Who determined that Onsite treatment was the best alternative?
Among possible solutions acceptable to DEP is a central treatment plant which would also necessitate the construction of sewers. The Towns Sewer Avoidance policy favors decentralized or onsite treatment. So, in the late 90s the WPCA, in conjunction with the Selectmen, pursued a non-sewer approach. WPCA compared alternatives; conventional, ATS, community and centralized treatment. Individual on-site solutions (including ATS) were determined the best option. The mediated settlement, as an extension of the Court Judgment, further developed the method (acceptable to DEP and the Town) to be used to bring the quality of the effluent up to acceptable standards. Mediation effectively took the Sewer off the table providing technical standards and an outline for the Wastewater Facilities Plan and ATS.
