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Board approves Title 5 local upgrade for 9 Stone Street to replace failed septic system
Summary
The board granted a local upgrade approval under Title 5 for 9 Stone Street, allowing a 3-foot separation from high groundwater instead of 4 feet so a replacement system can be installed.
The Goddard Boyle Board of Health approved a Title 5 local upgrade approval for 9 Stone Street on Sept. 22, 2025, permitting the bottom of the absorption field to be 3 feet above the high groundwater elevation rather than the standard 4-foot separation in order to replace a failed septic system.
Health staff reported the existing system was classified as failed following an inspection tied to an impending sale. The proposed replacement is a conventional system with the same design flow as the current system (reported at 220 gallons per day). Staff said the only local deviation requested was the 4-foot-to-3-foot separation; no reductions to lateral setbacks were proposed. A licensed soil evaluator determined the high groundwater elevation and percolation testing recorded a rate of 10 minutes per inch, which staff said meets criteria for a local upgrade approval.
Board members discussed the difference between a local upgrade approval and a variance, noting a local upgrade approval applies only to failing or nonconforming existing systems and is intended to restore the system to maximum feasible functionality. A variance, by contrast, is a broader departure from Title 5 that would be required for new systems or other substantial departures from the code.
The board recorded the local upgrade approval as approved in the meeting; the transcript does not show a formal roll-call vote or list a mover and seconder. The board’s approval was contingent on staff review of the replacement plan; staff said they had reviewed the plan and would bring anything requiring further action back to the board.
