Board approves septic system and three waivers for 159 Lakeshore Drive

Margaret Bacon, the applicant, told the Town of Blackstone Board of Health that the existing cesspool at 159 Lakeshore Drive failed a Title 5 inspection because it is in groundwater. The board voted to approve a replacement septic system and three waivers related to well setbacks, system size, and trench effective width.

The board approved the project after Bacon described constraints on the long, narrow lot that limit where a system can be placed. Bacon said neighboring wells with 50-foot radii leave the only feasible area for the new system along the driveway and that the existing cesspool sits closer to a neighbor’s house than the new system would. She said the proposed system includes a septic tank, a pump chamber and three infiltrator lines, with the pump lifting effluent to the higher, shallower area where the trenches will be installed.

Bacon requested three waivers: reduced well offsets, a reduction in required system square footage, and a waiver on the required effective width between French drain trenches. During the discussion she corrected earlier numbers and said she was asking for a reduction of about 22 percent in the system size. Bacon also said she had revised the plans after review and feedback from staff.

The board moved and seconded approval and recorded the ayes. After the vote one member told Bacon, “You’re good to go,” and Bacon thanked the board.

Why this matters: Board of Health approvals for on-site sewage disposal can affect nearby private wells and local groundwater; the board’s waivers change the technical standards that typically apply on restricted sites.

Provenance: topic introduced when Bacon began presenting the site plan and Title 5 findings; discussion and the vote appear later in the same agenda segment.