Steering Committee Meeting, 5/25/23

On May 25, the King’s Beach Steering Committee met to prepare talking points for the meeting with Secretary Tepper of the MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).

1. The current condition of King’s Beach

   • The beach consistently receives discharge of groundwater mixed with sewage and polluted surface runoff containing bacteria, often in concentrations 800 times greater than safe swimming levels

   • King’s Beach has been ranked as one of the worst two beaches for water quality in the Greater Boston area as reported by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay in their annual Metropolitan Beaches Water Quality Report Card

   • King’s Beach received a 68% rating in 2021, meaning it was unsafe for swimming more than one out of every five days in 2021

   • King’s Beach is situated in an Environmental Justice community in one of the Commonwealth's most economically and racially diverse cities

   • The Committee’s goal is to prioritize the improvement of the water quality and other environmental conditions of King’s Beach in order to have both a cleaner and more accessible beach for all of our residents

2. King’s Beach Steering Committee

   • In 2022, the King's Beach Steering Committee assembled to evaluate six alternative approaches to alleviating the water quality issues at King's Beach proposed by Kleinfelder, an engineering consultant hired by the Town of Swampscott.

   • UV Light Disinfection would be selected for immediate implementation due to being the most cost-effective and time-efficient method of reducing the public health risks associated with constant bacterial discharges at King's Beach

   • While the Committee works to progress the implementation of the UV Light Disinfection, both Lynn and Swampscott are committed to furthering source elimination efforts and continuing to undertake investigative efforts using Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) to identify and resolve improper connections in the drainage systems. More information on IDDE efforts can be found in the details for the April 9 Steering Committee Meeting.

3. Lynn IDDE Updates

   • LWSC’s IDDE plan, which is focused on addressing the King’s Beach watershed, includes a combination of field investigation methods (e.g. water quality screening and closed circuit television inspection) and laboratory techniques. 

   • The techniques identify both direct illicit connections to the drainage system (i.e. sewer service connections) and broader systemic vulnerabilities (e.g. deteriorating sewer and drain pipes, improper pet waste management).

   • Phase 1 began in March 2021 within 14 drainage subcatchment areas. 25 locations had dry weather flow and were sampled for contamination. Follow-up investigations were recommended for 12 locations where elevated contaminants of concern were observed. 

   • Phase 2 was conducted in May and June of 2022. 25 locations had dry weather flow and were sampled for contamination. 10 locations had elevated levels of contaminants observed and out of these 3 illicit sewer connections were found/disconnected. 

   • CCTV work continued from January to April 2023 and no further illicit connections were found.

   • In spring of 2023, field investigations included follow-up screening/sampling in areas where illicit connections were observed. Also, preliminary investigations along the culverted portion of Old Stacey Brook were completed.  The laboratory data from both of these are still pending. DDE investigations and CCTV work will continue in Summer 2023.

4. Swampscott IDDE Updates

   • In 2015, the Town of Swampscott established the Phase 1 project area by using USEPA’s Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) approach. This effort included dry and wet weather sampling for enterococci, surfactants, chlorine, and ammonia.

   • In 2022, the Town completed sewer rehabilitation work in the Phase 1 area in accordance with the ongoing Consent Decree between the Town of Swampscott and USEPA. Swampscott’s approach to system rehabilitation to date has included trenchless pipe lining of sewers and sewer laterals, sewer manhole rehabilitation, and eliminating direct pathways from the sewer system to the drain.

   • Phase 1A was started in April 2017 and completed in September 2017. Phase 1B was started in November 2018 and completed in January 2020. Phase 1C was started in March 2021 and construction was completed in October 2022.

   • By completing Phase 1, the Town has addressed a significant portion of the sewer infrastructure draining to King’s Beach.

5. Next Steps

   • The Committee’s next steps include identifying funding opportunities through working with the MA EEA, state partners and the federal delegation to obtain the funding necessary to fulfill this project.

   • The preliminary cost estimate for the UV disinfection facility is $25,000,000.

   • The leadership and support of Sec. Tepper and the MA EEA can drive this extraordinary opportunity to fix our water infrastructure and stop the flow of pathogens to this historic resource area shared by citizens of the Commonwealth and the region. The Committee is dedicated to improving water infrastructure to end these sewage discharges once and for all. With the right leadership and strategic investments, this project can create a legacy of how local, state and federal officials can come together to address a clear and present danger to current and future generations.