Title V is the Massachusetts State Environmental Code: The Massachusetts State Environmental Code outlines the requirements for the siting, construction, inspection, upgrade and expansion of on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems, otherwise known as septic systems. In order to transfer a property, a Title V Inspection must be performed by a licensed Title V Inspector. The Title V Inspection is the first step in the process! The inspection involves digging up and inspecting components of the septic system. The Board of Health enforces Title V; State Sanitary Code (Septic System Regulations) and is involved in overseeing all new septic systems, failures and repairs.
Title V Inspections and Perc Tests must be witnessed by the Board of Health. The Board of Health is available to witness Title 5 inspections and Perc Tests Monday – Thursday, from 8am to 2pm. Please contact the Board of Health Office via email to schedule: boh [at] townofbernardston.org (boh[at]townofbernardston[dot]org).
Fees. All fees shall be paid in advance of any work or activity at online services or by check to the "Town of Bernardston".
Resources: A list of Septic System Designers and Septic System Installers are located at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments CPHS Website.
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Board of Health - Four Phase Process:
There are four phases involved in the septic system design and installation process. Each of these phases must be completed, in the following order, before the next phase can begin:
Phase 1: Soil Evaluation / Percolation Test (SEPT) or "perc test"
Phase 2: System design and approval
Phase 3: Disposal Works Construction Permit (DSCP) and installation
Phase 4: Final Inspection and Certificate of Compliance
The following is a detailed itemization of the phases in the process:
The Soil Evaluation / Percolation Test (SEPT) Phase: A soil percolation test is done to determine a site's suitability for an On-Site Waste Water (Septic) System. A licensed septic system design engineer (hired by the applicant) must schedule a Perc Test in coordination with the Board of Health. The septic system design engineer will submit a Perc Test Application, Form 12, to the Bernardston Board of Health. After hiring an excavator, the designer will schedule the perc test in coordination with the Board of Health, who will witness the test. The Board of Health is available to witness perc tests Monday – Thursday, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Please contact the Board of Health Office via email to schedule: boh [at] townofbernardston.org (boh[at]townofbernardston[dot]org). The septic system design engineer may pay the application fee or, in some instances, the property owner will pay the fee.
The Design and Approval Phase: The designer will use the finding of the perc test and consider the number of bedrooms in your home to determine the most effective depth and size of a n absorption system/leach field on your property. The designer will propose a system that meets MA Title V regulations, then submit the engineering plans with an application for Disposal System Construction Permit, Form 1A to the Board of Health. The application must include:
a. Correct Bernardston Tax Assessor’s parcel number.
b. A plot plan with all buildings, structures, septic and well areas delineated.
c. Two (2) copies of the plan with required review fee to the Bernardston Board of Health. The review fee will be paid by the property owner.
The Board of Health will need no more than fourteen (14) days to review design materials for compliance with Massachusetts Title V and local Board of Health Regulations. Note: If a plan requires a variance to a local regulation or Title 5, the applicant must comply with the Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection Variance procedure. If the plan doesn’t meet pertinent regulations, the plan may need to be returned to the Applicant for revisions by the designer and then resubmitted to the Bernardston Board of Health with additional fee for review. Board of Health issues the Disposal Systems Construction Permit.
The Installation Phase. Once the system is approved and the property owner has hired a licensed septic system installer, the Board of Health will issue the Disposal Works Construction Permit, Form 2A to the installer. The licensed septic system installer will construct the septic system.
The Final inspection and Certification of Compliance Phase. The septic system design engineer who stamps the plan must inspect the final stages of the installation and submits a Certificate of Compliance, Form 3, signed by both the septic system design engineer and the septic installer before a certificate of compliance can be issued by the Board of Health.