06-16-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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zoning File #1619 February 14, 1991 Page 6 Further, 3 of the 8 proposed mound sites are located less than the Orono Code requirement of 7 5' from a wetland area. However, there are no State setback requirements frm wetlands to septic systems except if those wetlands are part of a "public water". None of the wetlands in question meet this category. The State requirements would merely require that soil and water table conditions be appropriate for a given design of septic system at a given site. Orono has generally attempted to maintain a 75* setback from wetlands to limit nutrient Inflow to the wetland as well as keep the drainfl' i.d system far enough from the wetland to eliminate any wetland effects on that system. In the case of proposed Lot 2, a dralnfield site with the southerly mound toe being 35* from the 0.3 acre pond, the dralnfield site is approximately 3-4' higher than the probable overflow elevation of the pond, hence flooding of the dralnfield site would not be a problem. It is unlikely that the pond would have a significant impact on raising the groundwater table to an elevation where it would detrimentally affect the mound system. The other question is whether the mound will affect the pond. There is the possibility of nutrients from the septic system flowing through the ground and entering the pond. However the pond is probably nutrient rich already due to inflow of natural nutrients, and the added nutrients from the septic system would likely have an insignificant effect localized within^ the pond itself. From that standpoint, the location of dralnfield sites less than the 75' setback from wetlands on this property should have no real public health, safety or welfare impact. However, they may be a nuisance for homeowners in attempting to keep the pond free of vegetation. Soil testing on the property indicated that each of the proposed dralnfield sites would need a mound system rather than a trench system due to high seasonal water tables. The site evaluator notes that soil borings were made even on some of the sloped areas to determine whether trench systems would be feasible, however, soil conditions dictated that mounds be used. The following is a review of the septic sites for each lot;