The MWRA moved on Mazzone's mandate by upgrading and expanding the scope of the primary wastewater treatment operations--those processes that remove most solid matter, sludge, and acute toxins from wastewater--on Deer Island.

And in 1990, the MWRA began construction of entirely new facilities there.

This would finally allow the phasing out of the decrepit Nut Island plant, but would also result in the first of several water and sewer rate increases that would eventually more than triple rates region-wide.

Beginning in 1995, when the new primary waste treatment facilities were completed, the MWRA moved to expand Deer Island's capacity still further.

In this round of additions, the Deer Island facility was upgraded to secondarily treat all wastewater--thus fulfilling one of the Clean Water Act's original mandates--to remove 85 percent of carbonaceous oxygen-depleting matter, bacteria and suspended solids before re-releasing the treated water through outfall pipes into Boston Harbor.

Secrets to Success

According to James S. Hoyte, former Massachusetts secretary of environmental affairs, and current assistant to President Neil L. Rudenstine, establishing the independent role of the MWRA was one of the most important parts of the harbor revitalization.

"The system deteriorated in the past because elected politicians were unwilling to fund the maintenance and construction to keep the system operating efficiently and effectively," Hoyte says.