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Charlestown environmental office urges upgrades to septic systems; warns ADU law could hinder water‑quality goals
Summary
The town’s environmental office reviewed long‑running coastal pond pollution issues, outlined grant and loan programs for septic upgrades, and described promising low‑cost passive systems; staff warned new statewide ADU rules could make it harder to reach nitrogen‑reduction targets.
Matt (Director, Environmental/Wastewater Office) gave the budget committee a detailed annual overview of Charlestown’s on‑site wastewater program, stressing that the town relies entirely on septic systems and private wells and that persistent nitrogen loading has impaired local ponds for decades.
He summarized the stakes: parts of Green Hill Pond, Allen’s Cove and other waters have been closed to shellfishing for decades because of impaired water quality linked to septic systems. “In order for Green Hill Pond and Eastern Integrated Pond to meet the water quality goals, a total net reduction in nitrogen pollution loading from septic systems within that particular watershed had to be reduced by 61%,” Matt said.
Matt described the town’s tools: a 1% low‑interest loan program administered through Rhode Island Housing and revolving‑fund dollars for upgrades, plus substantial EPA and federal grant funding to help homeowners modernize older systems to nitrogen‑reducing technology. He said the town’s work also supports state and academic partners — University of Rhode Island researchers are monitoring outcomes — and that Charlestown’s program is used as a regional model.
On the effect of added housing density, committee members asked about accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Matt noted recent state legislation allows ADUs statewide; the town had proposed an amendment that would have limited ADUs in areas already developed beyond carrying capacity, but the amendment was not adopted. He warned that adding bedrooms increases septic flows: even if homeowners upgrade to modern denitrifying systems, extra bedrooms add wastewater load and make it harder to reach the 61% reduction target.
Matt also described a local pilot of low‑cost passive denitrifying systems installed as an open‑source approach to reducing nitrogen at a lower cost than proprietary systems. The pilot — four installations monitored for two years — showed encouraging results: proprietary systems typically reduce nitrogen to about 19 mg/L (roughly a 50% reduction), while the passive systems consistently reduced nitrogen by more than 80% and to concentrations substantially below 19 mg/L. A regulatory disagreement remains with DEM over one constituent (biochemical oxygen demand) that has delayed wider adoption pending further discussion.
The director reiterated program mechanics: the town tracks every onsite system, enforces upgrades when required by permit changes, offers loans and pursues grants to subsidize upgrades, and conducts monitoring to inform policy. He said the office has also sought grant funding to help create a lower‑cost suite of technologies that can be widely installed where site conditions allow.
Ending: Committee members thanked Matt and asked staff to continue coordinating with state partners, track the fiscal impacts of ADU growth, and pursue grant funding to expand low‑cost treatment trials and homeowner assistance programs.
