Lancaster Case Study

Introduction

The location of the project is a portion of Lancaster, Massachusetts, a small community of roughly 7,400 in population located in central Massachusetts. The study area is roughly 13 square miles of North Lancaster, just off Route 2.

Funding

Department of Housing and Community Development funded the bulk of the program; Massachusetts Riverways program funded the development of the environmental overlays and the water offsets. Components This project has wastewater facilities planning components but also features many unique aspects, including:

Consideration of decentralized systems along with central treatment options with cost-benefit analysis of a variety of techniques.
Analysis of water supply sources including the development of a Water Resources Protection District Overlay with more protection against pathogens and exotic contaminants like pharmaceuticals, as well as greater recharge protection.
Identification of future infrastructure needs for water supply, including needed sites and areas for public acquisition or areas that could be contributed by developers.
Consideration of transportation features including road standards and future traffic issues from anticipated development.
Work with local large land developers on to develop their parcels with the least impact how to the town.
Consideration of Smart Growth and Low Impact Development, with recommendations for regulatory revisions to encourage Smart Growth and LID.
A fisheries protection overlay will require certain types of systems to perform additional treatment or specific types of wastewater and stormwater treatment in some areas.
Analysis of stormwater issues, including Phase II compliance with the upcoming regulatory deadlines for 2008.
Changes to local design standards and regulations to encourage recharge where possible through an overlay district with performance standards.
The development of an offsets matrix of public and private offsets that could be required by the community or that it could implement to offset withdrawals or wastewater discharges.
Use of a Water Balance Model to assess the impacts of various alternative scenarios, including the impact of identified 'offsets'.
Public Participation includes periodic updates and meetings with interested citizens and developers. Reviewers include staff heads of most departments, Riverways, and a DEP representative.

Costs

This project, which will be completed within a few months, was funded under grants due to its unique nature. The cost was $150,000 for a 13 square mile area because the area is relatively undeveloped and the intensive analysis of existing septic systems was minimal. In general, costs will vary depending on local issues. Other Massachusetts communities can receive funding through the Clean Water SRF Program at a 2% loan, essentially a significant grant.