Beginning in 1994, the Barnstable County Department of Health and the Environmental began to publish a series of newsletters and fact sheets on alternative onsite septic system technologies in Barnstable County. The purpose of the newsletters was to familiarize boards of health with various aspects of alternative onsite septic system technologies, their proper application, and their permitting requirements. Since that time, we have received a number of requests from individuals and boards of health elsewhere in the state for copies of back issues of these documents. Realizing that much of the information, particularly in earlier issues, was dated, the authors were reluctant to reprint and distribute earlier issues. Through the support of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management however, we were able to produce this document, which is a compendium of information on the various technologies discussed in the newsletters with most of the time-sensitive information removed. Although we have attempted to remove as much of the time-sensitive information in this document as possible, the reader should be aware that the approvals for the various technologies are subject to change. The changes in permitting status are generally sent to local boards of health. Accordingly, engineers and system designers are urged to check with this resource before planning a system using the alternative technologies. In addition, the newsletters and this compendium should not be used for design purposes. Where appropriate, the authors have directed the reader where to obtain more specific design guidance, since the purpose of these documents remains the introduction and the explanation of the various technologies to boards of health. The reader should also understand that the mention of any product, method, company, distributor of products, or the like, does not constitute an endorsement of such by our department or any other government agency. Any opinions expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect that of any government agency and the authors take responsibility for the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is a compendium of issues 1 though 10 of the Alternative Septic System Newsletter, and Factsheets as of May, 1997. Subsequent issues of the newsletter will continue to provide up-to-date information on new technologies as the information becomes available.
George Heufelder
Barnstable County Department of Health
Post Office Box 427
Barnstable, MA 02630
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