[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Town of Blackstone
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-12-1987]
A.
As Title 5 is written, it generally will be an adequate
guideline to protect the public health and the environment concerning the
subsurface disposal of sanitary sewage. However, recent construction and development
in the Town of Blackstone has made it necessary to implement some changes
to ensure that the property of individuals as well as the collective community
is protected against unnecessary health hazards.
B.
The laws and design standards of Title 5, as well as
these supplemental regulations, shall be strictly enforced.
C.
The following shall be considered a supplement to the
regulations set forth in Massachusetts Regulation 310 CMR 15.00, the State
Environmental Code Title 5, Minimum requirements for the subsurface disposal
of sanitary sewer, hereinafter referred to as "Title 5."
D.
Insomuch as Title 5 shall govern the design and installation
of sanitary sewage disposal systems, these supplemental regulations are enacted
to provide more stringent requirements for the Town of Blackstone.
E.
In an effort to ensure public health and environmental
safety, the Town of Blackstone has implemented the necessary changes to Title
5 that shall be considered an integral part of the existing regulations governing
the subsurface disposal of sanitary sewerage.
F.
Other changes have already been made to the Town's Zoning
Regulations.[1] They include increasing the minimum lot size requirement to 28,000
square feet and increasing the minimum frontage to 140 feet, thereby ensuring
adequate area for a disposal system and reserve system area if necessary.
Referring again to Title 5, the following revisions shall be incorporated
and made standard requirements for the Town of Blackstone.
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15.01: DEFINITIONS
MAXIMUM GROUNDWATER ELEVATION--
Maximum groundwater elevation, as defined in Title 5, shall be determined
by deep observation wells from February 15 to May 15 each year. These dates
are to be considered the standard guidelines but can also be revised yearly
by the Town of Blackstone's Board of Health. The revised dates would be set
in the event of either a wetter than normal or drier than normal season, as
determined by the Board of Health. It shall be the responsibility of the individual(s)
who(m) is applying for a permit to install or alter a disposal system to remain
current with the dates that are applicable. If a normal season is prevalent,
the aforementioned dates shall be used to evaluate the water table elevation.
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15.02: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
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(17)
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CONSTRUCTION IN FILL
[Amended 12-7-1988] |
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Purpose and Authority
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In order to assure a period of time to resolve questions of adequacy
of provisions for healthful disposal of sewage and protection of groundwater
resources, the following limitations are adopted under the authority of Code
of Massachusetts Regulations, 310-15.02, Section 17.
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Applicability
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The following limitation shall become effective upon approval of the
Board of Health and publication of this regulation.
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Construction in fill
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When an individual sewage disposal system is to be constructed wholly
or partially in fill, the fill shall be allowed to settle for a minimum of
12 months prior to construction of septic system or the fill area will be
compacted mechanically (see Section 3).
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If a system is to be built above existing grade for any reason, precautions
shall be taken to ensure that surface runoff is not directed toward an abutting
property. Absolutely no increase in runoff will be allowed to neighboring
lands.
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The new grading requirements will be an eighteen-inch-minimum cover
above all distribution pipe for a distance of 25 feet in all directions. From
the top of the fill, the maximum slope allowed will be one foot vertical to
12 feet horizontal. This slope shall be maintained to meet the existing grade.
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The following describes the construction procedures and type of materials
to be used during fill or backfill of filled sewage disposal fields:
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1.
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Materials
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The fill material shall be clean, coarse, washed sand or other clean
granular material essentially free from clay, fines (no more than 10% passing
the No. 200 sieve), dust, organic matter, large stones, masonry, stumps, frozen
clumps of earth, wood, tree branches and waste construction material; the
used material shall have a percolation rate of less than two minutes per inch
before and after placement.
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2.
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Filling Procedures
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The fill material shall be placed in layers not over eight inches deep.
Each layer of fill is to be wetted, tamped and thoroughly compacted to 95%
of the maximum dry density.
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3.
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Compaction
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Equipment shall be of vehicle with a track-type system only, of at least
10 inches in width and with a weight of at least six tons.
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4.
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Testing
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A.
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Coordinate schedule with Board of Health agent to allow testing agency
representative to be on site during filling and backfilling operations.
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B.
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The contractor shall bear cost of all retesting when initial test results
indicate noncompliance with specifications.
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C.
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Percolation testing shall be required upon completion of the system
and comply with 310 CMR Title 5, Section 15.03: Percolation Test Procedures.
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5.
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Plans and Fees
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A.
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When multiple raised-system lots are to be developed, an overall site
plan shall be required.
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B.
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All proposed septic systems shall be reviewed by the Conservation Commission
for wetlands determination.
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C.
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The Board of Health shall have all multiple adjacent raised-system lots
reviewed by the Blackstone Planning Board for proper drainage and runoff requirements.
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D.
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These septic fields shall be inspected by the Board of Health or its
agent. The Board of Health shall determine the dry season before any construction
of septic systems take place.
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E.
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System profile on the raised-septic-system plans shall show cross sections
of original grade and finish grade.
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F.
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All fees for public hearing shall be paid by the contractor/owner, including
but not limited to engineering fees, advertising, constable-sheriffs, administrative
costs and reasonable attorney fees, if required.
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6.
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Penalty
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A.
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Anyone in violation of these rules and regulations will be subject to
a fine under MGL c. 111, § 31.
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15.03: LOCATION
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(3)
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Deep Observation Holes. The purpose of the deep observation holes is
to determine the character of the soil in the leaching area and specifically
to determine the groundwater elevation and the presence of bedrock or impervious
material.
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On any lot, in the area to be used for leaching, there will be at least
two deep observation holes plus any additional number which, in the opinion
of the Approving Authority, will be necessary to determine the consistency
(or lack thereof) of the character of the soil. The observation holes shall
be examined to a depth of at least seven feet below the bottom of the proposed
leaching facility, but in no case shallower than 10 feet, unless this depth
is unattainable because of bedrock, etc. The groundwater elevation should
be determined when the groundwater is at its maximum elevation, as outlined
in Section 15.01.
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*(This order shall overrule Title 5, which allows the depth of four
feet.)
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LEACHING SYSTEMS: 15.11, 15.12, 15.13, 15.14, 15.15
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The following leaching methods, 15.11, Leaching Pits; 15.12, Leaching
Galleries; 15.13, Leaching Chambers; 15.14, Leaching Trenches, and 15.15,
Leaching Fields, shall comply strictly with Title 5, including the following
revised requirements:
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(1)
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Groundwater: No disposal system shall be constructed in areas where
the maximum groundwater elevation is less than five feet. It shall be mandatory
that all leaching systems shall be installed five feet above the maximum groundwater
elevation. (This order shall overrule Title 5, which allows a groundwater
depth of four feet below a disposal system.)
[Amended 3-7-1990] |
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(2)
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Accessibility
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It shall be a mandatory requirement that all components of a subsurface
disposal system be readily accessible from the finished grade.
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The access shall be through a minimum manhole of 24 inches (inside measurement)
with a readily removable cover made of a durable material.
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This requirement shall apply to all septic tanks, leaching chambers,
leaching galleries and distribution boxes. (The access to a distribution box
only may be decreased to a minimum of 18 inches.)
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