Millis residents are up in arms about a proposed bylaw that, if passed at a May 2 town meeting, would require homeowners with functional septic systems over 15 years old to hook up to town sewer.

 Bill Myers will be affected by this change. He posted to Facebook, “I’ve gotten one estimate so far from a contractor. $25,000. Plus the fee to the town, another $4800 [sic]? So I’m looking at $30,000 to spend on something that I have no idea how I will pay for.”

The Millis Select Board discussed the Sewer Bylaw at its Feb. 7 meeting (see https://youtu.be/tzn4u7vEb6c at 11:15). At Local Town Pages press time, the bylaw was scheduled for public discussion at the board’s meeting on March 28. 

The Town of Millis is out of sewer capacity. Lacking sewer capacity limits town growth. This bylaw would bring the town from 105% capacity to 90%.

The Charles River Sewer Processing plant assesses capacity by assuming every home produces 100 gallons per bedroom per day, even though actual usage is only 50 to 75 gallons. Although actual usage is not over capacity, on paper, Millis is theoretically over capacity.

As Select Board member Craig Schultze commented, “Once the homes are connected, we get some of our sewer capacity back, since the usage will be calculated on actual use, not the title 5 estimated use.”

CGC Associates, Inc., a civil engineering and surveying company, has drawn up a list of 380 potential sewer connections, including addresses and number of bedrooms. The document estimates a total of 140,250 gallons per day in capacity savings.

Stephanie Schneider, administrator of Facebook group “Millis, MA Septic Users,” says the bylaw does not solve the problem. “Even if all 300 homes connect, we’d still be at 90% capacity...dangerously close to 100% capacity of actual use with no reserve amounts, and we’d be staring this issue in the face again.”

Schneider recommends other solutions, such as accessing the State Revolving Fund that exists to provide funding for new wastewater treatment facilities and upgrades of existing facilities.

Some Millis residents have looked into sewer hookups only to be quoted estimates ranging from $20,000 to $30,000. The cost varies based on the location of the existing plumbing and the home’s setback. Millis Public Works Director Jim McKay told the Select Board at its Feb. 7 meeting that those costs are due up front (not on a payment plan), and the town’s hookup fee is $4,094 and is charged separately. 

At its meeting on Feb. 7, the Select Board had a lengthy discussion about waiving fees and how to handle hardships. 

Schneider, the Facebook group administrator, hopes the residents of Millis can work together on the issue. “Instead of asking 300 families to take on sizable financial burden in the current economic climate, let’s pause and pursue the funding available to us from the state. Septic users did not create this problem. It’s in everyone’s best interest to come to a solution that gets to the heart of resolving the matter.”

Select Board member Erin Underhill said at the Feb. 7 meeting, “This isn’t going to be something that anybody’s going to be happy with but it’s necessary and I’m hoping that people will see that we’ve tried to be extremely fair through the bylaw.” 

To join Millis MA Septic Users, visit www.facebook.com/groups/932720227436872 For more information about the bylaw, visit www.millisma.gov