Commission presses for inspections of pig farm and septic impacts; members cite lack of sewers on Route 80

Commission members used the East Shore presentation to flag long-standing infrastructure and source-control issues that may contribute to Farm River contamination and impede local development.

Several commissioners recommended that town staff, including the town planner or engineer, inspect the pig farm previously the subject of agency investigation to confirm compliance with earlier agreements and to check whether animal operations remain too close to the river. "Is there any way the town engineer, town planner can go visit that site to see if he's in compliance with what we agreed to at least 7, 8 years ago?" asked Committee member (S4), urging renewed site review.

Members also noted that Route 80 and associated small brooks (Munger Brook / Bunker Brook) have no sewer service and widespread, older septic systems that were installed before modern wetland protections. One commissioner said, "There are septic systems everywhere," and described businesses and properties that historically had to pump tanks because sewer connections were not available. Several speakers tied the lack of sewer infrastructure to stalled development proposals and to recurring water-quality problems in tributaries and estuaries.

Commissioners called for using the 2021 Farm River management plan as a reference for addressing physical impairments (culverts, sediment, pesticides) and for coordinating town follow-up, including possible site visits, mapping support (GIS) for the monitoring team, and continued engagement with East Shore and land-trust partners to resolve remediation bottlenecks.