Virtual Public Meeting Planned Regarding SouthCoast Septic Upgrades

The controversial proposed upgrades that some SouthCoast residents could have to make to their septic systems will be the topic of a virtual public meeting this Thursday.

On May 18, there will be a virtual public meeting as the Title V Advisory Committee will discuss the reasoning, timing and the procedure for the necessary upgrades. Title V is the state law that governs septic systems in the Commonwealth.

The upgrades, which Dartmouth Health Director Christopher Michaud has said could cost homeowners around $50,000 to complete, are designed to reduce nitrogen pollution in local watersheds. The upgrades have been pushed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

The agenda for the meeting will include discussion about the nitrogen issue, the geographic area where the system upgrades must take place, how much time will be permitted for residents to perform the upgrade, and what exactly is required.

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The meeting is open to the public and will take place at 2 p.m.

In order to take part virtually via Zoom, you can sign up here using the passcode 916814.

For those who wish to dial in and listen via telephone, you can call (713) 353-7024 or toll-free at (888) 330-1716. The conference code required to listen via phone is 115585.

Back in March, State Senator Mark Montigny of New Bedford and State Representative Chris Markey of Dartmouth stated on WBSM’s SouthCoast Tonight that after talking with the new Healey-Driscoll Administration, they were "optimistic" the proposed septic regulations would not impact the suburban and rural SouthCoast communities originally targeted by the DEP such as Dartmouth, Westport and Acushnet.

Markey said he anticipated the new regulations would likely focus on Cape Cod.