United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps and publications

MassDEP Division of Water Supply Protection.

Drainage Basin Overlays.

The Dartmouth Groundwater Resource Study dated July 1980.

The landfilling or storage of sludge, wastewater residuals, or septage, as defined in 310 CMR 32.05, except where storage of sludge is incidental to an allowed use, in which case sludge or septage must be stored in compliance with 310 CMR 32.30 and 310 CMR 32.31;

Any use which involves the use, storage, disposal, treatment or generation of hazardous liquid materials or hazardous materials, including but not limited to, any material, in whatever form, which, because of its quantity, concentration, chemical, corrosive, flammable, reactive, toxic, infectious or radioactive characteristics, either separately or in combination with any substance or substances, constitutes a present or potential threat to human health, safety, welfare, or constitutes a present or potential threat to the environment, when improperly stored, treated, transported, disposed of, used, or otherwise managed, or home heating oil products, any of which are defined in MGL Chapter 21C and Chapter 21E and 310 CMR 30.00, except for the following:

Landfills and open dumps, as defined in 310 CMR 19.006, or disposal of solid or hazardous wastes as defined in 310 CMR 30.010, composting facilities registered in accordance with 310 CMR 16.04, or composting facilities permitted in accordance with 310 CMR 16.05, or the burial of stumps, or the landfilling of brush.[1]

The use of septic system additives or cleaners that have not been approved by the MassDEP in accordance with 310 CMR 15.027(3).

Commercial or industrial uses that discharge process wastewater on-site that contains contaminants other than normal domestic organic wastes.

Any floor drainage system that discharges to the ground.

Manufacture and production of paving, roofing, and other construction materials using petroleum-based coatings and/or preserving materials.

Lot coverage above 10%, or lot coverage above 2,500 square feet of any lot, whichever is greater.

Automotive service and repair, boat repair and service, internal combustion engine service and repair, gasoline stations, automobile graveyards and junkyards (as defined in MGL Chapter 140B, Section 1). Car washes that do not recycle process water and are not connected to the town sewer system.

On-site dry cleaning establishments. Hairdressing and beauty salons that are not connected to the town sewer system.

Airports, truck and bus terminals or stations.

Treatment or disposal works subject to 314 CMR 5.00, for wastewater other than sanitary sewage. Wastewater treatment plants, or facilities, public or private, with on-site disposal of effluent, unless tertiary treatment is provided. Exempted are:

Storage of sodium chloride, chemically treated abrasives or other chemicals used for the removal of ice and snow on roads, unless such storage is within a structure designed to prevent the generation and escape of contaminated runoff or leachate; exceptions are: 10 pounds for residential use, 100 pounds for commercial/industrial on-site use, 500 pounds for sale, if such amounts are stored within a structure that will prevent the generation and escape of contaminated run-off or leachate.

Stockpiling and disposal of snow or ice removed from highways, streets and parking lots located outside of Zone II or III that contains sodium chloride, chemically treated abrasives or other chemicals used for snow and ice removal.

The excavation or the removal of soil, loam, sand, gravel or any other mineral substances within four feet of the historical high groundwater table elevation [as determined by a DEP approved soil evaluator in accordance with 310 CMR 15.103(3) and witnessed by the Board of Health in all non-residential projects] - unless the substances removed are re-deposited within 45 days of removal on site to achieve a final grading greater than four feet above the historical high water mark, and except for excavations for the construction of building foundations, swimming pools, roof runoff infiltration systems or the installation of utility works and approved drainage systems;

All basement/crawl space floors shall be set at least one foot above the high ground water table, [as determined by a DEP approved soil evaluator in accordance with 310 CMR 15.103(3) and witnessed by the Board of Health in all non-residential projects], unless a municipal or private storm drain service connecting to an approved recharge system, detention, or retention pond is provided to the lot.

Uses or activities, other than for Dartmouth municipal distribution that withdraw groundwater from private wells in excess of 100,000 gallons per day (gpd) for manufacturing or consumption and that generate sewage greater than 2,000 gpd.

Other than incidental to the production of another product, the sale, commercial distribution, or transport of water from Dartmouth Aquifer Protection Overlay District as defined in Zoning By-Law § 375-28.3 by other than the Town of Dartmouth for transport outside the Town of Dartmouth.

The disposal of liquid or leachable wastes, except for usual and customary sanitary wastes for allowed uses.

Galvanized and bare metal roofs.

Storage of animal manures, unless such storage is within a structure designed to prevent the generation and escape of contaminated runoff or leachate.

Storage of commercial fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, unless such storage is within a structure designed to prevent the generation and escape of contaminated run-off or leachate.

The expansion or modification of a non-conforming use.

On-site liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Is in harmony with the purposes of this by-law;

Is appropriate to the natural topography, soils and other characteristics of the site;

Will not, during construction or thereafter, create an adverse environmental impact on any Aquifer Zone in the Town;

Will not adversely affect an existing or potential Town water supply;

Is consistent with the Town's Preamble;

Is consistent with existing and future development in accordance with underlying zoning;

For uses that exceed 990 gallons of LPG, the method of installation shall comply with 527 CMR 1.00 of the Massachusetts State Fire Code;

The Board of Appeals may require an operations and maintenance plan for recharge systems including yearly inspection and enforcement procedures. The Zoning Enforcement Officer may modify the inspection schedule based on the results of prior inspections, not to exceed three years between inspections.

New single and two-family residences shall be required to recharge roof runoff from primary buildings. (i.e. Garages and barns shall be considered primary buildings; a shed of 120 square feet or less is not a primary building.)

Any change of use, new construction, alteration, or reconstruction, encompassing more than 50% of the existing building's assessed value, or an increase of the total building footprint on a lot by 10%, or more, shall require recharge from all primary buildings.

Increasing existing lot coverage by more than 5% shall require the recharge of runoff from all primary buildings. If roof runoff is already being recharged, runoff from the area of expansion, or its equivalent shall also be recharged.

Site design shall incorporate natural drainage patterns and vegetation in order to maintain pre-development stormwater patterns and water quality to the greatest extent feasible.

Stormwater runoff from roofs shall be recharged directly into the ground. The Zoning Enforcement Officer shall approve all plans that meet uniform design standards for storm water recharge facilities as promulgated and from time to time revised by the Board of Public Works and as approved by the Town Engineer or Conservation Commission.

All artificial recharge systems shall be maintained in full working order by the owner(s) under the provision of an operations and maintenance plan approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer to ensure that the system functions as designed.

All subsurface infiltration systems shall be constructed with a two foot minimum separation between the bottom of the system and maximum groundwater elevation. In cases where the groundwater elevation is less than two feet from the surface, the Zoning Enforcement Officer may exempt the residential unit from the roof recharge requirements of this section.

This section shall not prohibit the use of rain barrels, cisterns and other rainwater collection devices in addition to an approved recharge system. Unless protected from the application of this bylaw by the provisions of the MGL, Chapter 40A, Section 6, or exempt pursuant to MGL, Chapter 40A, Section 3, or otherwise protected or exempt by this bylaw, the above standards shall apply.

New commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family residential uses, and all roads and parking facilities (greater than 10 spaces), shall require a stormwater management plan that provides for artificial recharge of roof runoff. Stormwater management for the remaining site (non-roof) area shall be designed in accordance with pertinent water quality provisions of the Town of Dartmouth Conservation Commission Wetland Protection Bylaw, latest revision.[1]

Any change of use, new construction, alteration, or reconstruction, encompassing more than 50% of the existing building, or an increase of the total building footprint on a lot by 10% or 500 square feet, whichever is greater, during any three-year period shall require recharge from all primary buildings.

Increasing lot coverage by more than 5% above that allowed, during any three-year period, shall require the recharge of runoff from all primary buildings. If roof runoff is already being recharged then the area of expansion, or its equivalent, shall also be subject to stormwater management requirements.

Site design shall incorporate natural drainage patterns and through the use of constructed stormwater wetlands, wet (detention) ponds, water quality swales, sand filters, organic/vegetative filters or similar site appropriate best management practices capable of removing pollutants from stormwater. Reference shall be made to "Dartmouth Department of Public Works Stormwater Recharge Standards", latest revision, for the type of use proposed and the soil types present on the site.

Said stormwater management plan shall be developed by a professional engineer registered in the State of Massachusetts, and shall be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer who reserves the right to retain a consultant engineer to review said plan, at the applicant(s) expense.

All recharge systems shall be maintained in full working order by the owner(s) under the provision of an operations and maintenance plan approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer to ensure that the system functions as designed.

When a Special Permit is required due to lot coverage, annual inspections of such mechanisms, certifying that the system is functioning properly, shall be conducted by a registered professional engineer and submitted to the Zoning Enforcement Officer no later than May 1 of each year, along with an administrative filing fee, as established by the Zoning Enforcement Officer. The Zoning Enforcement Officer may modify the inspection schedule based on the results of prior inspections.