MARION — The Town of Marion received an additional $250,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for the ongoing lagoon lining project on Tuesday, Dec. 13, Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett) announced.

“This project in Marion is an environmental plus for the town and Buzzards Bay,” said Straus in a press release. 

In 2018, Straus authored a targeted legislative earmark to a state climate bill to secure funding for the lagoon re-lining. 

“I am glad to have successfully helped the town secure this added state funding for an additional $250,000 to help defray the costs borne by sewer users in Marion. This vital project provides the benefit of a better sewer treatment facility in Marion.”

The lagoons are shallow pits located on Benson Brook Road that hold sewage prior to treatment in the nearby wastewater treatment plant. 

In 2010 the Buzzards Bay Coalition and the Town of Marion ran a study that confirmed the lagoons were unlined and were contaminating the underlying groundwater.

Following that report, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Buzzards Bay Coalition led a call for the town to line the lagoons.

The Buzzards Bay Coalition later filed suit against the town in January 2018 for violations of the Clean Water Act.

The case was dropped in July 2019 when the town entered into an agreement with the EPA that required the town to line Lagoon One, the first of three lagoons used by the town. 

Once the lagoon is lined, it can go back into use again.

The original 2018 state funding authorization was for $2 million. With this payment Marion will have received $1,250,000. 

One lagoon is already completely drained, and sludge at the bottom of the lagoon has been excavated. Now, a lining has to be installed to prevent wastewater from contaminating groundwater in the area.  

When the lagoon project is completed, the town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant and lagoon system will be in line with the latest EPA and state Department of Environmental Protection mandates.