Town of Boxford, MA Small Package Wastewater Treatment Plants

No portion of the WWTP shall be located less than the following distances stated to the components listed as follows (in feet):

Component	Subsurface Tank (feet)	Leaching Area (feet)
Well	100	See Note a
Dwelling unit	50	100
Property boundary	100	100
Water body	100	300
Wetland	100	See Note b

NOTES:
a.	One hundred feet minimum, 150 feet in soils with a percolation rate of less than five minutes per inch, or the Zone 1 radius of a public water supply, whichever is greater.
b.	One hundred feet minimum, 150 feet in soils with a percolation rate of less than five minutes per inch.

These distances may be changed by the BOH depending on the findings of the hydrogeological evaluation.

Preliminary plan.

Prior to submitting final drawings and specifications for a WWTP, the owner shall submit to the BOH a preliminary plan for the proposed WWTP which includes all components of the system, including types and sizing of holding/septic tanks (primary treatment); advanced pretreatment, such as but not limited to media filters (secondary treatment); enhanced secondary treatment, including nitrogen removal and disinfection methods, such as ultraviolet or ozone treatment; and details on the final dispersal area/leaching field. The plan shall be presented to the BOH at a regularly scheduled meeting. The BOH will have up to 30 days to evaluate and give preliminary approval to the plan following said meeting unless the Board decides to hire an independent consultant to evaluate the system as described in § 201-5.4E(2) of this regulation.

At its discretion, the BOH may contract the services of an independent consultant to evaluate compliance of a proposed WWTP with this regulation. Said consultant shall be compensated for all costs by the WWTP applicant. If an independent consultant is used, the Board shall have 30 days after the consultant issues written recommendations or a report to give preliminary approval.

WWTP subsurface leaching facilities.

No WWTP leaching facility or discharge from that facility will be allowed within the Zone 1 of a public water supply source, or the six-month groundwater travel time distance to the public water supply source, whichever is larger.

The bottom interface of the WWTP leaching facility shall be no less than five feet above the maximum elevation of the groundwater or saturated soil zone. This elevation shall be calculated after adding the effect of groundwater mounding to the high groundwater elevation as determined pursuant to 310 CMR 15.103(3).

In the case where the earth removal site coincides with the approved site for a subsurface sewage disposal system, the ten-foot excavation limit of § 205-4E(4)(a) is waived for that site.

The bottom of the WWTP leaching facility shall be located a minimum of 10 feet above the elevation of bedrock or impervious soil layer. "Impervious soil" is defined as having as percolation rate of greater than 20 minutes per inch.

(5)

A depth of at least five feet of naturally occurring permeable soil shall be maintained below the bottom of the leaching area. "Permeable soil" is defined as having a percolation rate of 20 minutes per inch or less.

(6)

A distribution valve or equivalent device shall be used to allow direction of effluent to specific zones of the leaching facility as part of normal operations.

Effluent testing. The effluent resulting after enhanced secondary treatment of the wastewater shall be tested for the parameters listed in Table 1:

Monthly for the first three months of initial occupancy and then every six months.

Testing shall be performed by a MEPA certified analysis laboratory.

Table 1 Maximum Allowable Parameter Limits Effluent and Monitoring Well Samples
Parameter	Units	Limit^a
Field parameters
Temperature	Degrees C	NS^b
Specific conductivity	mS/cm^c	NS
Dissolved oxygen	mg/L	NS
pH	units	6.5-8.5
Biological oxygen demand	mg/L	30
Inorganics
Alkalinity as CaCO₃	mg/L	NS
Chloride	mg/L	250^d
Total cyanide	mg/L	0.2^e
Nitrate as nitrogen	mg/L	10
Sulfate	mg/L	250^d
Total dissolved solids	mg/L	500^d
Dissolved metals
Arsenic	mg/L	0.01
Cadmium	mg/L	0.005
Calcium	mg/L	NS
Chromium	mg/L	0.1
Copper	mg/L	1.3
Iron	mg/L	0.3^d
Lead	mg/L	0.015
Manganese	mg/L	0.05^d
Mercury	mg/L	0.002
Sodium	mg/L	20^d
Zinc	mg/L	5^d
Microbial
Total coliforms	cfu/100mL^f	200^g, 0^h
Fecal coliforms¹	cfu/100mL	200^g,0^h

NOTES:
^a	From Drinking Water Standards & Guidelines for Chemicals in Massachusetts Drinking Water, 2017 and DEP Guidelines for Small Wastewater Treatment Plants, 2018.
^b	No standard.
^c	mS/cn = milliSiemens/centimeter.
^d	SMCL = secondary maximum contaminant level concentration.
^e	MMCL = standard for free cyanide.
^f	cfu = colony forming units.
^g	Effuent.
^h	Monitoring wells.
ⁱ	No testing required if TC = 0.

System inspection. A Title 5 inspection shall be carried out on the WWTP every three years and the results from said inspection sent to the BOH within 30 days of the inspection (310 CMR 15.301).

WWTP discharging from 5,000 to 9,999 gpd.

WWTPs discharging from 5,000 to 9,999 gpd shall install groundwater monitoring wells based on the hydrogeological evaluation as follows:

One up-gradient cluster of two monitoring wells.

Two down-gradient clusters of two monitoring wells.

One monitoring well for groundwater level near the center of the leaching/dispersal field.

Each monitoring well cluster shall contain one well screened in shallow overburden across the water table, and one well screened in a deep portion of the overburden.

Screen depths for the cluster wells shall be set at elevations such that at least one of the wells will yield samples at the time of seasonal low groundwater (e.g., September).

The number of wells may be changed based on the results from mounding and the hydrogeological studies.

(5)

The location of the ground water monitoring wells shall be approved by the BOH prior to installation.

(6)

Ground water monitoring wells shall be installed according to DEP requirements (e.g., Standard References for Monitoring Wells (WSC-310-91), and DEP DRMR Supplement, January 1999).

(7)

The parameters listed in Table 1 will be measured on samples withdrawn from the up-gradient and two down-gradient wells. The BOH reserves the right to require additional testing if deemed necessary for parameters such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds), SOCs (synthetic organic compounds), and other parameters as detailed in 310 CMR 22.00, the Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations.

Testing shall be performed by a MEPA certified analysis laboratory.

Testing of all parameters shall be carried out according to the following schedule: one, six, and 12 months after the WWTP becomes operational; thereafter, every April and September (twice annually).

The BOH may require additional testing if it concludes that any parameter indicates a potential problem with the WWTP.

§ 201-5.5 Reports.

The owner of the WWTP or the owner's designated representative as identified to the BOH shall be responsible for submitting all analysis and inspection reports to the BOH within 30 days of the analysis or investigation. Any disruption or damage to the system will be reported immediately to the BOH or, if outside of normal working hours, to the Boxford Communications Department, 978-887-8136, or, in the event of an emergency, 911. The owner shall maintain a record of all analyses, inspections, and any disruptions of the WWRP in a readily accessible location, and make such record available to the BOH upon request.

§ 201-5.6 Modifications or changes to approved operations and monitoring.

Any proposed modification or changes to the approved operations and monitoring of the WWTP shall be made in writing to the BOH by the owner of the WWTP or the owner's designated representative. No changes shall be made until the BOH has reviewed and approved the proposed changes. The BOH may request a presentation from the owner or owner's representative about the proposed changes at a scheduled meeting of the Board. The BOH reserves the right to modify or disapprove any proposed changes.

§ 201-5.7 Private ownership certification.

The owner shall be responsible for the operation of the facility, including reporting, monitoring, maintenance, repair and replacement of the WWTP. This owner shall be identified in writing to the BOH together with documents proving ownership or assigned responsibility of the WWTP from the owner.

The owner shall not change organizational arrangements, nor sell, assign, or transfer the WWTP without the prior written approval of the BOH.

The owner shall own or control the land on which the WWTP is located, and shall own or control land or obtain easements that provide access to:

The land on which the WWTP is located;

The wastewater collection system and any associate appurtenances;

All land within 100 feet of any component of the collection system; and

The land area surrounding the disposal system that is essential to system operation and maintenance.

The owner shall certify to the BOH and the Town of Boxford that each stakeholder in the WWTP owner organization shall share the financial and operational responsibility for the WWTP.

The obligation of all stakeholders to share in the financial and operational responsibilities for the WWTP shall include, without limitation, the obligation to establish, fund and maintain a financial assurance mechanism that provides for an immediate repair and replacement account.

§ 201-5.8 General operating conditions.

No discharge authorized in the permit shall cause or contribute to a violation of 314 CMR 4.00: Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards.

Duty to comply. The owner shall comply at all times with the terms and conditions of the permit granted by the BOH to operate the WWTP.

WWTP reliability. The WWTP shall be planned and designed so as to provide for maximum reliability at all times. The WWTP shall be capable of operating satisfactorily during power failures, flooding, peak loads, equipment failure, and maintenance shutdowns. Such reliability shall be achieved through the use of design techniques which will result is a facility that is virtually fail-safe.

Best management practices or BMP. The WWTP shall be operated according to best management practices and will include schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices designed to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the commonwealth. BMPs include treatment requirements, operating procedures, structures, devices and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage, or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage.

Proper operation and maintenance. The owner shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and equipment installed or used to achieve compliance with the terms and conditions of the WWTP permit. All equipment shall be maintained in an acceptable condition for its intended use. The owner shall utilize a certified wastewater facility operator (as defined in Massachusetts 257 CMR 2.00) for all operations carried out at the WWTP.

Duty to halt or reduce activity. Upon reduction, loss, or failure of the WWTP, the owner shall, to the extent necessary to maintain compliance with its permit, control production, discharges, or both, until the facility is restored or an alternative method of treatment is provided. The owner may not raise as a defense in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of the permit.

Power failure. In order to maintain compliance with the effluent limitations and prohibitions of the permit, the owner shall either:

Provide an alternative power source, such as an emergency generator, sufficient to operate the wastewater control facilities;

Halt, reduce or otherwise control production or all discharges upon the reduction, loss, or failure of the primary source of power to the wastewater control facilities.

Duty to mitigate. The owner shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any adverse impact on human health or the environment resulting from noncompliance with the permit. Additionally, the owner shall take all necessary steps to prevent an operational upset of the WWTP.

Duty to provide information. The owner and any operator of the permitted WWTP shall furnish to the BOH within a reasonable time as specified by the BOH any information which the BOH may request to determine whether cause exists for modifying, suspending, revoking and reissuing, or terminating the permit, or to determine whether the owner is complying with the terms and conditions of the permit.

Inspection and entry. The owner shall allow the BOH or its authorized representatives to:

Enter upon the owner's premises where a regulated facility or activity is located or conducted, or where records required by the permit are kept;

Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must be kept under the conditions of the permit;

Inspect at reasonable times any facilities, equipment, practices, or operations regulated or required under the permit; and

Sample or monitor at reasonable times for the purpose of determining compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit.

The owner shall physically secure the treatment works and monitoring wells and limit access to the treatment works and monitoring wells only to those personnel required to operate, inspect and maintain the treatment works and to collect samples.

The owner shall identify each monitoring well by permanently affixing to the steel protective casing of the well a tag with the identification number listed in the permit.

Recordkeeping.

The owner shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, copies of all reports required by the permit, and all records of all data used to complete the application for the permit, for a period of at least five years from the date of the sample, measurement, report or application. This period may be extended by request of the BOH at any time. Records of monitoring information shall include without limitation:

The date, exact place (such as well number), time of the sampling or measurements;

The individual(s) who performed the sampling or measurement;

The date(s) analyses were performed;

(d)

The individual(s) who performed the analyses;

(e)

The analytical techniques or methods used; and

(f)

The results of such analyses.

The owner shall make and retain for a period of at least five years records of all operations carried out at the WWTP, including routine maintenance, repairs, and emergency operations. Records shall include:

The date, time and nature of the operation.

The individual(s) who performed the operation.

The length of time the WWTP was shut down if at all.

(d)

A description on what was done during the operation and the end result.

Prohibition of bypassing. Except as provided in 314 CMR 5.16(13), bypassing is prohibited and the BOH may take enforcement action against an owner for bypassing unless:

The bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;

There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if the owner could have installed adequate backup equipment to prevent a bypass which occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; or

The owner submitted notice of the bypass to the BOH:

In the event of an anticipated bypass, at least 10 days in advance, if possible; or