Lake Waukewan Watershed

Lake Waukewan Watershed
Protecting Source Water for the Town of Meredith
The Watershed
Drains into Lake
Winnipesaukee
Spans over 5 towns:
Meredith, Center
Harbor, New Hampton,
Ashland and Holderness
Comprised of 3 ponds
and Lake Winona that
feeds into Lake
Waukewan via the Snake
River
Has an area of 8,297.8
acres or 13 square miles.
Lake Waukewan
Municipal water supply for
the Town of Meredith
Has an area of 953 acres with
an average depth of 22 feet
and 8 miles of shoreline that
is largely developed.
The lake is fed by the Snake
River and 5 other tributaries.
There is a dam that controls
the outflow of the lake into
Winnipesaukee.
Due to the large land to lake
area, it has a low flushing rate
of .6 times/yr (NH median
3times/yr).
Lake Waukewan Management Plan
Adopted by the Town of Meredith in June 2005
Prepared by Jennifer Palmiotto and Waukewan
Watershed Advisory Committee with the
assistance of many others.
Takes into account it is a share recreational
resource as well as the drinking water supply.
Used as a road map to guide decision making and
management strategies to address potential risk to
water quality.
Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee
consists of representatives from the different
communities and is advisory to the Meredith Board
of Selectmen.
Potential Pollution Sources
Land disturbance from site developmentstormwater runoff from increased impervious
and land disturbance
Recreation activities- public beach, park, boat
launch and HOA facilities.
Wastewater disposal (septic systems)- large
majority of watershed and lakefront served by
private wastewater treatment
Lawn care practices- expansive lawns, little or no
shoreline buffer and use of fertilizers and
pesticides
Transportation corridors- conduits for
stormwater, winter maintenance
SEPTIC SYSTEMS THREAT TO
WATER QUALITY
Failing or substandard septic systems are a
major threat to water quality due to the
leaching of nutrients and pathogens
(bacteria) into ground and surface waters.
Phosphorus and Nitrogen are nutrients
that contribute to algal blooms and
aquatic weeds.
Risk of Septic System Pollution
Conducted a Septic Risk
Analysis using GIS.
Study area consisted of
all parcels with septic
systems within 250 feet
landward of Waukewan.
Collected data and
considered 3 known
attributes for all systems.
Inventoried Center
Harbor and New
Hampton shorefront
septic systems.
Innovative Approaches to Address
and Mitigate Risk
Evaluate feasibility of expanding sewer
system.
Conduct public outreach and education, a
multi-town approach.
Identified and evaluate existing rules for
subsurface wastewater disposal systems.
Draft health regulation to address inspection
and replacement of select systems.
Evaluate funding options to replace failed
systems.
Identify Existing
Rules & Requirements
Env-Wq 1025 requires
assessment of waterfront
properties (not systems)
prior to P&S agreement.
Env-Wq 1003.12 requires a
new system is designed when
flow increases but only
installed at the time of failure.
RSA 485-A:2 IV defines failure
of subsurface systems if waste
disposal system does not
contain or treat (Env-Wq
1002.30).
Identify Shortcomings and
Gather Information
No real evaluation of septic
systems is required.
Eliminate the wait for failure
approach and install the system.
Require inspections of systems
to determine if containment and
treatment of wastewater is
occurring.
Meet with various experts.
Refer to strategies identified in
Watershed Management Plan.
Drafting a Regulation
Conduct Public Education and Outreach
Mailings to homeowners regarding septic
system maintenance (began in 2008),
workshop invites, updates to regulation, etc.
Information added to town’s website.
Educational workshops and meetings hosted
by the town and HOAs
Several newspaper articles regarding septic
systems.
Public meetings Selectmen and WWAC to
discuss regulation.
Draft Regulation for Subsurface
Wastewater Disposal Systems
1.
2.
No valid design approval on
file with NH DES requires
disposal system be
evaluated by qualified
person that existing system
is not in failure.
No valid design approval on
file with NH DES and
building permit request to
expand lot coverage but
not living space, a septic
design is required to ensure
future space is reserved to
upgrade system.
3.
4.
When a building permit
request to expand the
number of bedrooms is
submitted, a design
approval is required with
building permit and
operation approval prior to
CO.
When a building permit
request to expand square
footage of living space is
submitted and no valid
design is on file with NH
DES, a design approval is
required with building
permit and operation
approval prior to CO
Status of Draft Regulation
Needs to be adopted by the BOS.
Has been reviewed at a few BOS
workshops.
Still a draft with a few details to be
settled on.
Would be the first health regulation to
address septic systems in the state.
Questions