Town Hall
100 Center Street, Room 12
Pembroke, MA 02359 781-293-2718
or
FAX: 781 - 293 - 0280
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Monday - Friday; 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Mondays.
Board of Health Members
Donna Bagni, Clerk : term expires 2015 Thomas Driscoll, Clerk: term Expires 2016
Elizabeth Cytrynowski, member: term expires 2014
10/16/12.
Pembroke's risk has been downgraded due to the recent cold weather.
8/24/12
Pembroke is now HIGH risk for EEE, and it is strongly recommended to curtail dusk to dawn outdoor activities. Wear mosquito repellent when outdoors at these times. The the complete Department of Public Health announcement.
8/1/12.
As per Health Agent Lisa Cullity, there has been a positive mosquito testing in Hanson for EEE. Therefore, it is necessary to curtail all evening activities until further notice.
Please refer to the websites below for further information.
NEW! The Health Agent has a new page that will have information about the health of Pembroke ponds.Check out Your Ponds and Beaches.And keep checking back as the page grows.
Background
A private water supply provides water for human consumption and consists of a system that (1) has less than fifteen service connections and (2) either serves less than twenty-five individuals or serves an average of twenty-five or more individuals daily for less than sixty days of the year. The term "private well" is typically used for a well that provides drinking water for a single family residence.
Under Massachusetts General Law, (MGL Ch.111 s.122) local Boards of Health (BOHs) have primary jurisdiction over the regulation of private wells. The local BOH is empowered to adopt a Private Well Regulation that establishes criteria for private well siting, construction, water quality and quantity.
Flooding Concerns
Flood waters which inundate wells can carry large debris that could loosen well hardware, dislodge well construction materials or distort the casing. Coarse sediment in the flood waters can erode pump components. If the well is not tightly capped, sediment and flood water can enter the well and contaminate it. Wells that are more than 10 years old or less than 50 feet deep are likely to be contaminated, even if there is no apparent damage. Floods may cause some wells to collapse.
After flood waters have receded and the pump and electrical system have dried, care must be taken before restarting wells. Equipment should not be turned on until the wiring system has been checked by a qualified electrician, well contractor, or pump contractor. If the pump’s control box was submerged during the flood, all electrical components must be dry before electrical service can be restored. All pumps and their electrical components can be damaged by sediment and flood water. The pump including the valves and gears needs to be cleaned of silt and sand. If pumps are not cleaned and properly lubricated they can burn out. Assistance should be obtained from a well or pump contractor who can clean, disinfect, repair or maintain different types of pumps before turning on the pump.
MassDEP Role
Although MassDEP does not regulate private wells, MassDEP Drinking Water Program (DWP) provides assistance to owners of private wells by providing guidance on issues related to private wells, including what to do during floods. Guidance on private wells is available at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/pwfaq.htm and recommendations for private wells inundated by flooding is available at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/weldsinf.htm
The MassDEP DWP has provided outreach to public water systems and local Boards of Public Health through the Health and Homeland Alert Network (HHAN). The MassDEP DWP provided links to the above reference guidance documents. Additionally, the MassDEP DWP also provided links to the guidance via the PDirector email, which contacts PWSs throughout the state electronically. It is likely that private well owners will contact local BOHs or public water systems for guidance during this emergency. MassDEP’s Public Affairs Office is also preparing a fact sheet for the press about private wells.
Attached below are important links you should know:
Mass 211 - is an information hotline that provides health
and human service information 24/7.
(Deaf and hard of hearing – TTY: 617-536-5872).
Just dial 211 from any phone or call toll-free: 877-211-6277. www.mass211.org
Potassium iodide iformation. If you are interested in more information about this in light of the recent Japanese news, please read the flyer.
Septic Information
Any resident requiring a septic loan must first apply for a septic loan at a commercial bank. Only if that loan is rejected by the commercial bank may the resident apply for septic loan through the Town of Pembroke. They may call Kris Fraser at 781-293-4673 for information.”
