Southborough Housing Authority

The Southborough Housing Authority operates an elderly and handicapped housing facility that contains two large septic systems serving eight buildings (56 units). GEI was retained to investigate and study a reported failure of the larger system. GEI determined that the 5,550 gpd system was indeed in failure and it was ultimately decided to replace the system. GEI provided topographic survey, design, permitting, bid phase, construction administration and periodic inspection services. The project included the following:

• Design constraints included congested site utilities and buildings and concerns over construction of a replacement septic system in an area where two prior systems have failed (including the studied system).

• GEI ultimately decided to design a MassDEP approved I/A (Innovative/Alternative) drip dispersal septic system to provide greater flexibility of leaching area layout with minimum disturbance. Final design yielded two separate drip dispersal leaching areas.

• An aerobic system was designed to provide pretreatment of the wastewater prior to discharge to the drip dispersal system for added protection and system longevity.