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Kings Beach CCTV work continues; UV pilot for bacteria treatment awaits Swampscott sign-on
Summary
Environmental contractor and city staff said CCTV inspection has about 3–3.5 miles left and that a UV pilot—two trailers with UV units—could be deployed this beach season if neighboring Swampscott agrees to participate; Trojan was named as the UV supplier and the commission would provide daily site visits if the pilot launches.
Commissioners heard updates on Kings Beach sanitary and water-quality work, including remaining CCTV inspections and a proposed ultraviolet (UV) pilot intended to reduce bacteria counts near the bathing area.
Natalie, a consultant with Environmental Partners (Apex Environmental Partners), said about 3 to 3.5 miles remain in the CCTV inspection program and that the team plans to try weekend work to coordinate with police for improved access before beach season. "We have about 3 3 and a half miles left to complete for the CCTV program and, you know, our goal is to do as much of that before beach season again," Natalie said.
The commission also discussed a UV pilot proposed by Kleinfeld, an engineer working with Tom Swanske, to temporarily treat flows from the city's culverts with mobile UV units. Neil Johnson, introduced by staff as a UV specialist, described the pilot concept: the plan would divert culvert flows into a frac tank, run those flows through trailer-mounted UV units, then discharge back to the existing outfall. "I'm the UV guy," Neil Johnson said. The supplier named in the discussion was Trojan; Johnson and staff said Trojan has field representatives who can assist with commissioning and troubleshooting.
Access improvements on the "wind side" (as described in the transcript) are needed before diversion can occur; staff said a contractor is priced and ready to install access improvements. Swampscott has not yet committed: staff said the Swampscott water and sewer infrastructure committee recommended the pilot to the Swampscott select board, but the select board had not yet voted. "So we don't have a commitment from Swampscott yet," staff said.
If Swampscott signs on, Lynn and Swampscott staff would conduct daily site visits to ensure the system is running; the pilot would run except during large storms or when tides make diversion impractical, when operators would take the system offline. Staff said they are aiming for the beach season this summer and that they expect a Swampscott decision "certainly by the March meeting." A biannual report covering July–December 2024 was submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection last month, staff added.
No vote was taken on the pilot at this meeting; commissioners received the update while staff continues intermunicipal coordination.
