Board of Health keeps mixed‑use category in draft sewer‑flow rules after debate over holding tanks

At its March 26 work session the Town of Dennis Board of Health reviewed a revised draft of Commercial and Residential Sewer Flow Regulations. Health Director Kristen Keller said she had incorporated the changes discussed at the prior work session and added consultants’ comments addressing industrial holding tanks, abandonment of systems, deferrals and use of I/A technologies.

“These Regulations will go to Town Council as a part of the Sewer‑Use Regulations and then come back to the Board to vote,” Keller said. Member Diane Chamberlain said she wanted consultants’ comments about holding tanks removed and argued the material duplicated requirements already in the Sewer Connection Regulations; other members agreed those provisions need not be repeated.

Town Planner Paul Foley raised a question about defining “mixed‑use,” noting the term typically covers commercial ground‑floor uses with residential units above. Vice Chairman Joe Bunce said, “mixed‑use would be commercial with apartments above,” and the Board agreed that mixed‑use should remain in the draft and that any change in residential flow would be handled case‑by‑case. The Board noted that, as written, increases in residential flow are not being entertained at this stage.

Keller also summarized consultants’ suggestions regarding how to treat abandonment and deferrals; she said those topics are already addressed in the Sewer Connection Regulations and therefore need not be repeated in the sewer‑flow document. The Board did not take a final vote at the session; the draft will be forwarded to Town Council as part of the Sewer‑Use Regulations and then return to the Board for a formal vote.

Next steps: the Town will transmit the draft to Town Council for its review and the Board of Health will consider a formal vote after Council action.