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Board discusses well testing costs and water‑supply rules for proposed Main Street development
Summary
Board members raised the potential cost burden of adding 'PAS' testing for private wells and discussed that more than two homes on a single well could trigger small public water supply rules requiring a licensed operator and more frequent sampling, which would affect a proposed 33–373 Main Street development.
The Norfolk Board of Health discussed well‑testing requirements and the regulatory implications of shared wells during its June 30 meeting.
Members debated adding “PAS” to minimum sanitary testing requirements for private or semi‑public wells, noting that the added cost could burden homeowners; one board member said the test costs about $1,000 while other tests run around $300. The board agreed to collect more data and revisit the proposal at a future meeting.
Board members also discussed a proposed development at 33–373 Main Street. They noted that if more than two homes share a single well the system could be classified as a small public water supply, which would trigger requirements for a licensed operator and a sampling schedule that could range from monthly to annually depending on contaminants tested. "If you have more than two homes on a well that becomes basically a small water supply system," a member said, noting the developer would face additional costs for operator services and sampling.
A review of the site plan showed the current concept indicates one well per lot; the board emphasized the plan remains preliminary and urged staff to monitor whether developers change to shared wells that would alter regulatory obligations.
Next steps: staff will follow up with the developer and provide updated information at the next meeting; the board planned to continue review as project details evolve.
