the public way on Route 6 to create a lot needed for the Satellite Treatment facility at Motta Field.

Home Rule Petition, requires majority vote: To repeal the town’s existing Special Sewer Act. The article will end the “checkerboard” and “public service uses” approach that has been in place for more than 20 years. In the future. additional flows including from economic development permits or other growth will be managed by the town’s growth management bylaw and the requirement that the town’s water and sewer board approve that the capacity is available, according to town materials.

Written by Leigh Blander. Reprinted from the Cape Cod Times. n