Douglas Board of Health Approves Septic Waivers for Three Terrace-Area Properties

DOUGLAS -- September 29, 2025, Douglas Board of Health approves septic system waivers for three terrace-area properties in unanimous votes. The board cleared replacement designs for 12 Ritchie Road, 17 Arnold Road, and 12 Arnold Road, each requiring offsets from the standard 100-foot well-setback requirement and all specifying Presby Advanced leaching systems elevated two to four feet above the high local groundwater. Engineer Margaret, a licensed plumber who said she has installed hundreds of Presby systems over 15 to 20 years without a failure attributable to the system itself, described the neighborhood's aging cesspools as sitting directly in groundwater that typically reaches two to three feet below grade, a condition that goes unaddressed until properties are sold and fail Title V inspection. Two of the three approvals, 17 Arnold Road and 12 Arnold Road, carried deed restrictions limiting both properties to two-bedroom use permanently. Town engineer Steve Donatelli had reviewed the original plans but had not yet seen the last-minute upgrade to the Presby Advanced specification; the board approved contingent on that upgrade. The board's next meeting is scheduled for November 3.