Groton Board of Health Begins First Review of Well and Septic Regulations in Years

GROTON — August 1, 2022 — Groton's Board of Health opened a broad review of its well and septic regulations at the August 1 meeting, debating requirements that would mandate dual-compartment septic tanks for all new construction and tank replacements. The board's health agent said roughly 70 percent of current designs already use the configuration, which costs approximately $200 more than a single-compartment tank and provides greater protection against system failure. Members also discussed adding PFAS testing requirements for property sales and new construction near the Groton-Dunstable schools and the Nod Road area, modeled on a Harvard policy adopted in 2020, with current lab turnaround running four to five weeks. The board agreed to extend the validity of water quality test results from six months to one year, and debated replacing costly certified-mail abutter notices — running about $6 per letter — with a post office certificate of mailing. The board unanimously approved a deed restriction for 14 Spruce Road limiting the property to two bedrooms despite the owner's plans to add living space by enclosing the driveway and converting the garage.