Document bBLdMKEEpw6Vw47NBm3qMaRY6
UNITED STATESUNITED STATES ENVIRONRMEEGINOTNA 1L
PROTECTION AGENCY
ENVIRONM
P
Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division
11 Technology Drive
North Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01863-2431
ENTAL PROTECTION
Drafted Date:June 17, 2021
Finalized Date:August 3, 2021
Subject:Reconnaissance and Sampling Inspection Report
Clean Water Act - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Town of Swampscott, MA
From:Michelle Coombs, Inspector\ MRC \
Field Services Branch (FSB)
Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division (LSASD)
Reviewed
By:Jerome Keefe, Investigations Team Leader, LSASD - FSB\ JCK \
To:Denny Dart, Water Compliance Section Chief,
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division (ECAD - EWC)
CC:Neil Handler, Environmental Engineer, ECAD - EWC
I. Facility Information
A. Facility Name:Town of Swampscott, MA
B. Facility Location: 22 Monument Avenue, Swampscott, MA 01907
C. Facility Contact: Gino A. Cresta, Jr., Director of Public Works
(781) 596-8860, gcresta@town.swampscott.ma.us
D. NPDES Permit ID: MAR041064 (MS4)
II. Background Information
A. Date / Start time of recon inspection: June 15, 2021/7: 30 AM
B. Weather conditions: Cloudy, foggy, ~ 65 F
C. USEPA Representatives: Michelle Coombs & Douglas Koopman
D. State / Local Representatives: None
E. Date / Start time of sampling inspection: June 16, 2021/7: 30 AM
F. Weather conditions: Partly cloudy, ~ 65 F
G. USEPA Representatives: Michelle Coombs & Douglas Koopman
H. State / Local Representatives: None
I. Federally Enforceable Requirements Investigated:
Stormwater discharges and certain non - stormwater discharges from the Town of
Swampscott (the Town's) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) are authorized by
the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for the
Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems
(hereinafter, the Permit), issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
ED_019088A_00004552-00001
Town of Swampscott (MAR041064)
EPA MS4 Compliance Sampling Inspection
Region 1. The Town obtained coverage under the Permit with NPDES Permit ID
MAR041064.
J. Pollutants Sampled: Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), E.
coli / Enterococcus, Ammonia (nitrogen), Total Chlorine, and
Surfactants
III. Disclaimer:
Unless otherwise noted, this report describes conditions at the facility / property as observed by
EPA inspector(s), and / or through records provided to and / or information reported to EPA
inspector(s) by facility representatives and as understood by the inspector(s). This report may not
capture all operations or activities ongoing at the time of the inspection. This report does not make
final determinations on potential areas of concern. Nothing in this report affects EPA's authorities
under federal statutes and regulations to pursue further investigation or action.
IV. Type and Purpose of Inspection(s)
The purpose of the reconnaissance inspection was to locate stormwater outfalls, associated
manholes, and / or catch basins which discharge into Nahant Bay while noting appearance, presence
of flow, and access requirements for one or more sampling inspections.
The purpose of the compliance sampling inspection was to identify potential illicit connections or
illegal discharges within the Town of Swampscott MS4 that may adversely impact the water
quality in the Nahant Bay. Samples were collected from three (3) locations in accordance with the
FSB Investigations Team Stormwater Program Plan. Sample sites were identified during a
reconnaissance inspection conducted on June 15, 2021.
V. Permittee Details
The Town of Swampscott occupies approximately 7 square miles in Essex County, MA,
approximately 15 miles northeast of Boston, MA. The Town shares borders with the municipalities
of Lynn to the southwest, Marblehead to the east, and Salem to the north. According to the 2010
U.S. Census, the population of Town was 13,787. The Town is a co - permittee with the Lynn Water
and Sewer Commission for certain activities covered under the NPDES permit no. MA0100552
for discharges of municipal and industrial wastewater into waters of the United States, including
CSOs. Nahant Bay is listed as an MS4 receiving water in the Town Notice of Intent (NOI) for
coverage under the MS4 permit.
VI. 6/15/2021 Reconnaissance Inspection Summary
On 6/15/2021, EPA employees Michelle Coombs and Douglas Koopman (" the EPA Inspection
Team ") conducted an unannounced reconnaissance inspection of the Town of Swampscott, MA
MS4. They were not accompanied by any Town or state representatives. The inspection started
on King's Beach at approximately 7:30 AM. At the time of the inspection, the weather was
cloudy and foggy with an ambient temperature of approximately 65 deg F.
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According to the National Weather Service for the Beverly Municipal Airport (KBVY), the last
precipitation event prior to the inspection occurred on Monday, 6/14/2021, with 0.25 inches
recorded.
None of the locations visited during this inspection were field screened with the test kits or the
YSI quality meter. Locations visited were noted for appearance, presence of flow, and access
requirements.
VII. 6/16/2021 Sampling Inspection Summary
On 6/16/2021, the EPA inspection team conducted an unannounced compliance sampling
inspection of the Town of Swampscott, MA MS4 at the locations described in Section VIII. They
were not accompanied by any Town or state representatives. The inspection started on King's
Beach at approximately 7:30 AM. At the time of the inspection, the weather was partly cloudy and
approximately 65 deg F.
According to the National Weather Service for the Beverly Municipal Airport (KBVY), the last
precipitation event prior to the inspection occurred on Tuesday, 6/15/2021, with 0.44 inches
recorded. According to the National Weather Service, in the month (to date) of June, the Town
observed 1.29 inches of rain, which is approximately 61% of the 30-year normal value of 2.12
inches. According to the US Drought Monitor, as of 6/15/2021, Essex County is experiencing no
drought conditions. Based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tide
predictions, low tide was recorded at 10:20 AM at Lynn Harbor (ID 8443187).
The sampling locations described in Section VIII were field screened using test kits for ammonia
(nitrogen), surfactants, and total chlorine, as appropriate. In - situ measurements for specific
conductivity, salinity, and temperature were also measured with a YSI water quality meter and
recorded. All field data was recorded on field data sheets. Samples were delivered to and analyzed
for E. coli and Enterococcus and PPCPs at the EPA New England Regional Laboratory (NERL)
in North Chelmsford, MA. Table 1 below summarizes the sampling and analytical data.
VIII. Description of Sampling Locations
Photographs depicting each sample location are included in Appendix A of this report.
SWAMP01: The north culvert of the Stacey Brook Outfall, which is one of two concrete
box culverts approximately 8ft by 10ft that discharges into Nahant Bay via King's Beach
at the municipal boundary of Swampscott and Lynn, MA. At the time of the inspection, a
musty odor was detected, and no seaweed was observed in or near the outfall or beach.
Discharge flow was approximately 100 gallons per minute (gpm) into Nahant Bay. Sample
was collected at the mouth of the culvert prior to the confluence with the south culvert.
* SWAMP11: A single concrete pipe approximately 24 inches in diameter located on
Fisherman's Beach. Discharge flow was approximately 15 gpm into Nahant Bay. No odor
was detected and the discharge appeared clear and free of floatables. Sample was collected
from the mouth of the outfall.
SWAMP13: A single concrete pipe approximately 36 inches in diameter located on
Fisherman's Beach. Discharge flow was approximately 10 ggpm into Nahant Bay. White
suds and a large amount of green algae were observed in the pipe and on the rocks
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downstream. No odor was detected and the discharge appeared to be clear and free of
floatables. Sample was collected at the mouth of the outfall.
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Map of Sample Locations
Town of Swampscott IDDE SamplingLegend
The approximate locations of MS4 and / or CSO outfalls on King'sSample location
Beach and Fisherman's Beach in the Town of Swampscott that
were sampled by EPA personnel for source tracking compounds
during a compliance sampling inspection on June 16, 2021.
Bidney
St
SWAMP01 129 SWAMP11
Puritan
o
SWAMP13
<
Google EarthN
2021 Google1000 ft
Note: the locations on the map were estimated using Google Earth and are used for display purposes only.
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Table 1: Summary of Sampling and Analytical Data
Site ID SWAMP01 SWAMP11 SWAMP13
Location Sample Date 06/16/21 06/16/21 06/16/21
Sample Time7:38 AM8:19 AM8:29 AM
Coordinates North42.466830 42.466598 42.465421
(decimal
degrees) West-70.922021 -70.907830 -70.906424
Salinity, ppt. 9.6 2.8 1.3
YSI Meter Temperature, " C 15.9 15.6 15.7
Conductivity, S / cm17.8 mS5.12 mS2,551
Field Test
Kits (mg / L)
Ammonia 0.25 2.0 2.0
Total Chlorine 0.03 0.09 0.13
Surfactants NA NA s,
Bacteria
E. coli 6,488 563 173
(MPN / 100mL) Enterococcus1.046591158
Cotinine 7.2 20 8.6
Acetaminophen 630 200 61
Paraxanthine 120 590 9.8
PPCPs (ng / L)
Atenolol 25 ND ND
Caffeine 130 1200 35
Metoprolol 5.6 58 20
Diphenhydramine 3.3 27 ND
Abbreviations and Notes:
Carbamazepine 1.8 6.4 0.43
1. The coordinates listed in Table 1 were derived from the map created in Google Earth, therefore the coordinates are estimates of the actual locations.
NA: Not Analyzed
ND: Not Detected above Reporting Limit (RL)
E. Coli: Red 10,000 col / 100ml, Orange > 1,260 col / 100ml, Yellow > 235 col / 100ml, Black < 235 col / 100ml
Entero: Red 1,000 col / 100ml, Orange > 350 Yellow > 61 col / 100ml, Black < 61 col / 100ml
NH3: Red >6 mg / L, Orange > 0.5 mg / L, Yellow > 0.25 mg / L, Black < 0.25 mg / L
Cl2: Red 1.0 mg / L, Orange > 0.3 mg / L, Yellow > 0.02 mg / L, Black < 0.02 mg / L
Surfactants: Red > 1.0 mg / L, Orange > 0.5 mg / L, Yellow > 0.25 mg / L, Black < 0.25 mg / L (may give false positive at salinity greater than 1 ppt)
PPCPs: Dark Pink = 100x the RL; Pink 10x the RL; Light Light Pink 3x the RL; No Pink < 3x the RL
EPA notes while there are currently no numerical standards to compare pharmaceutical results against, it is EPA's experience that acetaminophen is the single best bacterial source
tracking compound of those listed above, and any detection of this compound may indicate a source of sanitary sewage. With respect to all of the above compounds, when a sanitary sewage
source is present, depending on the type of source, distance from the sample location, and the strength of the source, concentrations of these compounds may range from the low ng / l range
up to thousands of ng / L.
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IX. Appendix
Appendix A: Photograph Log
End of Report
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Appendix A
Photograph Log
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RING
SWAMP01 (right) taken on 06/16/2021 at 7:38 AM: Box culvert outfall of Stacey Brook on
the Town of Swampscott side discharging into Nahant Bay via King's Beach. Sample point is
indicated by a red arrow.
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SWAMP11 (photograph taken on 06/16/2021, camera recorded inaccurate time): Outfall
located on Fisherman's Beach discharging into Nahant Bay. Sample point is indicated by a red
arrow.
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SWAMP13 (photograph taken on 06/16/2021, camera recorded inaccurate time): Outfall
located on Fisherman's Beach discharging into Nahant Bay. Note the green algae growth
downstream of the outfall. Sample point is indicated by a red arrow.
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