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Hubbardston board approves two septic waivers for 6 New Templeton Road
Summary
The Board of Health approved two waivers allowing a nonstandard septic design at 6 New Templeton Road after hearing from the project engineer; the system will use laboratory soil analysis and a reduced groundwater separation and will carry a two‑bedroom deed restriction.
Hubbardston — The Board of Health on June 24 approved two waivers for a septic system upgrade at 6 New Templeton Road, allowing the project to proceed with a nonstandard soil analysis and a reduced separation between the system and groundwater.
The board heard from Trevor Fletcher, the project engineer, who said the existing house had failed its Title 5 inspection and that groundwater at the site was too high for a standard perc test. Fletcher said the team sent samples to the UMass lab for a SIP (soil interpretation) analysis and requested permission to use that analysis in place of a standard perc test. He also asked the board for a waiver reducing the required 4‑foot separation to groundwater to 2.8 feet so the system could remain gravity‑driven.
The waivers, Fletcher said, would allow the design to maintain gravity flow (avoiding a pump), reduce required fill and retaining walls, and lower construction costs for the owner. The engineer described the proposed system as an installed “enviroseptic” type that has different separation allowances than conventional Title 5 systems; the design team said the chosen layout would provide a 2.8‑foot separation and preserve gravity flow. The sanitarian reviewed the packet and had signed the application; the board was told that the sanitarian will need to sign final approvals and that a two‑bedroom deed restriction will be required prior to issuance of a certificate of compliance and recording at the registry of deeds.
After discussion, the board voted to approve the two waiver requests — accepting the UMass SIP soil analysis in lieu of a standard perc test and allowing the reduced groundwater separation — and to authorize staff to proceed with the administrative steps (sanitarian signoff and deed restriction) needed for final approval.
The board’s approval was framed as conditional on the sanitarian’s final signoff and completion of the deed restriction and certificate of compliance filings.
