Boxed In: Wastewater Effluent Discharge Challenges in a Coastal Environment

The coastline of southeastern Massachusetts is comprised of multiple estuarine systems. Nutrient enrichment, primarily associated with population growth and watershed land use changes, has exceeded these watersheds’ nitrogen assimilative capacities resulting in severe water quality degradation. Eutrophication is affecting environmental health, property values, and recreational opportunities. As communities evaluate options for nitrogen Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) compliance, they must also navigate issues related to returning treated effluent nitrogen load to impaired watersheds, groundwater mounding impacts on surface water systems, phosphorus load impacts to freshwater systems, and contaminants of emerging concern issues to public water supplies.