When effluent is discharged in the proposed area for the treatment are there any concerns about the impact on the schools or the abutters that live near the treatment plant?

Answer

• The proposed groundwater discharge is proposed to be in the ball field area at the Curtis Middle School. Hydrogeological studies have been performed to ensure that nothing is discharged that would have an adverse impact on the environment or on public health and safety. The Town would be responsible for obtaining and maintaining a groundwater discharge permit from MassDEP, which requires monthly testing and compliance with specific discharge parameters to maintain the permit and thus safe conditions. There is currently an onsite septic system discharging beneath some of the fields at the school, similar to each home in Sudbury. The proposed subsurface discharge system would be comparable to this, although substantially larger, but would be a highly treated clean effluent.
• The proposed treatment plant is recommended to be constructed at the Department of Public Works facility located at 275 Old Lancaster Road. The proposed facility will include vegetative screenings and will be designed to avoid any impacts on the community. Operations would be comparable to what is currently in use at DPW.