Well #8 Taken Offline

Adherence to  Water Conservation Measures Urged

Test results of treated water samples taken from Well #8 on September 7, 2021 indicated PFAS levels of 20.1 ng/l and 20.2 ng/l, above the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 20.0 ng/l set by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP). Well #8 has been taken offline from the Town’s water supply system and will remain offline until re-tests indicate PFAS levels have dropped below 20.0 ng/l, and the Select Board has approved its re-introduction to the system.
 
As a result of the loss of the 550 gallons per minute supplied by Well #8, and with Well #5 having been offline since April, the Town is again strongly urging adherence to the water conservation measures made mandatory on May 18, 2021:

• Outdoor watering at odd-numbered addresses restricted to odd-numbered calendar days. Outdoor watering at even-numbered addresses restricted to even-numbered calendar days.
• Outdoor watering limited to 1” (one inch) or less per watering event.
• Outdoor watering limited to the period 6 PM to 12 AM (midnight), except for in-ground irrigation systems which are limited to 12 midnight to 6AM.
• No washing of sidewalks or driveways.

• First offense – Warning
• Second offense - $100 fine
• Third offense - $200 fine

The Select Board, acting as Water and Sewer Commissioners, will consider further restrictions to these water conservation measures at its meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
 
Good quality and sufficient quantities of fresh drinking water are vital to the health of our community. We urge all residents, business owners, and visitors to abide by these mandatory measures to protect the Town’s drinking water supply.
 
While these restrictions apply to those on the public water supply only, we ask that those with private wells take these measures into consideration as we all draw from the same aquifer and are still experiencing drought conditions.

COVID-19 Update

In the first six days of September 2021 there have been eight cases of COVID-19 reported in Town. In September of 2020 there were a total of eight cases reported for the entire month of September. In August 2021 there were a total of 24 cases reported compared to 4 cases reported in August 2020.

Of the eight cases reported in September through the 6th, four are individuals who are vaccinated, one individual who has not been vaccinated, and the vaccination status of the remaining three individuals is unknown. 

Our community's average daily incident rate has increased and as of September 2, for the preceding two weeks, the Town's percent positivity is is up to 4.7%, while Barnstable County is at 3.09%.

Per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) if you are not vaccinated please wear a mask indoors in public; if fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in public to maximize protection from the Delta variant of COVID-19.

Special Town Meeting Called for October 23 @ 9:30 a.m.

On Tuesday, September 7th the Select Board voted to call a Special Town Meeting on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. at Veterans Field.

The Board reviewed and added three articles to the Special Town Meeting warrant. Article 1 seeks to appropriate and transfer from available funds $4,872.28 for bills received for the prior fiscal year. This article requires a nine-tenths majority vote to pass.

Article 2 seeks to appropriate $4,500,000 from water funds for the construction of Wells #10 & #11 and an associated chemical feed building. These wells will yield approximately one million gallons per day which is critical to maintaining adequate supply during pea seasonal demand periods. This article which authorizes borrowing requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Article 3 seeks to appropriate $750,000 from surplus water funds for the engineering and design of a water treatment plant for the removal of iron and manganese and PFAAS from Wells #5 & #8. This article requires a simple majority vote to pass.

The Board will review any additional staff recommended articles and any petitioned articles received (100 certified registered voter signatures required) at its upcoming meetings in September.

The last day to register to vote to participate in the Special Special Town Meeting is Wednesday, October 13th.

Weigh In on Our Town Charter

The Charter Review Committee is seeking input from the public on any aspect of the Town's Home Rule Charter during its 5-year review period. The final opportunity for the public to suggest amendments or speak in favor of retaining current Charter provisions is the Committee's September 14th virtual meeting at 3:30 p.m.

To participate follow the link in the posted agenda. If you are unable to participate in the meeting but would like to submit comments email Town Clerk Julie Smith, snail mail comments to the Town Clerk's attention at 549 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633 or drop comments off at the Town Clerk's Office, Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The current Charter is available for review through the Town's website.

The Mainsheet

The name of our e-newsletter was selected from submissions by our community.
In nautical terms a mainsheet is the line connected to the boom which allows a sailor to control the speed of a boat. We think that is fitting for an e-newsletter that can be used to quickly send out important information to our community or at a more leisurely rate for less pressing matters. It reflects Chatham’s maritime history, is reminiscent of the front page of a newspaper, and it is a fun play on Main Street, where you go to be part of all that is happening in Town!