Robbins Report

"The Good Graces of the Board of Health have Expired" for Bookstore Restaurant

Wellfleet - The Bookstore Restaurant Saga Continues
In violation for two decades, a Lower Cape icon avoids sanitation remedy

by Peter Robbins

"The Good Graces of the Board of Health have Expired" as told to Caroline Parlante, President of Bookstore & Restaurant Inc. by Lezli Rowell, vice chair of the Wellfleet Board of Health last night. The Bookstore, in violation since 1989 (see the letter below), was given, what appears to be its last marching orders.

According to Ms. Rowell, Mrs. Parlante said she was not aware of the seriousness of the problem. The Board of Health was happy to see that the Parlantes had hired East Cape Engineering of Orleans to study the area of concern and make a proposal for the boards review. East Cape Engineering also designed the system, which was approved for what was going to be "Pearl", the Old Captain Higgins Restaurant. Just FYI, Captain Higgins, according to the Town of Wellfleet, was on town water.

In an interview with Andrew Perry, Assistant Health and Conservation Agent for the town of Wellfleet, it was confirmed that there was a monitoring well on the Bookstore property and that the groundwater table was some 2 to 4' feet below the surface. Of concern to everyone is not only the septic conditions but the quality of the water at the Bookstore from the well on location. I asked Mr. Perry if the present town water supply has sufficient volume for the Bookstore to tie into? I was informed this was being studied, and he would prefer not to comment on the issue.

Mr. Russell Tierney, Division Manager of White Water, oversees public water supplies for Wellfleet as well as many other towns, talked to me to address some of these logical questions. When asked if the present town water system would have adequate volume to handle the Bookstore if they were allowed to tie in? The answer was simple, "No , not as of right now." Mr. Tierney continued, "There area 5 or 6 connections left in that area and they are dedicated to lots which does not include the Bookstore." "The town well is capable of producing the needed volume but would be unable to supply it due to shortages in storage, the town would be required to be a storage tank (water tower) the ensure proper volume."

Ok, so you have to pose the question, an area needs water. The well is capable of producing the amount needed, but can not presently due to storage shortages. How much would a storage tank cost? According to Tierney, " The last time we checked it was around $1,000,000.00, with the price of steel now well over I would imagine."

Lezli Rowell agreed town water would be great but, "We can not speculate on public water being part of the answer, we need a septic upgrade [ at the Bookstore Restaurant ] now!"

Now I want everyone to understand something, I realize the Bookstore is as iconic an establishment to Wellfleet as the Land Ho is to Orleans. Personally, I wouldn’t want to be faced with the Parlante’s present problems but they need to be resolved. Also confirmed with the Town of Wellfleet Board of Health was the disturbing fact that the groundwater at the Bookstore location is between 2 and 4 feet from the surface, and being monitored. Additionally, Title V requires that septic systems be at least 5' above the water table. If the water table is between 2 and 3 from the surface and your leaching and septic has to be 5' above the water table, you do the math! And where must all the leaching be going?

If an acceptable system is not in place by the start of the summer season, chances are, The Bookstore Restaurant will be shut down.

I hope someone is monitoring water samples!