Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Well Protection Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Condominium cited for well‑protection violation; board plans follow‑up
Summary
A condominium’s landscaping shed was cited within a 230‑foot Zone 1 protection radius around a public well. The Massachusetts DPH flagged the site; the Board of Health will visit, reinforce the report receipt, and ask the system owner to correct or document compliance.
At its meeting, the Town of Hubbardston Board of Health discussed a public water system inspection that found equipment stored within the 230‑foot Zone 1 protection radius around a condominium well, creating a noncompliance that Massachusetts public‑health officials cited.
A committee member summarized the finding: inspection records show a shed used for lawnmowers and equipment located inside the required protective radius. The board noted the state recommended removing the equipment storage from Zone 1 or demonstrating that stored materials are directly related to water‑supply operations.
Chair said the Massachusetts Department of Public Health could levy daily fines if the activity continues without correction and outlined the board’s next steps: “one of the key thing I’m gonna be doing is stopping by to… make sure that they… received the report,” the chair said, and to confirm the system owner understands what corrective measures are required and that any follow‑up is provided to state officials.
Why it matters: Zone 1 protection radii are intended to prevent contamination of public wells. The board discussed potential sources of contamination and recommended immediate remediation or documentation from the system owner that the storage does not threaten the water supply.
Board members discussed related technical findings reported in the inspection package — examples included a storage tank overflow configuration that lacked a separated overflow and recommendations to calibrate or replace master meters. The board asked staff to visit the site, collect documentation that corrections or demonstrations of compliance are submitted to Mass. DPH, and request copies of state correspondence for local records.
What’s next: Staff will follow up with the property owner and Mass. DPH, verify that required corrections or documentation are filed, and report results to the board. The board did not vote on enforcement action during the meeting; it limited action to follow‑up visits and coordination with state authorities.
