Hubbardston — The Town of Hubbardston Board of Health reviewed a batch of Title 5 septic evaluations at its Nov. 12 meeting, approving several systems while requiring follow‑up testing and a correction to one application that contained a mapping error.

The board agreed to approve Title 5 reports for several properties with conditions. Chair (name not recorded) said the approvals should include a requirement that “they should have their septic tank pumped every year, as a contingency on the approval. And they should probably also do a yearly water test. At least for E. Coli.” That condition was discussed as a practical step to protect nearby private wells and the town’s groundwater.

Members reviewed specific parcels, including 23 Iroquois Avenue (flagged for further evaluation because of well/septic proximity), Amber Lane, and 17 Thompson Road — the latter was cleared after inspectors confirmed a house and apartment were both checked and system components (tanks and pump chambers) were acceptable. For 46 Underwood Road, the board discovered an old Title 5 certificate (dated 08/08/2011) and a discrepancy on the paperwork that listed a 30‑foot clearance to a water supply: members concluded that showing 30 feet appeared to be a typographical error and directed staff to require corrected documentation before granting final approval.

The board also asked sanitarians to recommend whether specific repairs were needed for properties with reported leach‑field problems and to follow up when additional residents increase loads on older systems. For one property with reported odors on Brigham Road, the board directed staff to send a certified letter and allow a short extension through December to submit repair plans.

What happens next: the Board of Health will ask applicants to correct the Underwood Road paperwork and will add pumping and water‑testing language as contingencies on approvals where inspectors noted potential risk to nearby private wells. If owners do not submit required repair plans (as with the Brigham Road complaint), the board will pursue certified notice and further enforcement steps.

Speakers quoted in this report are identified by role as recorded in the meeting transcript.