Week 2 - Water quality and wastewater discharge

Discussion topics:	nitrification cycle, Clean Water Act, Environmental Protection Agency
Guest speaker and field trip:	Charlie Pires, Falmouth Department of Public Works Wastewater Treatment Facility (directions)
Website:	Falmouth Wastewater Department
Reading:	Cape Cod Times: Beleaguered Bays Barnstable County: Basics of wastewater treatment (review definitions for BOD5, TSS and the nitrogen cycle) Cape Cod Commission: Section 208 Water Quality Public Draft of the Cape Cod Area Wide Water Quality Management Plan Update. Skim the executive summary, in particular pages i to x that provide a brief overview of the authority, the problem, and regulations. For further information, visit their water quality initiative website and/or attend the Upper Cape subregional public meeting at Mashpee Town Hall on Oct 21)

Background material and links:

• Nutrient Input and Eutrophication (pages 576-580): also relevant for Week 3
• Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program: Short overview of Wastewater Management in the Buzzards Bay Watershed (scroll down to the summary table, Falmouth is in the right hand most column)
• Joint Statement from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Town of Falmouth, and the Buzzards Bay Coalition regarding a modified permit for the discharge of treated wastewater at the Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Facility that we are visiting and the discharge impacts on water quality in West Falmouth Harbor. This short press release provides some interesting insight on managing nitrogen loads and includes remarks from the state regulator, town management and an NGO.
• Overview of Water Protection Legislation
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The Clean Water Act
• Cape Cod Times: Wastewater 101
• Video: Nitrogen removal basics
• Barnstable County: Bathing Beach Water Quality and Testings Results
• Falmouth Community Television: Video of a Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour with Chief Operator Charlie Pires