mission

Background
In Harwich water quality equates to our quality of life. We drink our groundwater, and fish, swim and play in our surface waters. Take attractive water-based activities away and our property values and economy go with them.

Our valuable water resources are being stressed by pollution resulting from development. The need to protect our drinking water supplies is obvious to everyone; less clear are the more subtle effects on lakes, ponds and coastal embayment. Those close to these resources see the problems of closed shell fishing areas, restricted swimming, nuisance algal blooms and a general reduction in water quality.

The pollutants most frequently identified include nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) and bacteria. Often unseen are viruses and chemicals found in everyday household products and deposits on the ground of every kind. These pollutants find their way into the water system from septic systems, fertilizer and pesticide applications, rain runoff from roads, roofs and the land, boat discharges and direct atmospheric deposition.

Several Town Boards have attempted to address these impacts through regulations aimed primarily at individual developments. While these approaches help somewhat with new development they do little for existing development and nothing for watershed-wide contributions. The time has come to develop a comprehensive town-wide approach to managing water quality.

Objective
Establish a task force to develop a town-wide management plan for improving the quality of Harwich’s water resources, consistent with our local comprehensive plan of development. The management plan shall consider and deal with all potential sources of pollution within a given watershed. The plan must be flexible enough to incorporate changing development patterns. A major goal of the process shall be to promote the public’s understanding of the issues and build a consensus on goals and alternative solutions (i.e. cluster on-site wastewater treatment systems, non-point source pollution management measures, integrated pest and fertilizer practices, land acquisition, etc.) The plan should seek to balance needs with the ability to finance necessary improvements. Priorities should be set and a schedule established which maximizes the effect of any public improvements within a watershed and between watersheds in a comprehensive manner.

Approach
The task force shall meet initially with each relevant town board/committee to clarify issues and objectives. Communication with town boards will be maintained throughout the process. Public workshops shall be held within each critical watershed to discuss the issues and gain input to the process.

Task Force Membership
The task force shall consist of eleven (11) members. Terms shall be indefinite.

Procedures
The task force will be responsible for conducting periodic public meetings to accomplish the objectives set forth above and to insure orderly progress and shall provide periodic progress reports to the Board of Selectmen. The task force will select a clerk who will be responsible for keeping minutes and records of all votes, including providing notice of all meetings in accordance with the open meeting law.

Interpretation
The Board of Selectmen may, from time to time, confer on the task force additional responsibilities relevant to the objective. Any questions concerning the nature or scope of the task force’s authority shall be clarified by instructions from the Board of Selectmen, which shall be terminative.

Scope of Work
§         Clearly define the water quality problem.
§         Identify and define levels of acceptable water quality.
§         Identify and characterize all potential sources of water quality infringement in each         watershed.
§         Determine the impact of future growth & development on water quality consistent with the Master Plan if no action is taken.
§         Develop a comprehensive database for water quality management.
§         Identify candidate solutions/remedies.
§         Develop cost benefit analysis for candidate solutions.
§         Develop educational materials regarding water quality for use by the general public.
§         Develop a clear, concise set of goals and objectives for water quality management
§         Develop a draft Water Quality management Plan.
§         Conduct public hearings on the draft plan.
§         Revise the plan based upon public input.
§         Submit a completed Water Quality management plan to the Board of Selectmen including an action plan, timetable, relevant cost estimates and approaches to funding.

Revision 10/30/01

DanetteL.Gonsalves	242 Route 137	East Harwich, MA 02645	432-0196
Robert Owens	2 Samoset Road	East Harwich, MA 02645	432-0196
Charles Palmer	55 Monomoy Road	Harwich Port, MA 02646	432-3889
Robert Sarantis	33 Red Pine Road	Harwich, MA 02645	430-9965
Ray Gottwald	38 Huckleberry Path	Harwich, MA 02645	430-1664
Francis C. Sampson,Chair	109 Riverside Drive	West Harwich, MA 02671	430-1915
Larry Ballentine	767 Route 28	Harwich Port, MA 02646	432-1434
Robert Goodwin	P. O. Box 538	Harwich, MA 02645	430-7970
Anthony J. Piro, M.D	15 Vacation Lane	Harwich, MA 02645	430-0888
Stanley Kocot, M.D	8 Harvest Hollow Drive	Harwich Port, MA 02646	430-9916
George Meyers	22 Shady Drive	E. Harwich Port, MA 02645	430-7167
Interested in Serving: Ray Rivard, Barbara Gallagher, John Follas
Selectmens Liaison: Ed McManus