Health Department

Our Mission

The mission of the Health Division is to promote and protect the public health including the physical, mental, emotional and social wellness of all people.

About the Division

The Health Division encompasses all phases of health administration, including planning, evaluation, budgeting, enforcement and inspections. The Director of Public Health assumes primary responsibility for coordination among the various boards in permit granting and proper land use, specifically in the area of environmental protection issues (i.e. septic system design, wetlands pollution, water quality protection). The Director designs programs and implements policies as proposed by the Wilmington Board of Health to meet the health needs of the community.  The Director conducts inspections in matters dealing with the State Sanitary Code and the State Environmental Code. The Public Health Nurse is primarily responsible for all medical clinical administrative matters. The Clerk handles all administrative duties for the Department. The Board of Health consists of three volunteer members appointed by the Town Manager for staggered three-year terms.

Be Septic Smart!

For a complete glossary of resources for Septics for Homeowners, Renters and others, please visit https://www.epa.gov/septic/septicsmart-week

Septic Smart

EPA Virtual Meeting notice

NHANES HAS ARRIVED IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY!

NHanes has arrived

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is the most in-depth survey designed to evaluate the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States.  This survey combines information from interviews and physical examinations.  NHANES is run by the National Center for Disease Control (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Tentatively, we are planning to conduct the surveys in Wilmington from June 5, 2023 through August 21, 2023. A sample of about 30 randomly selected households will be invited to participate and will receive a letter asking them to complete a short online questionnaire about the members of their household. About 4-6 weeks later, our field interviewers will contact eligible household members to complete a health interview. Examinations at our examination center will be scheduled after completion of the home interview.  Please click here for more information

F.A.Q.’s answered by the Public Health Nurse

Q: What is a “bivalent” vaccine?

A: The new bivalent COVID-19 vaccines include a component of the original virus strain and the BA.5 omicron variant (currently circulating) to provide broad protection against COVID-19. These are called bivalent vaccines because they contain two components. A bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may also be referred to as an “updated” COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. Both Pfizer and Moderna are manufacturers of bivalent vaccines. For comparison influenza vaccines are often referred to as “quadrivalent” vaccines; as they typically contain 4 strains of the flu virus.

Q: Am I eligible, and should I get the new COVID bivalent booster? 

A: Yes, everyone over age 12 is eligible for the bivalent booster vaccine, as long as it has been 2 months from their last dose of vaccine, regardless of how many vaccines they have previously received. 

Pfizer Bivalent vaccine is approved for individuals over age 12.

Moderna Bivalent vaccine is approved for individuals over age 18.

Q: When will kids ages 5-11 be eligible for the bivalent booster vaccine?

A: Emergency Use Authorization is currently pending from CDC and FDA. So soon? Watch for announcement.

Q: I recently had a COVID infection, when should I get my bivalent booster?

A: There is a lot of information being gathered still on how long immunity lasts after natural infection. I would recommend you speak with your primary care provider and discuss your specific situation. The general thought is that you have some natural immunity following infection for about 90 days so you may not want or need to rush out to get a booster vaccination after a recent bout of COVID. Other factors play into this decision such as circulating variants, individual health factors and individual health risks. 

Q: My mom/dad is elderly and has trouble getting out to appointments, do you make house visits for boosters?

A: Yes, Public Health Nurses will make house visits for home bound residents to administer COVID and Flu vaccines, call the health department or your COA. We have several days set up to do this!

Q: Can I get a flu shot with my COVID vaccine?

A: Yes, CDC says you can receive both vaccines at the same time. 

Q: Where can I get free COVID test kits?

A: Contact your town health department and request some. We have plenty! We can put some aside for you to pick up. Your child’s school nurse may have some as well. Just ask.

Q: When do my COVID-19 test kits really expire?

A: Almost all test kits have extended expiration dates of 3-12 months based on stability studies. Check online with the manufacturer. 

Q: What do I need to know about Monkeypox?

A:  Monkeypox is not a new disease, the virus has been around since the 1970’s. It was recognized outside of non-endemic countries in May 2022. Monkeypox is a viral illness that begins with flu-like illness, lymph node enlargement, and rash. Transmission occurs by exposure to bodily fluids, sores, or respiratory droplets. The virus does not spread easily between people. As of 9/27, Over 390 reported cases in MA. Tri Town is considered a LOW RISK COMMUNITY at this time. If cases do occur, they will be handled just like any other communicable disease in the town, through the health department and by public health nurses.

Link for more info: https://www.mass.gov/monkeypox

Health Department has at-home Covid tests Room 5 of the Town Hall. 


 

Well Amendments

 

Section 6 Wells

 

6.1 No person shall drill, dig, or otherwise develop any new well for water without a permit from the Board of Health. Such a permit shall be in effect for a period of three years from the date of issue. Penalties: Unless otherwise specified, the penalty for violation under this Section 6.1 shall be $50.00 per violation, each violation shall be considered a separate offense and the penalty shall apply to each day of the violation.

 

6.2 A plan showing, as a minimum, the lot, the proposed well, proposed water line, and the building to be served and any subsurface sewage disposal systems within 200 feet, must be submitted to the Board of Health with the required fee. The proposed well must be located on the lot which it serves, and must meet these minimum distance requirements:

 

Distance from: Feet:

Leaching Facility 100

Designated Leaching Reserve Area 100

Septic Tank 50

Property Line 10

 

6.3 A well from which the water is not intended for human or animal consumption or for the irrigation of foods or food ingredients may be less than 100 feet from a leaching facility but not less than 25 feet.

 

6.4 The Board of Health may refuse to issue a permit if it deems that the location of the proposed well will unreasonably interfere with the probable future installation or repair of a septic system on a neighboring lot of land, or for any reason which may be contrary to sound public health policy as determined by the Board of Health.

 

6.5 Before use, or upon transfer of a property any well intended for use as a potable water supply must be tested for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) in accordance with EPA Method 524.2 and for Total Coliform bacteria, and must meet the minimum standard of 0 Total Coliform bacteria per 100 ml. Such well must also be tested for Arsenic, and for any other constituents determined necessary by the Board of Health, and must meet the current standard (0.01 mg/L) for Arsenic, and any other constituents determined necessary by the Board of Health.  Testing must be done by  a laboratory which is certified by the Department of Environment Protection or the Environmental Protection Agency and the report of the testing must be provided to the Board of Health before the well is used as a potable water supply, or in the case of a transfer of property, the report of the testing must be provided to the Board of Health and to the buyer of the property before the transfer of the property.

 

 

6.6 All test results of well water submitted to the Board of Health shall remain part of the permanent record of that building.

 

6.7 Any well which is developed after these regulations take affect without a permit from the Board of Health shall not be afforded the protection of Title 5 of the Environmental Code or Section 5 of these regulations.

 

6.8 All abandoned wells shall be tightly sealed by filling to a minimum of 25 feet with clay or cement to prevent pollution of the ground water.

 

6.9 No person shall allow a well to be left uncovered or in an unsafe condition.

 

6.10 No person shall allow the connection of any building, or other facility, to the municipal water supply and to a private water supply concurrently. Such constitutes a cross connection and is prohibited.

 

6.11   Temporary well moratorium - The Board of Health recognizes that certain areas of the groundwater aquifer beneath the Town of Wilmington have been contaminated by releases of pollutants from the Olin Chemical and Sutton Brook Disposal Area (SBDA) Superfund Sites (Olin Site and SDBA Site, respectively, or collectively, Sites). Exposure to groundwater contamination through direct ingestion, dermal contact, inhalation by showering, and irrigation may pose unacceptable public health risks to Wilmington residents. In order to prevent any harmful exposure to contaminated groundwater, further migration of the contaminated groundwater plumes, and interference with the site remedies selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), the Board of Health establishes the following temporary well moratorium:

 

Except for investigation, monitoring, or other remediation-related wells installed, or required to be installed, by any federal, state, or local government authority, no person may drill, dig, or otherwise develop any new water supply well for any purpose, including, but not limited to, potable, irrigation, commercial/industrial production, or agricultural (such as lawn watering, gardening, livestock watering, or irrigation of crop land) use, or change the use of an existing well from non-potable to potable, in the areas of concern for the Sites shown on Figure 1 (for the Olin Site) and Figure 2 (for the SBDA Site) (collectively, Figures), included at the end of this Section.

Properties Within Olin Groundwater Study

EPA and MassDEP continue to evaluate the full extent of groundwater contamination in Wilmington associated with the Sites. The Figures may be updated periodically by EPA and MassDEP as new groundwater data becomes available.

 

6.12  At least 14 days before the transfer of a property located within the areas of concern for the Sites shown on Figures 1 and 2 (referenced in Section 6.11) on which is located any water supply well(s), the property owner shall notify the Board of Health of the location of the well(s), and, if known to the property owner, the water intake depth, and the pumping rate of the water supply well(s).

 

This moratorium is in effect until September 21, 2031 and will expire on such date. (effective date 9/21/2)


 

What you need to know and how to talk to your kids about the dangers of vaping.

Click Here

 


Plastic Bag Ban:

Plastic Bag Ban


Flu Information

 

Flu Fact Sheet 1Flu Fact Sheet 2Flu Fact Sheet 3

Click here for more information on how to fight the flu

 

    Staff Contacts

    Name Title
    Shelly Newhouse, R.S. Director of Public Health

    Board of Health

    Name Title
    Elizabeth Sabounjian Chairman
    Dr. Jane Williams MD, MPH Vice Chairman
    Dr. Daniel King, DDS Member
    Shelly Newhouse, R.S. Director