SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board discussed potential options for cleaning up King’s Beach.
Regarding the much-needed cleanup, board member Maryellen Fletcher asked Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald, “Are there any local scientists, like marine biology type of scientists on here?”
“We don’t. We don’t have marine biologists,” Fitzgerald said. “But we have worked with a number of state agencies that have marine biologists.”
Some potential methods mentioned at the meeting were UV light disinfection and the extension of outfall deeper into the ocean. These were the two most hopeful looking options according to a chart explained by Fitzgerald.
When choosing how to approach the disaster that is the bacteria at King’s Beach, Fitzgerald laid out different decision-making criteria. Public acceptance topped the chart, weighing in at 25 percent, and efficacy was a close second at 23.7 percent.
“Most of the pipes in and around the King’s Beach area are made out of clay and they’re cracked,” highlighted Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald is also a part of the Steering Committee, which is looking deeper into UV light disinfection. He announced that “Next Wednesday there’s a group of stakeholders heading down to Newport, Rhode Island to meet with members of the Departments of Public Works where they have invested in a UV disinfection system at a magnitude of the size we need.”
Swampscott and Lynn both support the use of sewer rehabilitation as a way to eliminate some of the contamination, but believe that it cannot act as the only solution.
Board member Peter Spellios chimed in saying, “I appreciate that we keep using the word ‘beach,’ but we should just really use the word ‘coastline.’ Beach is secondary to being a coastline. I appreciate that we’re thinking about how many people would use the beach — but even if no one could use the beach — it’s an environmental public health problem.”
Bacteria still seems to be a major issue plaguing the Swampscott waters.
Dorothy Irrera can be reached at [email protected].
