I know a lot of people in Exeter are concerned about water quality in the Squamscott River and the Great Bay estuary as a whole. During a town election last week, Exeter residents decided to vote with their wallet and approved three warrant articles related to the treatment of wastewater, totaling over three million dollars.
This is good news for the Great Bay estuary and an important step forward by the town in meeting the requirements of their draft Clean Water Act wastewater discharge permit. CLF strongly supports the draft permit and we applaud the decision by the town’s voters to get behind a cleaner and healthier estuary.
The first measure approved by Exeter voters will allow the town to develop a Wastewater Facilities Plan to meet the reduced nitrogen limit proposed in the Clean Water Act permit. Exeter’s treated wastewater is discharged to the Squamscott River, which flows into Great Bay.
As the water quality continues to decline throughout the Great Bay estuary, the Clean Water Act requires communities to reduce the amount of nitrogen pollution from sewage treatment plants – an action that’s essential to the health of the estuary. The approved funds will be used for a facilities plan that will be a first step towards designing a new wastewater treatment plant that will greatly reduce this damaging pollutant.
Residents also approved a plan to complete water, sewer and drainage improvements in the Jady Hill area, a residential area near the downtown. The project will include the rehabilitation and replacement of sewer lines that will help prevent water – such as during rain events – from entering the sewer system and causing sewer overflows.
To save on sewage pumping and treatment costs, funds were appropriated to design and construct a water recycling system at the town’s water treatment plant. Currently, water is taken from the Exeter River to flush out the filtration system and then is sent to the sewage treatment plant. By recycling this water, it will save an average of 115,000 gallons of water per day. These improvements will also mean fewer sewer overflows.
Clearly the residents of Exeter understand the value of the Great Bay estuary and the connection between clean water and a healthy, vibrant community. We hope other cities and towns across the Seacoast will follow Exeter’s example. Contact me if you would like to get involved working in your community for a cleaner Great Bay.
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