ISDS 



Local governments in Massachusetts may exercise considerable authority over 

 development, land use, and public health issues. Town Boards of Health, in particular, 

 may assume broad regulatory power. Under M.G.L. Chapter 111, Section 31, Boards of 

 Health may adopt regulations to supplement Tide V, strengthening applicable standard to 

 sufficiendy address local conditions and water quality problems. Ondinances and 

 regulations may include requirements to protect water resources firom nutrient and chemical 

 wastewater pollutants as well as pathogens. Many municipalities have adopted local 

 regulations which supplement Tide V, providing for 



a) seasonal restrictions on perc tests and determination of groundwater levels; 



b) hydrogeological survey requirements; 



c) joint wedand delineation and ISDS perc testing to ensure that percs cannot be 



performed within designated wetiand buffer zone; 



d) increases in required setbacks from various receiving waters; 



e) as-built inspections (including providing for assessment of escalating inspection 

 fees for each repeat inspection); 



f) designation of reserve siting area to use in the event of system failure; 



g) groundwater monitoring; 



h) pumping to ensure adequate separation to groundwater, 

 i) specific upgrade requirements. 



Bourne, Massachusetts 



Bourne Board of Health regulations specify that coastal beaches, dunes, banks, barrier 

 beach systems, and coastal lands subject to flooding are areas characterized by active 

 sediment transport and highly fluctuating groundwater table. They are defined as "hazard 

 prone areas in terms of potential public health and safety problems relating to drinking 

 water quality, shellfish and fisheries contamination, and personal life and property damage. 

 "The installation of new septic systems is prohibited in any area where there is active 

 shifting sand or earth, or where the distance from naturally occurring ground elevation 

 (exclusive of all fill materials) to observed high ground water elevation is less than six feet 

 (two feet greater separation distance than requirwi by state regulations. Tide V). 



Dartmouth, Massachusetts 



The Town of Dartmouth, in the Buzzards Bay watershed, has a very strong program in 

 place which has evolved over a number of years. Dartmoudi uses two zoning overlay 

 districts which provide separate provisions for inland wedands and watershed protection 

 and for coastal wedand protection. In these areas, permanent structures for human 

 occupancy or structures with sewerage facilities may not be constructed. 



Other prohibited activities include filling and earth removal, and alteration of water 

 courses without a town permit Strict conditions are attached to pennits issued. 



Dartmouth also applies a two-tiered overlay district program for aquifer protection. 

 Within the areas of influence of municipal well, only non-intensive uses such as 

 conservation, outdoor recreation, agriculture, and maintenance of existing structures are 

 permitted. In areas of primary recharge to both existing wells and potential groundwater 

 development, many site uses potentially contributing to aquifer contamination arc 

 prohibited. 



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