Falmouth Board of Health to notify homeowners after data shows many on-site wastewater systems underperforming

The Town of Falmouth Board of Health on May 11 reviewed analysis showing dozens of on-site wastewater systems — particularly so-called FAST units — are producing high nutrient readings and agreed to begin notifying owners and supporting operators' enforcement efforts.

Board Chair opened the meeting by saying the single agenda item was "IA systems monitoring and performance" and handed the discussion to George Heufelder, who compiled the town's data. "Our intention over the next coming months is to bring all those systems that are not performing to their best performance," Heufelder said. Heufelder told the board his review shows a substantial share of legacy systems are well outside expected ranges; he estimated there are about 60 FAST systems in town, roughly 10 with very high results and many others in the 40+ range.

Operators who participated described two recurring problems: system design limitations and owner noncompliance. Winston Steadman of Allstate Environmental said many homeowners "won't do anything if you ask them to" and that operators have little enforcement power beyond dropping nonpaying clients. "If we come up on a three-month [missed] visit... we're dropping them," Steadman said, describing how unpaid accounts and staffing shortages limit follow-up.

Mike of Cape Septic Inspections identified installation and sampling issues that can skew results, including tanks not set on stone, off-level inlet boxes and limited access points for clean samples. Mike said modest fixes — risers, cleaned D-boxes, or raising sampling ports — often improve measurements without large capital expense.

Several operators urged the board to use its authority to compel remedial work when a certified operator documents a problem. "I think it's reasonable for the Board of Health to send a letter that says your system must be pumped within 30 days," said Sean Reed, an O&M operator, advocating a 30-day order as an initial enforcement step. Board members and staff discussed whether pumping frequency should be set universally or determined case-by-case by the operator; they agreed the operator's professional judgment in O&M contracts remains central, and the Board may order pumping when an operator documents noncompliance.

To improve coordination, analysts and staff proposed a simple communications protocol: operators should copy the board on inspection reports and use a standardized subject line when a recommendation is not followed. "If an operator says this needs to be done and they don't do it by three months, that's a pretty good indication they're not going to do it," Heufelder said; the board asked operators to send lists of unaddressed recommendations so staff can target high-priority sites.

Board members also discussed outreach and homeowner education. Heufelder said the board would start notifying owners whose systems register at certain critical nitrogen levels, beginning with the highest results, and would prepare a short guidance sheet for homeowners explaining common causes of poor performance (for example, low alkalinity or household chemicals that interfere with treatment).

Action steps recorded at the meeting included: George Heufelder drafting a letter to all operators clarifying reporting and "noncompliance" tagging; the board beginning owner notification for the highest results; and staff exploring automated sorting of operator emails to flag noncompliance. The board scheduled its next meeting for June 8 (in person) and adjourned the session by roll call; the chair noted one member (Kevin) was absent and recorded as an abstention.

The Board of Health meeting included multiple operator contributions that the board said it will incorporate into a follow-up letter and enforcement procedure. The board said it expects continued discussion at its next meeting and pledged to back operators who document noncompliance by owners.