[Adopted 6-11-1981]
A. 
All sewage disposal works hereafter constructed, altered, installed or repaired shall be of approved material and design. No part of the actual leaching works shall be located less than:
(1) 
Twenty feet from any dwelling.
(2) 
Ten feet from the line of any street, court or passageway.
(3) 
Ten feet from an adjoining lot line.
(4) 
One hundred feet from a private water supply or suction line therefrom.
(5) 
One hundred feet from any known source of water supply or tributory thereto.
(6) 
Fifty feet for a single dwelling or 100 feet for a multiple dwelling from an open stream or watercourse, not tributary to a public water supply.
(7) 
Ten feet from and 18 inches below any drinking water supply line under pressure.
B. 
Wherever possible, the leaching works should not be located under paved areas or ledge which has fissures and from which a water supply is obtained. No part of the actual leaching works should extend into groundwater during any season of the year.
C. 
Construction, alteration, installing and repair of such works shall be permitted at a time when the ground is frozen, provided such ground is frozen less than 12 inches in depth and all frozen material is removed and replaced with unfrozen, clean material. Work in the leaching area shall be complete and inspected in one day. A permit for such work shall be obtained from the Board of Health.
D. 
The site of the works should permit gravity flow from the dwelling and one from which surface drainage is away from all sources of water supply. All portions of the system shall be constructed of durable material and with watertight joints, if located within 100 feet of a well or suction line from a well; 100 feet from any water supply or its tributaries; 10 feet from any drinking water supply line under pressure.
Individual sewage disposal systems must conform with the following specifications:
A. 
House sewer. The house sewer must be at least four inches in diameter, cast-iron pipe with properly caulked lead joints, laid with a minimum grade of 1% (1/8 inch per foot) but preferably 2% (1/4 inch per foot is desirable).
B. 
Septic tank. All septic tanks hereafter installed shall have an effective capacity of at least 1,000 gallons and shall be constructed of concrete; the inlet and outlet shall be provided with a sanitary tee or equivalent baffle, extending 10 inches below the flow line on the inlet and 15 inches on the outlet. Access openings (manholes or cleanouts) shall be provided over each inlet and outlet, and each tank shall be provided with at least one manhole (with a minimum diameter of 16 inches to permit maintenance and cleaning out of the tank). The top of the manholes and cleanouts shall be made watertight and be extended where necessary to between 12 inches to 18 inches below the ground surface.
C. 
Distribution box. A distribution box of approved material and design, with an access cover, must be provided for each installation and shall be installed in a manner satisfactory to the Board of Health. The inverts of all outlets shall be level and shall be at least two inches below the invert of the inlet.
D. 
Absorption field. The size of the absorption field required shall be determined on the basis of the number of bedrooms and facilities provided in the dwelling and the results of percolation tests conducted. Disposal fields for residential construction shall have a minimum area of 800 square feet.
(1) 
Absorption field design for leaching trenches.
(a) 
Minimum number of lines: two.
(b) 
Maximum length of individual lines: 100 feet.
(c) 
Uniform trench width throughout field: 18 inches to 36 inches.
(d) 
Minimum depth of pipe cover: 18 inches.
(e) 
Grade of pipe lines: two inches to four inches per 100 feet.
(f) 
Minimum stone fill under pipe: 12 inches.
(g) 
The large stone in the trench from the top to 12 inches below the pipe shall be washed gravel, crushed stone or clean bank-run gravel, between 3/4 inch and 2 1/2 inches in size, and shall be free of fines, dust or clay.
(h) 
The two-inch layer of stone on top of the large stone, to support the backfill, shall be clean gravel or crushed stone 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch in size.
(i) 
The ends of all leaching pipes should be sealed with concrete.
(2) 
The absorption area for trenches shall not be less than 800 square feet.
(3) 
Modification of absorption field design for seepage beds. The size of the absorption field shall be determined in the same manner as that for leaching trenches, but no less than 800 square feet.
(a) 
The bottom of the bed and distribution tile shall have a relatively level grade.
(b) 
Lines shall be spaced not less than six feet on center and greater than three feet from the bed sidewall.
(c) 
Where more than one bed is used, there shall be a minimum of six feet of undisturbed earth between adjacent beds.
A. 
Percolation tests and maximum groundwater elevation determinations shall be restricted to the period from December 1 of a given year through April 30 of the following year; and said tests and determinations shall not be allowed during said period if the total precipitation for the 30 days preceding the day of the test is less than 75% of the average precipitation for that period. The data used in determining the current precipitation and the total average precipitation period shall be obtained from the ten-year averages of a given month as compiled by the National Weather Service in Boston, Massachusetts.
B. 
Soil with a percolation rate of over 20 minutes per inch shall be considered unsuitable for the subsurface disposal of sewage.
C. 
At least three percolation tests shall be performed at the site of each disposal area; two in the primary disposal field area and one in the area proposed for possible expansion of the system.
D. 
An initial percolation test over 10 minutes per inch shall require a minimum four-hour soaking period and overnight swelling of the test hole as detailed in Title 5 of the State Environmental Code. In cases where colloidal material is suspected within the subsoil, a soak-and-swell period shall be required by the Board of Health regardless of the initial percolation rate.
E. 
Construction in fill. In the location of an individual sewage disposal system in an area requiring fill, such filling shall be done as required in Title 5 of the State Environmental Code before a permit shall be issued.
Wherever possible, all individual sewage disposal works shall be located in the front of lots to facilitate connection to the public sewage collection system.
Detailed engineering plans and test results shall be submitted in duplicate with the application provided by the Board of Health to construct or alter during initial construction of an individual disposal system.
A. 
A plot plan with a scale of one inch equals 20 feet shall be submitted and shall include a locus plan in sufficient detail to permit later location of the property with reference to town streets, adjacent lots by address, and any waterways within 200 feet from the lot line.
B. 
The plot plan shall indicate the location and size of the structure, boundary lines, perimeter and subsurface drains, retaining walls, driveways, existing topography of the land before excavation or preparation of the site, proposed final grading contours in the immediate area of the leaching system and accurate ties from the property bounds or other fixed references for the later location of the components of the system. The plot plan shall also indicate the permanent benchmark used for establishment of topography and shall show the location of two prominent, temporary, local benchmarks for use during construction and inspection. Locations of percolation test pits, leaching field, septic tank, and proposed water supply lines shall be given relative to these benchmarks. This benchmark or system of benchmarks shall be used at the time of groundwater testing and percolation tests. Under no circumstances should groundwater or percolation test data be referenced to existing ground grade at the time of testing. Final plans must include triangulation fix from corners of the house to the distribution box and septic tank.
C. 
Elevations at all significant parts of the system shall be shown on the plot plan, beginning with the elevation of the sewer pipe leaving the building and continuing through the system and designating the elevation of the bottom of the bed, stone, distribution pipes and distribution box. No deviation from the planned elevations of the system shall be permitted, and the use of the sill of a building not yet constructed as a reference point shall not be permitted.
D. 
The primary disposal area constitutes that area constructed therein for immediate use. The plot plan shall designate an area equal in size to the primary absorption field and which meets all the distance requirements required of the primary field, This area must be free of prohibitive features, including, but not limited to, ledge, driveways, and outbuildings. An interceptor drain may be required for efficient operation of this expansion field.
E. 
Percolation tests and groundwater elevation determinations shall be observed by an authorized agent or member of the Board of Health. Results of these tests must be filed with the Board within 60 days either as part of an application for a disposal field construction permit or as a separate report, certified by a sanitary engineer or registered sanitarian, and including test date and signatures of the performing parties. Test results will be considered invalid two years after the date of performance, but the Board may require further tests if the water table or drainage patterns in the area may have been influenced by local drainage, other changes, or building activities.
F. 
No deviation from the approved plot plan shall be enacted without prior notice to and approval of the Board of Health. Any deviation enacted without approval of the Board shall be subject to revocation of permit. Any licensed installer who deviates from the approved plan may be subject to revocation of his/her installer's permit.
G. 
Drainage. An individual disposal system shall be located in such a manner that no surface water will accumulate, and interceptors or other provisions shall be required to minimize the flow of water over the disposal field and also from the disposal field into any area of the neighboring land. In any instance where interceptor drains are required to remove surface water and/or lower the water table, such drain shall be installed and the area then retested for water level and percolation rates.
H. 
The person responsible for the construction, repair or alteration of an individual sewage disposal system shall have such construction inspected by the Board of Health before such construction is covered, and such covering shall thereafter be applied in a manner approved by the Board of Health. This final inspection shall include determination of proper grades and elevations within the system in accordance with the approved plan.
I. 
All trees and stumps must be removed within a distance of 10 feet from the perimeter of the primary bed.
J. 
The issuance of the certificate of compliance shall not be construed as a guarantee that the system will function satisfactorily.
All persons engaged in the practice of pumping out individual sewage disposal installations shall be licensed annually by the Board of Health. The license fee is $10, and the license shall expire in December of the same year issued, but may be renewed annually by the Board of Health.
Every owner, occupant or agent of premises in which there is any private sewer, drain, privy vault, septic tank, or cesspool shall keep the same in a sanitary condition and shall have every privy vault, septic and cesspool emptied and cleaned when necessary or at such times as ordered by the Board of Health. No privy vault, septic tank or cesspool shall be emptied except by such parties licensed by the Board of Health. If the owner, or occupant fails to comply with such order, the Board of Health may cause the nuisance source of filth or cause of sickness to be removed, and all expenses incurred thereby shall be paid by the person who caused or permitted the same if he has had actual notice from the Board of Health of the existence thereof.
Whenever a water closet, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or drain becomes offensive or obstructed, the owner, agent or occupant of the premises shall cause same to be cleaned or otherwise corrected.
No person shall use equipment to remove or transport the contents of privies, cesspools, or septic tanks or other offensive substances unless such equipment has first been inspected and approved by the Board of Health.
A. 
Inspection. Equipment shall be inspected annually and shall carry a certificate of approval issued by the Board of Health.
B. 
Hydrostatic test. A certificate of a hydrostatic test made within three years shall be presented at the time of inspection of equipment.
C. 
Mobile tank. Mobile tanks shall be securely mounted on trucks. They shall be watertight and provided with a leakproof cover and tight discharge valves.
D. 
Venting of mobile tanks. Mobile tanks shall be provided with a vent constructed in a manner that will permit the escape of gas, but not the liquid contents of the tank.
E. 
Hose. Suction or pressure hose shall be in good repair. A minimum of 50 feet of hose shall be provided.
F. 
Pumps. Pumps shall be maintained in a condition that will prevent the leakage of sewage. A portable pump shall be provided for transporting sewage more than 50 feet. An automatic pump or an internal alarm shut-off shall be provided to prevent overfilling.
G. 
Vehicles. Vehicles shall be painted a light color and shall be maintained in a clean condition.
A. 
The Board of Health may vary the application of any provisions of these regulations (except where expressly forbidden by Title 5 of the Environmental Code) with respect to any particular case when, in its opinion:
(1) 
The enforcement thereof would do manifest injustice; and
(2) 
The applicant has proved that the same degree of environmental protection required under the regulation can be achieved without strict application of the particular provision.
B. 
Any variance granted by the Board of Health shall be in writing and conform to the various regulations in Chapters 20 and 21 of Title 5 of the Environmental Code of the commonwealth.
If any paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this regulation shall be declared invalid for any reason whatsoever, the decision shall not affect any other portion of these rules and regulations, which shall remain in full force and effect; and to this end the provisions of these rules and regulations are hereby declared severable.