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 Lisa Cullity, Chair : term expires 2012 Elizabeth Cytrynowski, Clerk: term expires 2011 Thomas Driscoll : term Expires 2013
Flooding Concerns
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
The contractor for solid waste collection is Mike Delprete and Sons, Rockland. 781-982-1067.
Contact the Board of Health with any pick-up issues or questions.
Residents need a free permit on your vehicle. Apply at the Board of Health office, Room 12, Town Hall, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or Monday evenings 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. with a valid vehicle registration showing the Pembroke address of said resident (post office box addresses are invalid as proof of residency). If a vehicle is leased through a leasing company, or if a resident is new and hasn’t changed the address on the registration, a valid driver’s license will be necessary for proof of residency. Information and what to bring to the Pembroke Recycling Center.(pdf)
The recycling center is located a little further up the newly paved road from the old recycling center on Hobomock Street. Recycling center stickers will be available that day at the new recycling center to Pembroke residents only. Residents must show proof of Pembroke residency through their drivers’ licenses and registrations to the vehicle on which the sticker will be attached.
The Board of Health announced that should a state, federal or town holiday fall on a Sunday, Wednesday or Saturday, the Wilson E. Whittaker Recycling Center will not be open that day. This also includes snow emergencies.
Mr. Wilson E. Whittaker, 85, of Pembroke died Monday, September 28, 2009 Mr. Whittaker was a long time member of the Board of Health.
Memorial donations may be made to the Pembroke Watershed Association, PO Box 368, Pembroke MA 02359.
There is no current discount program for rain barrels. There are many places to purchase them, including New England Rain Barrel Company.
