Septic system upgrade on Bolton Road
The Board of Health discussed the septic system upgrade permit issued Aug. 9 to Franklyn Hynes for 94 Bolton Road. Pauline and Charles Carroll and Wade Holtzman, abutters of the property, raised concerns about the upgrade, which they discussed with Ira Grossman of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health.
The primary concern is water runoff into the abutters’ property, which the abutters demonstrated by a series of photographs and a descriptive letter to the Board of Health.
Representing the owner was Doug Miller, of Goldsmith, Prest & Ringwall, Inc., the firm that designed the system, who addressed each concern raised by the abutters, including topography, deep hole, and percolation test. He also reviewed the design of a berm and swale and explained how this would function by directing water away from the abutters’ properties.
Grossman said that the plan meets state Title 5 and Harvard regulations and that the berm and swale are part of the approved design and permit issued Aug. 9. Grossman added that upgrading the failing system will, in fact, improve the current water problem by virtue of the berm and swale.
It was resolved that the installation of the system will proceed according to plan and permit.
Permits granted
The Board of Health granted the following permits:
- Septic systems for new construction on lots 1 & 2 on Whitney Road owned by Jeff and Ronnie Harris, designed by GPR.
- Upgrade to an existing dwelling at 36 Park Lane, designed by David E. Ross & Associates, and owned by Peter Verheyen.
- New D-box to Donald Dawson at 9 Depot Road.
- New single-component (tank) to Jeff and Ruth Bobzin at 76 Old Mill Road.
- Transfer of ownership and extension to Andrew and Deborah Johnson of 37 Cleaves Hill Road.
- Building sewer and force main relocation to S. Curtis of 71 Old Mill Road.
- New D-box to William & Carol Lee of 55 Myrick Lane.
- Design for increased flow approved for new construction (bedroom) to Gary & Carole Dupuis of 188 Stow Road, engineered by Hancock Associates.
Currently, there are waiver request forms available for properties within the town center sewer district for Title 5 inspection, upgrades, and repairs. An amendment was made to these forms (item 4) to read: “In the event the project is abandoned, this waiver shall become null and void.”
West Nile Virus in nearby town
Board member Loren Johnson brought an article from the Acton Beacon concerning West Nile virus, reporting that a second sampling of mosquitoes in Acton tested positive. A copy of the article will be kept at the Board of Health office available to the public.
The first sampling occurred on July 28 and was reported on Aug. 3 by the State Department of Public Health. The traps were set by the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project. Catch basins were scheduled to be treated to reduce the larval population of the common Culex mosquitoes as well as area spraying to reduce the adult mosquito population.
The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project relies on four different products for biological and chemical mosquito control. Two are used for larvae and pupae; two are used for adult mosquitoes. The Mosquito Control Project says these products present the lowest risk to the public as well as non-target species while maintaining good control against mosquitoes.
Larval control products:
- Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis)—a naturally occurring, non-reproducing bacterium (used in wetlands).
- Altosid WSP (methoprene) – an insect growth regulator specific to mosquito larvae (used in catch basins).
- FourStar Microbial briquets—a 45-day, sustained-release briquet with a combination of Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (used in catch basins).
- VectoLex WSP (Bacillus sphaericus) —a naturally occurring, non-reproducing bacterium (used in abandoned swimming pools).
Larval/pupal control product:
- Agnique MMF—an alcohol-derivative surface film (used anywhere mosquito pupae are found).
Adult control products:
- Anvil 10+10 (sumithrin)—used for ULV (ultra low volume) applications.
- Suspend SC (deltamethrin) — used for barrier treatments.
Anvil and Suspend are synthetic pyrethroids (pyrethrums are found in chrysanthemums; pyrethroids are a synthetic copy of pyrethrums and have a lower risk to humans and other non-target organisms). Pyrethrums are commonly used in flea and tick shampoos for pets as well as shampoo for humans for lice and scabies.
—Fred Karotkin
