It’s been 12 years since the town’s sewer regulations were updated, but now business owners and residents may pay additional fees depending on what they flush into the system.

Selectmen gave final approval on Tuesday to a new sewer ordinance. The unanimous decision came after Chair Jon Henry recommended making the vote at the board’s next meeting to allow for public comment.

“People are apprehensive about the changes being made and may want to know why fees are being added,” Henry said. “I don’t think the average person on the street knows the science of the sewage system. Not everything that goes down the drain is designed for our wastewater plant to treat.”

The new regulations will mostly affect industrial facilities and restaurants. One change would limit the amount of copper to be released into the sewer system. For restaurants the proper disposal of fat, oil and grease waste is outlined.

“Basically, these regulations bring the town’s sewer use ordinance up to current [Environmental Protection Agency] standards,” said Shawn Syde, of the engineering firm Camp, Dresser, McKee and Smith.

He noted the cost of the new fees aren't finalized, but will be evaluated after a series of inspections.

Syde, along with Department of Public Works officials, urged the board to adopt the regulations on Tuesday instead of waiting.

The rules had been drafted over the past two years.

“This is a working document,” said Frank Cooper, of the public works department. “It would be good to have some structure in place for those things we know we have to do.”

The first step will be to notify water users, both residential and commercial, about the changes. The notice will ask those tied into the sewer to identify the nature of their use, in lieu of new definitions outlined in the regulations.

Syde said site inspections might occur for some properties.

Selectman Steve Cushing stressed the importance of those inspections.

“Without setting foot into these facilities you really don’t know what’s going down the drain,” Cushing said. “There’s got to be an inspection every time.”