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Board of Health approves wetland‑setback variance to replace failing septic field at 221 Standish Street
Summary
The Duxbury Board of Health on June 18 granted a variance allowing replacement of a failing leaching field 110 feet from a wetland (Duxbury requires 150 feet). The 5‑bedroom property will replace plastic chambers with LC‑6 concrete chambers; the motion passed unanimously.
The Duxbury Board of Health unanimously approved a variance on June 18 to permit a replacement septic leaching field at 221 Standish Street to sit about 110 feet from a bordering wetland, short of the town’s 150‑foot setback requirement.
Paul Lauterback of Merrill Engineers and Land Surveys told the board the existing plastic arch chambers are failing after roughly 20 years and the system is “kind of an urgent issue,” with effluent backing up into inspection ports and potentially toward the house. Lauterback said the replacement will keep the tanks and pump chambers in place and install LC‑6 concrete chambers in approximately the same footprint; the system serves a five‑bedroom dwelling. He said the proposed field meets state Title 5 requirements (which require a 50‑foot setback) but needs the town variance from Duxbury’s 150‑foot rule.
Board members asked about the system size, field condition and whether the pump chamber will be reused. Lauterback said soil testing performed on site produced “nice material” and that the new LC‑6 concrete chambers have a smaller footprint and should last longer than the old plastic units. He estimated that installation could be completed in a matter of days under typical conditions.
Dr. Bruce Brumley moved to grant the variance under the cited Duxbury supplementary rules and regulations; a committee member seconded the motion. The chair called the question and the record shows the motion carried with all members in favor. The board recorded findings that the property is a five‑bedroom dwelling with no proposed increase in flow, is not in a Zone 2 wellhead protection area, the chosen location maximizes distance from the wetland, the system is not designed for a garbage grinder, and the existing leaching field is in a state of failure.
Staff and the presenter said they will notify the contractor and property owner of the decision so the replacement can proceed.
Provenance: presentation and Q&A opened at SEG 012 and the motion, discussion, and findings ran through SEG 271.
