Although I have written three much longer letters on this subject as an engineer, the Town Center Sewer Action Group seems to just ignore the Devens option. Why?
Consider:
- The present system dumps 6.5 million gallons per year of marginal water directly into Harvard’s water table, within hundreds of feet of many wells. I thought we were concerned with water quality, especially ground water? I am—for real, not for show.
- For those naïve enough to believe the nice name on the treatment system (Bio Clear?) I suggest drinking the effluent, because that is what we are going to do.
- Adding more makes this worse.
- The system we have is a replacement for a “failed system.” This one will fail too. Does that “save money?” Where does the next one go?
- Operating cost of this one is never discussed.
- The fact that it is often in failure is never discussed.
Civilized towns like Ayer, Shirley, Devens, Lunenburg, Acton, Lancaster, Clinton, Concord, etc. all have real treatment plants and sewers. It is necessary.
We do not even have to spend the huge dollars these towns had to for a treatment plant—all we have to do is say “yes” (just once!) to Devens.
Do the right thing, not the expedient thing.
John Grady, professional engineer
Slough Road
