[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Town of Groton 11-26-2001;
amended in its entirety 8-20-2007. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
A.
The Board of Health shall require that each individual
lot shall meet all applicable requirements of Title V and the Groton Board
of Health. Two groundwater observation holes and two percolation tests must
be performed on each lot to prove a suitable primary and expansion area for
each lot. This requirement shall also apply to a subdivision for which a preliminary
or definitive plan has been submitted.
B.
Deep observation holes for the determination of groundwater
elevations may be performed during the months of March and April. Use of holes
conducted in months other than March and April will be limited to Class II
and Class III soils, with a percolation rate of greater than five minutes/inch.
Observation holes in March and April may be required by the Board of Health
or its agent at their discretion on all sites.
C.
Deep observation holes must be completely refilled within
12 hours of being witnessed by the Board of Health or its agent.
D.
A lot must be inspected by the Board of Health or its
agent when it is clear of snow before a sewage disposal works construction
permit may be issued.
E.
There must be a minimum of five feet of pervious material
between the bottom of the leaching facility and the groundwater elevation
and/or any impervious layer. The offset above groundwater may be increased
depending upon climatic and/or site conditions encountered.
F.
Well water samples taken as required by 310 CMR 15.303(1)(m)
shall be taken by the Groton Board of Health, the Nashoba Associated Boards
of Health, or a representative from a state-certified water analysis laboratory.
A.
No installation for summer use shall be considered on
any reduced basis. All sewage disposal systems shall be designed for a full
twelve-month year-round usage.
B.
No existing homes shall be subdivided into multiple apartments
without prior approval of the Board of Health.
C.
No additions or alterations to a dwelling and/or structures
will be allowed until it is documented to the satisfaction of the Board of
Health or its agent that the existing sewage disposal system is adequate in
terms of permeability of soils, groundwater, and refusal for a proposed alteration
or addition to an existing dwelling and/or structure, and that the lot size
is large enough to permit a septic system repair or expansion.
D.
Conversion of seasonal residences.
(1)
Conversion of a lawfully seasonal residence for use as
a permitted year-round residence and for which the lot is not conforming to
the lot size standards of the bylaw in effect is subject to the grant of a
special permit by the Board of Appeals. Any application for such a permit
shall be referred to the Board of Health for a report thereon within 35 days
after receipt of the application by the Board of Health.
(2)
A special permit shall be granted only if the Board of
Appeals is assured by the Board of Health that:
(a)
The minimum Standards for Fitness for Human Habitation
(Article II of the State Sanitary Code) and Minimum Requirements for the Disposal
of Sanitary Sewage in Unsewered Areas (Title 5 of the State Environmental
Code) and the rules and regulations of the Board of Health are met or the
Board of Appeals conditions the special permit on meeting such minimum standards;
and
(b)
Such conversion of all seasonal residences in the general
area having lots similar (or less limited) in lot size and land and soil type
characteristics would not result in substantial danger of contamination of
the groundwater supply or of any pond or stream. In making such finding, the
Board of Health shall consider the ability of the soil to absorb expected
quantities of sewage disposal effluent, the degree of filtration of effluent
before entering bedrock fissures or other groundwater supply and other characteristics
of the land soil types.
A.
All plans, including as-built plans, for subsurface sewage
disposal systems submitted to the Board of Health or its agent must be drawn
to a scale of one inch to 20 feet. Design plans shall include a locus plan,
an original stamp, signature and date by the engineer or sanitarian of record,
and a system profile drawn to a scale of one inch equals 20 feet horizontal
and one inch equals eight feet vertical. As-built submissions shall include
at least one copy showing as-built conditions overlaying the design plan.
As-built plans shall include all invert and septic system component elevations,
including pump float elevations, if applicable.
B.
When engineered plans are required, the plans must be
submitted by a registered sanitary engineer; a registered professional engineer
with experience in sanitary engineering or a registered sanitarian with a
co-stamp indicating review of the plan by an engineer meeting the referenced
experience.
C.
When submitting engineered plans to the Board of Health
or its agent for review, if the design firm has not been responsible for the
lot line survey for said lot, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant
to supply to the Board or its agent an official, stamped copy of the survey
plan for the referenced lot.
D.
The sewage disposal system must be located on the same
lot as the facility it is intended to serve; for the purpose of this regulation,
a lot shall not be interconnected by an easement or right-of-way.
E.
The area between trenches shall not be used for future
expansion of a system.
F.
Leaching trenches installed in fill material will require
the use of forms or a trench box when the invert of the pipe of the proposed
trench is above original grade. When the invert elevation of the proposed
trenches is below the original elevation of top and subsoil in the proposed
leach area, then trenches may be constructed without the use of a box or forms,
provided fill has been properly placed and compacted prior to trench construction.
G.
The proposed expansion area must be accessible by gravity
flow or in the same manner that the primary area is designed and/or installed.
H.
At least five feet of naturally occurring materials must
be in place over ledge; fill shall not be used to meet this requirement.
I.
Percolation rates over 14 minutes/inch require leaching
trenches.
J.
Pump systems.
(1)
All force main sewer lines used for effluent pump and
grinder pump systems shall be 160 pounds flex or equal. The force main, once
installed, must be pressure tested at least 15 p.s.i. for 15 minutes prior
to backfill. The force main must be bedded in a minimum of six inches of sand.
(2)
Rail systems, or approved equal, shall be provided for
all pump systems to allow for removal of the pump for maintenance, repair
or replacement.
(3)
Rail systems for pumps up to one horsepower shall consist
of 3/4-inch PVC pipe with steel rebar within for support, or approved equal.
The ends of the pipe are to be sealed to prevent effluent infiltration.
(4)
Rail systems for pumps greater than one horsepower shall
consist of two-inch stainless steel pipe.
(5)
Wiring shall be continuous to the building without the
use of a junction box in the pump chamber. This includes wiring for the pump
and the floats. Any conduit around electric lines shall be caulk-sealed to
prevent liquid or gas entry at both ends of the conduit.
(6)
For effluent pump systems, there shall be a drain hole
to allow effluent to drain back from the force main. The drain hole shall
be installed after the check valve.
(7)
The maintenance of all pump systems, solid or effluent
shall be documented by the design engineer. A copy of the system maintenance
plan shall be provided to the homeowner by the installer and/or builder prior
to occupancy.
K.
Whenever a system must be pumped, the soil absorption
system shall be pressure dosed. For all system designs greater than 2,000
gallons per day, the system shall be inspected per Title 5, 310 CMR 15.254(2)(d),
not less than four times per year.
L.
No component of a sewage disposal system, including but
not limited to the leach area, sewer line, distribution box, distribution
line, septic tank, clean-out or manhole, shall be located under any portion
of a public or private road right-of-way.
M.
Zone III nitrogen loading.
(1)
Any sewage disposal system serving any facility, other
than a residential facility serving two or fewer units, located within a Zone
III Water Resource Protection Area as mapped by the Massachusetts Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) or as designated by the Town of Groton,
shall not receive more than 220 gallons per day of sewage effluent per 10,000
square feet of property area.
(2)
When innovative and alternative treatment is provided,
which is approved by the DEP for the removal of nitrogen, a facility may discharge
up to a total of 275 gallons per day per 10,000 square feet of property area.
(3)
For the purpose of this regulation, only property which
is contiguous and the legal title is held and controlled by the same owner
may be used when calculating nitrogen loading.
A.
Interceptor drains for the purpose of this regulation
shall be defined as any drain installed to lower the groundwater table in
any proposed leach areas.
B.
Interceptor drains shall be installed and subsequently
tested in an approved groundwater season as designated by the Board of Health.
C.
Testing of an interceptor drain will require the excavation
and observation by the Board or its agent of at least three test holes. These
test holes shall be one uphill of the installed drain, one in the proposed
primary area, and one in the proposed expansion area.
D.
The observed test holes must provide definitive evidence
of the drain's effectiveness in lowering the water table.
A.
Leaching facilities (including the proposed expansion
area) must be located at least 100 feet from any wetland, watercourse, wetland
vegetation, seasonal streams and drainage ditches.
B.
When the length of pipe from the house prior to the distribution
box exceeds 100 feet, construction shall comply with 310 CMR 15.222.
C.
A minimum of 10 feet must be available between the primary
and expansion leaching facilities.
D.
A minimum of 25 feet must be available between a failing
percolation test and the entire exterior perimeter of any proposed leach areas.
E.
A minimum of 25 feet (horizontal distance) must be available
between ledge and the entire exterior perimeter of any proposed leach areas.
For the purpose of definition, ledge observed at a depth not in compliance
with Title 5 shall be used to determine the measurement distance.
F.
A minimum of 35 feet must be available between the edge
of any street, passageway or road line and the entire exterior perimeter of
any proposed leach areas.
G.
A minimum of 20 feet must be available between any property
line and the entire exterior perimeter of any proposed leach areas.
H.
The distances required by Title 5 and the Groton Board
of Health are minimum distances and may be increased if, in the opinion of
the Board or its agent, such an increase is required to protect the environment
or the public health.
I.
A minimum of 15 feet must be available between the edge
of a soil absorption system and an adjacent side slope, measured from the
top of the pea stone elevation in the soil absorption system. The finished
side slope is not to be steeper than 3:1 (horizontal-vertical). Walls and
impervious barriers are not allowed to adjust the side slope requirement and
offset.
Leach beds and pits will be sized at 150% of Title 5 requirements. Leaching
areas based on percolation rates greater than 14 minutes/inch shall have a
reserve area of 150% of the primary area.
A.
Holding or tight tanks shall not be used for sewage disposal
in new or remodeled buildings.
B.
Privies, humus and self-contained toilets.
(1)
No privy, humus or self-contained toilet may be used
without the written permission of the Board of Health. Such permission shall
indicate the period of time for which such a facility may be used and in no
case shall exceed one year.
(2)
Permanently installed privies, humus or self-contained
toilets must receive written permission annually from the Board of Health.
A.
The Groton Board of Health may require review of a subsurface
sewage system plan with a discharge of 5,000 gallons or more.
B.
The Board of Health shall select the engineer for this
review, and the cost of the engineer shall be borne by the applicant for this
system.
C.
The engineer shall be a registered professional engineer
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a specialty in sanitary or civil
engineering.
D.
This regulation shall apply to all sewage systems of
this capacity that discharge effluent in the Town of Groton, effective August
20, 2007.
A.
Any request for a variance from these supplemental regulations
shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Health and its agent. The design
plans must accompany the variance request. The request for the variance shall
come from the applicant and/or the applicant's engineer and shall explain
the reason(s) why said variance(s) are requested.
B.
All requests for variances must include a listing of
all variances sought.
C.
All abutters and their abutters must be notified by the
applicant of any variance request by a copy of a variance request letter sent
to their usual place of address, by certified mail, return receipt requested,
at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Return receipts are to be provided
to the Board of Health at the hearing.
The Board of Health reserves the right to revoke any approval, permit
or certificate of compliance which is found to be based on incorrect, incomplete,
or misleading information.
All rules and regulations pertaining to subsurface sewage disposal systems
and any part thereof in conflict with these regulations are hereby repealed,
and these regulations shall be in full force and effect August 20, 2007.
Should any paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of these regulations
be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent
provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions thereof.
Any person aggrieved by the final decision of the Board may seek relief
therefrom pursuant to MGL C. 249, § 4, as otherwise provided by
the laws of this commonwealth.
