Sewage Disposal Installations
1. No building permit shall be issued until the Board of Health has
approved the proposed lot as suitable from a sanitary point of view.
2. A plot plan and a letter of procedure, including a percolation test, and
water table performed by a registered Sanitarian or engineer approved
by the Board of Health must be submitted.
3. The system shall be installed in accordance with all the laws of
Massachusetts and all the regulations of the Board of Health.
4. The system shall not be covered until inspected.
5. The Board of Health may require modification at any time if adverse
conditions are encountered that were not known originally.
Systems For Newly Constructed Buildings
1/21/03
1. Soil absorption systems serving newly constructed buildings shall be
located on the same property as the proposed building.
2. No building sewer, force main or gravity sewer serving new
construction shall cross a wetland to reach a septic tank or soil
absorption system.
3. No building sewer, force main or gravity sewer serving new
construction shall go off of the property or into a private or public way
to reach a septic tank or soil absorption system.
Septic Tank
1. Liquid Capacity: Minimum 1500 gallons
2. The septic tank shall be water tight and made of concrete or other
material approved by the State.
3. Add 50% capacity if garbage grinder is used.
Distribution Box
1. A standard distribution box shall be provided between the septic tank
and the disposal field.
Disposal Bed
12/24/62
1. The disposal bed shall be minimum of 800 sq. ft.
2. The size of the disposal bed may be increased or decreased depending
upon the amount of water to be disposed of if conditions warrant.
3. 12” of washed, crushed stone will be used under the leaching pipe and
3” of pea stone over.
4. A minimum of 3 laterals shall be used. Minimum distance between
laterals 3’.
5. Any change from these regulations must be approved by the Board of
Health.
Percolation Tests
All percolation tests taken in the Town must be observed by the Health Agent.
Only a Registered Professional Engineer or Registered Sanitarian in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may perform percolation tests, water table determinations, and soil analyses for subsurface disposal of sewage in North Reading.
10/4/84
Addendum: Effective immediately, all percolation test taken within the confines of North Reading, Massachusetts, are to be taken at a minimum depth of 36 inches below the existing grade, in natural soil only.
2/26/70
Sewage Treatment Plants
1. Sewage treatment plants shall be required for any construction having
a water flow of 15,000 gallons or more per day.
2. Sewage treatment plant operators must be approved by the North
Reading Board of Health; and be licensed by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts as required in Chapter 112, Section 87BBBB.
3. The North Reading Board of Health may require, even after approval,
the dismissal of the operator if it is found that he is not maintaining
the treatment plant properly.
4. The following distances must be maintained regarding the placement
of sewage treatment plants.
a. 100 feet from residential property lines
b. 25 feet from commercial or industrial property lines
c. No building of the treatment plant shall be within 50 feet of any
other building on the property other than an accessory building.
d. These distances may be increased, if in the opinion of the Board
of Health, they are not sufficient to adequately protect the
health, comfort, and well-being of the neighborhood.
5. The fee for a sewage treatment plant permit shall be $50.00.
4/1/74
Disposal Works Transfer Permit
The Board of Health issues permits for new sewage disposal works construction which are valid for two years. If, within the two-year period, the subject property is sold, a transfer permit for the new owner must be obtained from the Board of Health. The fee for this permit shall be $10.00. This regulation does not apply to repairs of septic systems.
1/31/85
Subdivision Rules & Regulations
For residential zoning area R.D. requiring 120,000 square feet per lot, preliminary subdivision plans submitted to the Board of Health shall be disapproved until observation holes, spring time water tables, and percolation tests have been taken on each individual lot of the planned subdivision. Each lot must be clearly defined by staking to facilitate observation of the lot. The subdivision plan will be evaluated by the Board at such time as the above information is submitted.
4/3/75 4/17/75
Subsurface Sewage Disposal Regulation
No subsurface sewage leaching system or septic tank shall be constructed within 100 feet of any known source of public surface water supply or tributary thereto. No subsurface sewage leaching system or septic tank shall be constructed within 75 feet in the case of a single or duplex dwelling, or 100 feet in the case of commercial building, or of a multiple dwelling, as defined in Section one of chapter 151B, General Laws of Massachusetts, of the normal spring high water level of any great pond, stream, brook, river surface or subsurface drain, swamp, or wetland or of any mean high water for tidal water.
10/2/75
The Board of Health has voted unanimously to accept Ameration Chambers as a type of system for the subsurface disposal of sewage. A minimum of 600 square feet of chambers will be required. Homes with more than three bedrooms will require additional square footage of chamber space.
Disposal Works Installers Permit
Prior to the issuance of a Disposal Works Installer’s Permit, as required by the Sanitary Code, a written examination on Title 5: Minimum requirements for the subsurface disposal of sanitary sewage will be given by the Board of Health. All applicants for this permit must receive a grade of at least 80 on this examination.
Grease Trap Food Service Establishment
1. A 5,000 gallon grease trap shall be required for all new food service
establishments.
2. A 5,000 gallon grease trap shall be required for all existing food
service establishments contemplating an increase in seating capacity
or a change in the type of operation.
6/26/80
Ameration Chambers
A minimum of 600 square feet of chambers will be required. Homes with more than three bedrooms will require additional square footage of chamber space.
5/21/70
Distance From Leachfield
Water lines 10’
Drains 75’
Catch Basin 100’
Dist. Line max. length 100’
Well 100’
Wetlands 75’
Garage Slab 10’
Foundation 20’
Tank to foundation 10’
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