Chatham Selectmen Considering New Water Conservation Restrictions

CHATHAM – Chatham Selectmen are considering new water conservation regulations for swimming pools and in-ground sprinkler systems.

If passed, all new residential irrigation systems would have to be connected to a private well where they are available by April 1, 2018.

Also beginning on that date, the town will prohibit the use of town water to fill or re-fill swimming pools, and pools that are connected to town water must be registered and permitted by the town and placed on a separate water meter.

The Chatham Water and Sewer Advisory Committee came up with the new rules and regulations in response to the strain on the water supply from record high water use.

“The intent on this is to look forward in reducing the impact of turf irrigation water coming out of the municipal water supply,” said Committee Chairman Larry Sampson.

Those with irrigation systems will only be able to provide no more than an inch of water each week and residents with a private well suitable for irrigation will be required to use it instead of town water.

Any irrigation systems still connected to town water by 2020 will have to be placed onto a separate water meter, at the property owner’s expense.

“We’ve prepared these revisions to the rules and regulations of the water department based on our anticipation of a continued difficulty with water supply, this last year we were able to eek by,” said Sampson.

Sampson added that he will go back and further discuss the selectmen’s questions with the committee.

The proposed rules and regulations are available on the town’s website at town.chatham.ma.us.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter

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