HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-07-12
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Nantucket Board of Health at the
Nantucket High School on Thursday, July 12, 1990 at 7:30 p.m.. All
members of the Board were present with the exception of Ms. Coombs.
Said meeting was a continuation of the public hearing held on May 31,
1990 regarding the Nantucket Water Resources Management Report offered
by Horsely, Wittmen & Hegeman. Mr. Scott Horsely of Horsely, Wittman &
Hegeman Engineers was present. Chairman Grossman commenced the meeting
at 7:32 p.m.
Chairman Grossman introduced Donald Harleman, Professor of Water
Engineering at Massachusetts Institute Technology and resident of
Nantucket Island to explain a brief overview of the scientific resources
of the Horsely report.
Recommendation ~ PRIVATE WELLS. Professor Harleman agreed with
Recommendation #2. He stated the Commonwealth presently requires
100 ft. buffer zone separation between a private well and the septic
system. Professor Harleman stated he believes said buffer zone should
be extended to 300 ft. in the down-gradient direction (120 day travel
time for inactivation of viruses) and that the water table maps show
300 ft. to be an adequate distance.
Recommendation ~ TOXIC AHQ HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Professor
Harleman stated Recommendation #3 is more of a "good housekeeping" set
of rules not based on any quantitative scientific findings.
Recommendation ~ ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM.
Professor Harleman stated Recommendation #4 is concerned with the
distance between the bottom of the leaching facility and the maximum
water table elevation. Professor Harleman pointed out that the
Commonwealth requires a 4 ft. vertical separation between the leach
facility and the water table. According to Professor Harleman, the
projected sea level rise due to global warming will equal the
projected rise in the water table (the fresh water bubble will also
rise). He stated, in the next fifty or more years, the sea level will
increase one to two feet. On this basis, Professor Harleman suggested
changing Section 4D to include the entire island, not just areas within
the projected sea level rise; since, he believes the whole island is
projected to be within the sea level rise. Accordingly, Professor
Harleman stated that Section 2A would be inconsistent and that Section
2B, which would be consistent, would not be needed.
Recommendation ~ ADDITIONAL REGUIREMENTS EQR LARGE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
SYSTEMS. Professor Harleman stated Recommendation #5 proposes
stricter ground water testing measures in order to asssure potable water
quality adjacent to systems in excess of 2000 g.p.d.
Recommendation ~ UP-GRADING aE SUBSTANDARD SYSTEMS. Professor
Harleman stated Recommendation #6 suggests that on-site systems which do
not comply with Commonwealth and Town standards, be brought up to
compliance.
Professor Harleman also reviewed records from the Town of Yarmouth:
In 1960, 250 houses were built and 0 mg/l nitrogen concentration
was found in water supply well.
In 1985, 1,800 houses were built and 4.2 mg/l nitrogen
concentration was found in water supply well.
Comparing 0 mg/liters in 1960 to 4.2 mg/liters ln 1985, 4.2 mg/l is a
substantial increase.
On Nantucket, Professor Harleman stated we can not wait to test for
nitrogen concentration sin~~ ~h~ ~R~~iH~ V~qUiVR~ fi~~ ~o t~n years
for a corresponding increase of nitrogen to accumulate in the wells.
Chairman Grossman opened up the floor to the public hearing for
questions and comments on the recommendations aforementioned.
RECOMMENDATION !Z: PRIVATE WELLS.
Mr. James Cooper inquired as to who was to pay for the testing in
Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Mr. Horsely stated that there was a $50.00 fee
per sample for well testing. He stated the Board of Health would pay
for the the test mandated in Sections 7 and 8; but the private well
owner would pay for the test mandated in Section 6 and the latter part
of 7. Mr. Horsley pointed out that the 8 hours pump test could be done
mechanically instead of by a person.
Mr. Cooper asked if testing required by Sections 5-10 is done by the
well driller, is the homeowner repsonsible?
Mr. Viera inquired if 8 hours was an adequate time for testing. Mr.
Horsely responded that 8 hours was the standard time for testing.
Mrs. Sylvia Howard inquired as to what other towns in the Commonwealth
have these testings done and what is the cost to the townspeople. Mr.
Horsely responded, Wellfleet, Plainfield, Duxbury and Mashpee have
said testings and that in Plainfiled, it costs $200.00 to 300.00;
however, the test could be done for less than $100.00.
Mr. Visco inquired of the Board of Health, where their authority was
to establish said regulations. Mr. Horsely stated MGL Chapter 111
Section 31.
Mr. Bachman stated according to the text of the Recommendation,
permits are required for wells utilized for drinking purposes. He
asked, "Do you need a permit only to drink water and not to bathe?"
Mr. Grossman responded that wells are usually drilled to drink water
among other purposes.
Mr. Leddy suggested the idea of two wells. One well be drilled for
the maximum gallons allowed for drinking only and the second well be
drilled for other purposes.
Mr. Cooper stated that the well driver would test the well when drilling
it and the Board of Health would have to be there at the appropriate
time.
Mr. Ray reiterated that the areas to be tested are the extreme coastal
areas.
Mr. Bruce Poor asked, "How, since there is 50 ft. elevation in Squam
with a substantial amount of clay beneath the top soil, are property
owners to install wells and septic systems with a 300 ft. separation
(because of clay)". Mr. Poor also inquired about salt water intrusion.
Mr. Horsely stated that the land elevation is not as high as the water
elevation and that to exclude any place higher than the 4 ft. water
table elevation. The acquifer protection line heads northerly around
the airport due to the high commercialism in that zone. Mr. Borchert
motioned to delete Section 11; seconded by Mrs. Sevrens. So voted.
Mr. Moretti stated that if a well is up 100 ft. separation from leach
and now to have well close to the shore and leach closer to the road,
the well would end up downgradiant of the leach field; now to reverse
the situation would create many hardships. Mr. Visco suggested
extending the water mains across the island to delete the number of
private wells being installed.
Mr. Borchert voted to accept Recommendation #2; seconded by Mrs.
Sevrens.
Mr. Viera stated that Section 6 should be put in as an exception; but,
he would vote in favor of it.
Mr. Borchert voted to approve Recommendation #2 with the following
amendment to Section 6: change the wording to "outside of the 4 ft.
Acquifer Protection Zone with the exception of the area on the south
shore on Map #2"; seconded by Mrs. Sevrens.
Mr. Bachman stated that this motion makes 1 and 2 acre lots unbuildable.
Mr. Horseley disagreed.
Mr. Moretti stated that if the well is up-gradiant of your septic system
on the lot, it could be down-gradiant of someone else's septic system;
he suggested the Board add 60.05 EFFECTIVE DATE to Recommendation #2.
Mr. Viera suggested 60.05 be the adendum to Recommendation #2. Mr.
Borchert questioned how the Board of Health was going to enforce the
300 ft separation if all existing lots were excluded. Mr. Borchert
stated he wanted to wait to include existing lots. Mr. Ray suggested
the Board not vote in favor of Recommendation #2 at that time. Mr.
Viera withdrew his motion. Mr. Tillotson suggested to table said issue
for one week.
Mr. Grossman, Mr. Borchert and Mrs. Sevrens voted in favor of
Recommendation #2 as amended by Mr. Borchert. Mr. Viera opposed. So
voted.
Recommendation ~ TOXIC AHQ HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.
Mrs. Sevrens motioned to approve Recommendation #3 as stated; seconded
by Mr. Viera. So voted, unaminously.
Recommendation ~: ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS.
Mr. Grossman motioned to add "and any tributary thereto" after Madaket
Harbor in section 3A; seconded by Mr. Viera.
Mr. Borchert motioned to amend Mr. Grossman's motion by adding "and
any open water tributaries only to Madaket and Nantucket Harbors"
following "ponds"; seconded by Mr. Grossman. So voted, unanimously.
Mr. Borchert also motioned to amend Recommendation #4 by adding "as
means to achieve in any floodplain A zone areas defined in flood plain
maps" after "no mounteed system.. .permitted.. ."; seconded by Mr. Viera.
SO voted, unanimously.
Mr. Viera motioned to modify Section 2A from 5 ft. to 6 ft. and to
delete Section 2B, as Professor Harleman suggested; seconded by Mrs.
Sevrens. So voted, unanimously.
Mr. Borchert motioned to add a new section, Section 5, to read as
follows: "Access holes for septic systems and leach pits should be
brought up to grade or at grade for new oonstruction; and, the Cover for
said access holes be a minimum diameter of 18 and be made of medium
weight or heavier cast iron ring and cover" (so that children can not
flip it); seconded by Mr. Viera. So voted, unanimous.
Mrs. Sevrens motioned to approve Recommendation #4 as amended; seconded
by Mr. Viera. So voted, unanimously.
Mr. Grossman asked that Recommendation #6 be addressed before #5 since
the latter only pertained to only one property on the island.
Recommendation ~ UPGRADING aE SUBSTANDARD SYSTEMS.
Health Officer Ray stated that if no septic system record was filed
with the Health Department, the septic tank cover must be found, with
a probe, in order to see (1) what the tank is made of, (2) the size of
the tank, and (3) the length and depth of the leach trench. Mr. Horsely
stated that with the water table rising, the 6 ft separation between the
leaching facilities and the water table may not be able to be met and
perhaps not even the state minimum of 4 ft.; in that case, Mr. Horsley
stated a variance must be sought.
Mr. Borchert motioned to approve Recommendation #5 with the following
amendment: addition of Section #3, "All systems must comply with the
minimum standards of the Commpnwealth or Town at the time of
installation and if there were no standards prior to 1972, the
substandard system must be brought into compliance with Tital V";
seconded by Mr. Viera. So voted, unanimously.
Mr. Ray suggested to include "on-site" in Recommendation #6 title
between "substandard" and "systems".
Recommendation ~ ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS EQR LARGE SEWAGE
DISPOSAL SYSTEMS.
Mr. Russell Cleveland stated that there was no potable water
down-gradiant of the leach system at the Wauwinet House. Mr. Horsely
stated that Recommendation #5 not only focuses on the Wauwinet House
but also focuses on the future.
Mr. Viera motioned to strike the first sentence of the first paragraph
on page 131 which reads as follows: "This regulation should be made
retroactive with regard to sampling for existing large systems, such
as the Wauwinet House".
Mr. Grossman motioned to amend Mr. Viera's motion so that the first
sentence remains with the deletion of ".., such as that at the Wauwinet
House" .
Mr. Robert Leichter stated that unless the airport was on sewer, the
Airport is a system larger that the Wauwinet House. It was also noted
that the Westender had a larger system as well.
Mr. Grossman agreed. Mr. Viera motioned to approve Recommendation #5
with Mr. Grossman's amendment; seconded by Mr. Borchert. So voted,
nanimously.
There being no further business before the Board of Health, Mr. Grossman
adjourned the meeting at 9:57 p.m.