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Board approves new well plan for 12–14 Morrison Way with local upgrades; staff to notify owners
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Summary
After reviewing site constraints and groundwater concerns, the Lakeville Board of Health approved a new well plan for 12 and 14 Morrison Way with two local upgrade approvals and directed staff to notify property owners about potential system failures and testing requirements.
The Town of Lakeville Board of Health approved a new well plan for 12 and 14 Morrison Way and granted two local upgrade approvals for reductions to required setbacks between wells and on-site sewage systems. The vote included a direction for staff to send letters to property owners informing them of the condition of existing systems and required testing.
Will Connolly of Zenith Consulting Engineers told the board the parcel contains two houses: one served by a cesspool and a shallow, non-functioning well (No. 14) and the other served by a leaching field and what the consultant described as a deep well (No. 12). Connolly said site constraints prevent the new well for No.14 from being sited the full 100-foot separation from the neighboring septic/leaching components; the applicant requested reductions from 100 feet to 70 feet for Lot 14 and to 75 feet for Lot 12.
Board staff and members raised public-health concerns. Staff said the cesspool and trenches appear to be in groundwater and noted an earlier 1993 plan that referenced a 2,000-gallon tank; the file lacked an as-built or inspection record for the trench system. Staff recommended notifying owners that their systems have been found in groundwater in past inspections and that they should test and not drink private well water until testing is completed.
The board discussed required testing for any new well, including nitrate testing before use, and noted that elevated nitrates (above the threshold discussed by staff) trigger automatic failure of the on-site system and a requirement to upgrade. A motion to approve the new well plan for 12 and 14 Morrison Way, with the two local upgrade approvals and a contingency that staff send letters informing owners of the system condition, was seconded and passed by voice vote.
The approval allows the well installation to proceed under the granted local variances and with the condition that staff provide outreach and testing guidance to the property owners.
