Shutesbury Board of Health Rescinds Septic Tank Order for Lakeside Home on Appeal

Board of Health · Meeting of July 29, 2026

Shutesbury's Board of Health unanimously rescinded a tank-replacement order for a lakeside property under appeal, describing the system instead as marginal. Chair Catherine Hilton led the 5-0 vote at the July 29 meeting, telling members she had grown "uneasy" with the original requirement given the absence of functional failure criteria under Title 5, the state septic code. The property at 80 Lakeview Road has multiple private wells within 50 to 100 feet of its leaching pit, a condition that gave the board pause but did not, members agreed, rise to the level of documented failure.

In place of a tank-replacement order, the board will issue a letter describing the system as marginal and strongly recommending annual well water testing, annual pumping, and tank inspection at the time of each pump-out, with a non-binding suggestion that the owner eventually replace the existing tank. The board also approved two routine septic repair permits, for 205 West Column Road and 9 January Hills Road, both 5-0, and discussed a potential $300 outdoor air quality monitor for the town library, pending a consultation with a local volunteer.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
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• The complete report — 2,707 words

Source: the Board of Health meeting of July 29, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.