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Commission reviews capacity spreadsheet; Charles George site could free ~17,000 gpd and commissioners ask legal question on transferability
Summary
Staff presented a capacity spreadsheet showing about 13,000 gpd of under-used connected parcels and noted Charles George’s measured flow has fallen to roughly 17,000 gpd (versus ~56,000 gpd on paper). Commissioners asked whether betterment allocations can be transferred or bought back and asked staff to consult Massachusetts DLS.
At a regular meeting, sewer department staff and a presenting engineer reviewed a revised capacity spreadsheet that incorporated last fiscal year’s meter readings and identified roughly 13,000 gallons per day tied to several connected parcels that are not using their reserved ERUs.
"It was, like, 13,000 gallons a day," the presenter said while describing the parcels that were being held in the reserve column. The spreadsheet also showed the system’s top-line available capacity had dropped compared with earlier years but that reassigning under-used allocations could recover capacity on paper.
Staff updated the commission on the Charles George site, reporting measured average flow near 17,000 gpd while the site holds a much larger reserved allocation on paper (about 56,000 gpd). "What you're actually seeing going through the meter on a daily basis on average is, like, 17,000," the presenter said. If Charles George is disconnected or its allocation adjusted, staff estimated the commission could realize about 15,000–17,000 gpd of available capacity.
Members asked whether the commission could facilitate transferring or repurchasing betterment allocations from property owners who do not need them. Staff recommended first contacting the Massachusetts Division of Local Services (DLS) for legal guidance before pursuing private counsel. "The first place to start with would probably be Mass DLS in the division of local services," Kathy said.
Commissioners discussed outreach options if transfers are permitted, including surveying holders of unused allocations and establishing a policy for minimum retained ERUs to avoid leaving parcels without reasonable options for on-site septic if needed.
The commission also discussed inflow and infiltration issues in the Middlesex and Wharton meter areas and recommended CCTV and additional nighttime monitoring to locate diffuse leaks that increase base flow.
No formal policy was adopted; staff were directed to obtain DLS guidance on the legal mechanism to move betterment allocations and to continue field work on I/I and meter calibration.
