PREAMBLE
With the successful passage of Article 10 at the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting, the Town of Essex voted to construct a sewer system to serve over 800 properties in Town. Said sewer system will convey wastewater from Essex to the City of Gloucester Sewer System and, ultimately, to the City of Gloucester Wastewater Treatment Plant (see the Intermunicipal Agreement – IMA – between the City of Gloucester and the Town of Essex, effective date, June 6, 2000).
Pursuant to the successful passage of Article 14 at the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting, the Town of Essex Board of Public Works (the Board), acting as Sewer Commissioners, has been empowered to promulgate and enforce regulations regarding the use of the Town’s Sewer System which are embodied herein. Said regulations were adopted by the Board on June 13, 2001 after due public advertising and input. The regulations may be amended from time to time at the discretion of the Board.
It is important to note that the intent of these regulations and of the Sewer Commissioners is to provide wastewater solutions for existing wastewater problems (i.e. failed septic systems with poor site conditions for upgrades) as opposed to providing wastewater service for new development. Accordingly, future sewer system capacity (if any) will be apportioned to solve existing problems before new development is accommodated.
A combination of Statutes, State Regulations, Town By-laws, and Town regulations will govern various aspects of the Town’s Sewer System including but not limited to the following:
a) these Regulations (prescribing standards for connection to and use of the Town Sewer System)
b) Town By-law 7-7 (defining the geographical area of sewer service and limits on wastewater flows)
c) the Gloucester-Essex Intermunicipal Agreement (outlining provisions for out-of-Town wastewater conveyance and disposal)
d) Article 11 of the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting (creating a schedule of sewer betterment fees according to wastewater flow pursuant to the MEPA Special Procedures Report, Alternative 5, March 30, 2000)
e) the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Uniform Plumbing Code – 248 CMR 2.00 (prescribing standards for all plumbing work)
f) the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Environmental Code, Title 5 – 310 CMR 15.00 (serving as a basis for calculation of sewage flows and for aspects of on-site wastewater system management)
g) Any local regulations regarding on-site wastewater systems or sewer connections duly adopted and revised from time to time by the Essex Board of Health and
h) All applicable United States Department of Environmental Protection rules and guidelines.
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