CHATHAM – The Association to Preserve Cape Cod recently submitted comments to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
They were in regards to applications made by Chatham and Harwich to increase the amount of water they withdraw for their public water supplies.
In the comments, the APCC stressed the need for water conservation planning in municipal water supply use.
“We haven’t taken a position that says they shouldn’t have their water, we are simply asking questions about the basis for the request and the quantification of the impacts of potential increases,” said APCC Executive Director Andrew Gottlieb.
They also made recommendations that the towns do analysis of the potential impacts of increased water withdrawals on nearby surface waters such as ponds, vernal pools and other wetlands.
“Any potential impacts of the increased water withdrawals, surface water features, like ponds, wetlands and streams, be understood and deemed to be acceptable prior to them obtaining the state authorization to take additional water,” said Gottlieb.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter