A point of discussion was the septic system at a property on Janine Street, where representatives from Zenith Consulting Engineers presented a plan involving a septic tank replacement instead of a full system overhaul. The well associated with the property failed due to nitrate levels, which were measured at 5.12 and required annual testing to ensure they remained below the maximum allowable limit of 10. The discussion revealed concerns about a lack of notification to the Board of Health prior to the Title 5 inspection, which prevented oversight and contributed to the misalignment between inspection results and water testing outcomes. The Board considered sending a letter to inspectors to clarify notification requirements for future compliance.

Another property at Bailey’s Way was also reviewed for a septic system upgrade, involving a 1,500-gallon micro fast tank installation. The Board examined requests for setback reductions and technical adjustments, such as increasing the depth over the system from three to four feet to avoid installing a pump system. The Board expressed concerns about the proximity of a downgradient well and the adequacy of its testing, highlighting the need for careful consideration of water contamination risks. The use of geotextile fabric instead of traditional stone was debated, with opinions split on its effectiveness under Title 5 regulations.

In a related discussion, a property at One Bailey’s Way faced challenges due to the high elevation required for the vent installation, complicating the proper backflow setup. The Board required a well test before proceeding with approval, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that water contamination risks were minimized.

The meeting also addressed a local upgrade request for a property on Taunton Street, which involved reducing the required depth to groundwater due to complications from an existing pipeline’s lower-than-expected elevation. The representative from Outback Engineering highlighted the impracticality of making structural changes to correct the elevation, and the Board agreed to approve the request contingent on a revised letter ensuring the correct setback distance from wells.