Pepperell Post, February 2012: Keeping Goosefare Brook healthy



A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	February, 2012	Return to newsletter index

Keeping Goosefare Brook healthy

There are 28 municipalities in the State of Maine that are subject to State and Federal Stormwater Law. These Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) communities are required to adopt an ordinance that prohibits non-stormwater discharges (i.e. sanitary sewer connections, laundry connections, etc.) into catch basins, open ditches, and/or culverts. The City of Saco is one of these regulated communities.

The City of Saco currently has one water body that does not meet State of Maine Water Quality Standards; the Goosefare Brook. Due to this standing, the City of Saco is permitted through MeDEP MS4 Permit process and must meet specific standards and performance measures within the area of Saco that drains to the Goosefare Brook. The MS4 Permit specifies six (6) Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) necessary to satisfy the permit and make progress towards meeting Water Quality Standards. These MCMs include:

Public Education and Outreach
Public Involvement and Participation
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
Post-Construction Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

Homeowners throughout Saco can help with this effort by maintaining an efficient, and in good repair septic system, knowing where your sanitary sewer and storm drain connections are made to the municipal system, and making repairs to these private systems. A failing system, even north of the turnpike, can have harmful impacts to the water quality in the downstream sections of Goosefare Brook, as well as the water quality at the beaches along Saco's coastline.

The City of Saco has partnered with Maine Healthy Beaches and MeDEP to make progress with MCM #3, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination. From May of 2011 thru August of 2011 high bacteria counts were found within Bear Brook (a tributary to the Goosefare Brook). The Public Works Department began an extensive search for illicit discharge connections in the area upstream of the high counts in the fall of 2011. Field observations, inspections, dye testing, and cameras were used to narrow the area of potential entry points for sanitary sewer into the storm drain system. As a result, the Public Works Department has begun to prioritize sanitary sewer and storm drain projects for the upcoming construction season.

With help from homeowners, and the replacement of aging infrastructure by the City of Saco, we will begin to see vast improvements in the water quality throughout the watershed.