A. 
Since the majority of homes in Standish use wells for their water supply, a major concern is to ensure that new development does not adversely affect the groundwater supply.
B. 
Since aquifer recharge areas are an integral part of providing individuals who live in Standish with the highest quality drinking water, preventing pollution or contamination of these areas is a priority.
C. 
And finally, since current State Plumbing Code does not provide for adequate protection of all types of wetlands, such as wooded wetlands, and since the Comprehensive Plan adopted by the Standish Town Council on January 14, 1992, identifies over a dozen goals associated with protecting the drinking water in the Town of Standish from possible contamination, the Town Council finds that further protection of the natural environment from large-scale septic systems is necessary.
D. 
Therefore, this article is enacted to establish regulations to control the location, design, construction and monitoring of septic systems over 2,000 gallons per day capacity in Standish.
A. 
After the effective date of this article, all new septic systems of 2,000 to 4,999 gallons per day capacity shall be engineered and shall be subject to site plan review by the Planning Board pursuant to Part 2 of this chapter. The Planning Board shall require an independent peer review, the cost of which shall be borne by the applicant. Where the Planning Board finds that such a peer review is insufficient, the Planning Board, at its discretion, may require a more comprehensive and independent engineering review, in lieu of a peer review, the cost of which shall be borne by the applicant.
B. 
After the effective date of this article, all new septic systems over 5,000 gallons per day capacity shall be engineered systems and shall be subject to site plan review by the Planning Board under Part 2 of this chapter; for all such systems, an independent engineering review shall be required, and the cost of the same shall be borne by the applicant.
C. 
Replacement of systems with capacity exceeding 2,000 gallons per day in existence as of August 1, 1995, shall be exempt from any or all provisions of this Article XIIA unless the replacement system's capacity is increased over that of the existing system, in which case this Article XIIA shall fully apply.
A. 
In addition to any other requirements imposed as a part of the site plan review process, the Planning Board shall require postconstruction monitoring as a condition of approval of all systems over 2,000 gallons per day capacity. The level of monitoring shall be based upon proximity to existing residential developments, wells for drinking water, aquifers, wetlands (including but not limited to wooded wetlands), lakes, ponds, rivers and other water bodies.
B. 
The type, frequency and duration of such monitoring, as well as the identity of the person or firm performing such monitoring, shall be decided by the Planning Board in consultation with the applicant. The cost of such consultation shall be borne by the applicant.
A. 
As a part of the site plan review process, the Planning Board shall require the applicant to obtain liability insurance to remain in full force and effect during the useful life of the septic system. For the purposes of determining the amount of liability insurance, the Planning Board shall request a construction cost estimate from the Portland Water District or qualified consultant to provide water to any home within one-fourth-mile radius of the proposed septic system. The amount of the insurance policy shall be for no less an amount than that estimate provided by the Water District or consultant, plus 10%. The Town of Standish shall also be named as an additional named insured on such insurance policy.
B. 
Effective date. Based upon environmental threat posed by any such large-capacity septic system, and notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, this article shall apply to any application for a septic system of 2,000 gallons per day or greater capacity submitted on or after March 1, 1996.