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Board approves local upgrade for septic repair at 50 Clear Pond Road, requires groundwater verification
Summary
Lakeville approved a local upgrade for a septic repair at 50 Clear Pond Road with variances for separation to groundwater and for using a single test hole; approval contingent on open‑hole inspection and potential pump installation if groundwater is higher than expected.
The Lakeville Board of Health on Sept. 17 approved a local upgrade and variances for a septic repair at 50 Clear Pond Road, but conditioned the approval on on‑site verification of groundwater elevation.
Darren Kalis of Foresight Engineering told the board that recent soil logs showed the groundwater or saturated soils higher than during a 1996 evaluation and that the design team is requesting a reduction of the required separation to 3 feet and a waiver to accept a single test hole. “So that being the case with the existing plumbing...we're asking for a variance down to 3 foot,” Kalis said. He said he raised the proposed system one foot from earlier configurations but would need a pump if the water table was higher than anticipated.
Board discussion focused on verifying the actual groundwater elevation in the field before finalizing the system type. Members referenced wetland flag elevations and prior percolation tests on neighboring lots; board staff noted fill and disturbed soils in parts of the backyard that can mask wetland signals. The board accepted the recommendation that Ed or another agent witness an open excavation to determine the actual bottom elevation; if groundwater is found to be higher than alleged, the applicant must install an H‑20 monolithic pump chamber and related modifications to plumbing.
The motion approved at the meeting included: waiver for the single test hole, variance for sieve/percolation analysis where applicable, reduction of separation from groundwater from 4 to 3 feet (contingent on open‑hole inspection), and authorization to relocate the tank slightly as needed. The motion also directed that, if the site investigation shows higher groundwater, the system must use a pump chamber and the applicant must provide the specified H‑20 monolithic pump if required. The board approved the motion by voice; the vote was unanimous.
Why it matters: the groundwater elevation determines whether a conventional gravity system is acceptable or whether a pumped system or mound is required. The board’s condition to witness installation aims to ensure the final design matches in‑ground conditions and reduces the risk of premature system failure.
