Springfield proposes three-year septic-pumping rule for shoreland properties

Springfield's Selectboard on Oct. 15 reviewed draft health regulations that would require septic tanks for properties in the Shoreland Overlay District and the McDaniels Marsh buffer to be pumped and inspected at least once every three years.

Health Officer Tim Bray, who presented the proposal, said the regulation would apply to properties wholly or partly within the town's shoreland buffer (250 feet from lakes and ponds) and the 660-foot McDaniels Marsh wetland buffer. "Every septic system should be pumped and inspected a minimum of every three (3) years," Bray said, describing documentation and reporting requirements that would require owners to submit a pumping receipt and inspection report to the Health Officer.

The draft, presented as Section 8 of the town's health regulations, identifies the affected waterbodies (including Kolelemook Lake, Little Lake Sunapee, Baptist Pond and others), requires receipts and inspection reports to be submitted within 10 days of pumping, defers maintenance schedules for approved innovative/alternative technology (ITA) systems to the manufacturer, and allows limited waivers for seasonal residences occupied by two or fewer people. Waivers would not be granted for commercial properties or short-term rentals, the draft says.

Stakeholders from local lake associations backed the proposal. "This is a community issue that requires all residencies to participate," Stuart Greer, co-chair of the Little Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) watershed committee, said, noting lessons learned from other towns. Elizabeth Harper, executive director of the LSPA, offered to help with outreach and grant applications to subsidize replacements where needed.

Resident and watershed committee member Mike Thomas said he surveyed local septic haulers and found typical pump-and-inspect costs range from about $250 to $400. "It is not a huge expense, especially when you compare it to the expense of replacing your system," Thomas said.

Selectboard members and Tim Bray discussed enforcement authority: the Health Officer can require immediate pumping for failing systems and, in extreme cases, require vacating a dwelling until repairs are made. Bray also noted that RSA requirements for shoreland property sales already require a septic certificate when a property is sold.

Some residents asked whether the regulation could expand over time or impose town-wide requirements. Selectman Steve Dzubak and others said the regulation is intended as a minimum step and that further action would be considered in light of neighboring towns' approaches; Ken Jacques urged caution about regulatory "creep" and suggested any town-wide expansion might belong on a warrant article.

State Rep. Judy Aron (chair, House Environment & Agriculture Committee) told the board the Legislature recently moved to overturn a governor's veto on phosphorus restrictions and offered help with educational outreach.

The Selectboard accepted the Zoning Coordinator and Health Officer report as written, a procedural vote that advanced discussion but did not adopt the regulation as final. Board members and local associations said next steps will include public informational sessions, website updates with guidance from NHDES, coordination with lake-association surveys, and follow-up at future meetings.

The draft regulation text and next steps were left for additional review; Selectboard members asked staff to prepare notifications to affected property owners and to continue coordination with the KLPA and LSPA on outreach and potential funding.