April 21, 2006. Draft Planning Report Available
Please review and comment on the Draft Planning Report

At a special meeting of the district in July of 2001 the voters overwhelmingly supported funding for a project aimed to plan the long term goals of the LSDC. This complex and project will define the existing and potential wastewater needs and provide recommendations for sound, cost-effective short- and long-term solutions for LSDC by way of the development of a Comprehensive Wastewater Master Plan (CWMP).

This project will require the development of a CWMP addressing environmental impacts of wastewater collection, transmission, treatment, and disposal projects required to serve the needs of the LSDC. This shall include the consideration of adverse impacts and will require the development of methods and recommendations to minimize and mitigate those adverse impacts.

The CWMP process will evaluate the existing and future population, land use, demographics, environmental resources and wastewater needs of the LSDC, and will develop possible wastewater disposal alternatives to meet defined needs. The planning process will include all of the necessary steps needed to ensure that the wastewater management plan is the most cost effective and environmentally sound plan for the residents of the LSDC.

Because of the complexity and manpower required to complete the CWMP, the Commission hired Weston and Sampson Engineers, Inc., of Peabody Massachusetts to complete the plan.

The plan will be developed by completing the following tasks:

1. Assessment of current conditions
   
2. Assessment of future conditions
   
3. Define wastewater needs and problems
   
4. Develop alternatives
   
5. Evaluate alternatives
   
6. Public participation
   
7. Regulatory coordination
   
8. Evaluation of remaining capacity
   
9. Evaluation of rate structure
   
10. Evaluation of moratorium
    
11. Evaluation of existing infrastructure (maintenance and replacement, etc.)
    
12. Best Management Practices (BMP) for District expansion
    
    

This project has been ongoing since 2003 and is expected to be completed by early 2006.