Permitting Services Offered:
Groundwater Discharge Permits (GWDP):
For new construction of large sites in rural areas without municipal sewer, a GWDP from the state’s DEP or DES is required. In Massachusetts, the permit threshold is for on-site sewage generation in excess of 10,000 gallons per day. 133,000+ SF office parks, 500+ employee manufacturing plants, and residential developments exceeding 90 bedrooms are examples of developments requiring a GWDP. This permit requires design of an on-site wastewater treatment facility (WWTF), a soil absorption system (SAS) leach field, a witnessed soil evaluation, monitoring wells, soil borings, permeability testing, a hydrogeological evaluation, and a computer model to predict mounding effects to the groundwater surface, and quality effects to the groundwater environment from the subsurface recharge of the treated effluent.
New Source Approval (NSA) Permits for Public Drinking Water Wells:
The EPA considers on-site water supplies serving at least 25 people (including office buildings, restaurants, condominiums, residential communities, etc.), to be a public water supply, and requires a NSA prior to construction or expansion of an existing facility. A permit is required to site and drill a well, and conduct a pump test, followed by another permit to construct the system which typically includes a water treatment, storage, pumping, and distribution system.
Water Withdrawal Permits (Water Management Act – WMA):
The cumulative withdrawal of on-site water from a combination of groundwater or surface water exceeding an average of 100,000 GPD in Massachusetts and 57,600 GPD in New Hampshire requires a Water Withdrawal Permit from the state DEP or DES. This permit requires water supply and withdrawal master planning, water well installation, pump testing, monitoring of wells, wetlands, and water bodies, hydrogeologic analyses, and evaluation of impacts to sensitive receptors.
Drinking Water Treatment Approvals:
Routine water quality sampling, new sources with known water contamination, and more stringent water quality requirements by EPA require design and approval of water treatment systems. Approvals of bench-top or on-site field pilot tests are occasionally required before construction and approval of the final treatment system. Treatment permits are required for treatment of natural contaminants, like hard water, radon, or Uranium, or man-made like road salt or gasoline.
Sewage Disposal Construction Permits (SDCP):
For on-site sewage disposal below the GWDP threshold, a SDCP is required from the local town or city Board of Health in Massachusetts, or from the NH DES. At a minimum, this permit requires a field investigation consisting of a soil evaluation with test pits and percolation testing, and design of a complete septic system integrated into the site design.
Sewer System Extension and Connection Permits:
New sites that will generate at least 50,000 GPD and are proposing to connect to an existing municipal sewer system, or for any connection which includes a pump station serving more than one single family dwelling, or for any construction, maintenance, or alteration of any sewer system extension or construction, requires a permit from the Massachusetts DEP.
Septic System Approvals with DEP approved Innovative / Alternative Systems:
For new developments requiring on-site septic systems, for repairs of existing failed septic systems, or for development in Nitrogen Sensitive Areas, a group of permits issued by the DEP or DES result in potential costs savings to property owners and developers. These savings are mostly attributed to reduced leaching area size and increased development densities with the use of small on-site Innovative and Alternative (I/A) wastewater treatment systems. Additional benefits, such as prolonging the life of a septic system, and additional environmental protection, result from the use of I/A technology.
