As new proposals for how to best identify and solve issues of fecal contamination in Mamaroneck’s waterways progress, the village has shed an administrative order from the EPA that has loomed overhead since 2010.
And while the village may be making strides, Save the Sound—an organization which is currently in the midst of a lawsuit with both Westchester County and Mamaroneck regarding alleged violations of the EPA Clean Water Act—feels resources are being misallocated.
A recent resolution from the village of Mamaroneck indicates that they will no longer be submitting information to the EPA regarding their analysis of bacterial contamination; a stipulation agreed upon, following high bacterial counts found in three sample sites located in various waterways.
According to documents issued by the village manager, part of the order—which mandated that the village analyze and plan ways to address contamination related to deficient sewer infrastructure—was satisfied on Jan. 27, releasing the village from submitting any more information to the federal agency.
But, while the EPA’s order has been satisfied, a consent order issued by the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation—relating to the same topic—remains in place, stipulating that the village must carry out a number of comprehensive sewer repair projects over the next three years.
At a recent village board meeting, Arcadis—the engineering firm that has worked with the village on such issues since 2012—gave village officials and residents an idea of what the future projects might look like.
Proposals from Arcadis will address alarming amounts of fecal contamination found in Mamaroneck’s waterways in a number of different ways; among them are identifying both the source and extent of the village’s problem.
Two investigatory projects which will be carried out jointly between Arcadis and the village will examine a number of geographic areas, sewer lines and storm water outfalls across the village and will be carried out over the upcoming year.
Both phases of the projects, costing approximately $275,000 in total, will be carried out and completed between 2016 and 2017.
While Arcadis has been contracted by the village, they’re not the only group looking over Mamaroneck’s waterways. Save the Sound has also been involved in the process of analyzing Mamaroneck’s waterways.
According to Tracy Brown, director of Western Long Island Sound programs for the group, absent from Arcadis’ current proposals is a proper plan to address Beaver Swamp Brook, a tributary that runs from the Westchester Country Club in Harrison to the Mamaroneck Harbor’s East Basin, and one that has been identified as one of the most problematic parts of the group’s testing areas.
“The proposal allocates a large portion of time to Otter Creek, when local waterways including Mamaroneck River and Beaver Swamp Brook continue to be plagued with high bacteria levels,” she said, adding that Save the Sound has continuously shared their data with Arcadis. “[The] current proposal from Arcadis… could benefit from more rigorous sampling and action efforts on waterways that have higher historic documented fecal contamination.”
Currently, according to Save the Sound’s latest data, Beaver Swamp Brook has experienced a significant increase in its rate of bacterial contamination between 2014 and 2015. The latest data shows several samples taken from sites at Beaver Swamp Brook failing 100 percent of the time.
According to Village Manager Richard Slingerland, most of the emphasis in Arcadis’ and the village’s upcoming projects will be placed on the inflow and infiltration aspect—specifically fixing cracked sewer pipes.
Most of the village’s work over the past decade has gone toward relining sewer systems, according to the village manager. Currently, the village has relined about 15 percent of their sewers over the last 10 years.
As for the scope of the projects set to take place over the next three years, Slingerland explained that they will try to maximize their efforts.
“We’re trying to focus our efforts in the areas where it will do the most good,” he said.
