Water pouring into a clear drinking glass

New Water Conservation Measures

The Town of Chatham has implemented the following water conservation measures in response to the State’s designation of a Level 2 – Significant Drought status for the Cape.

Effective Immediately:
Prohibited:

Use of irrigation systems
Installation of new sod, seeding, or landscaping
Watering during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall
Washing of hard surfaces (sidewalks, patios, driveways, siding); personal vehicles or washing boat hulls upon hauling. Boats may be rinsed to remove debris associated with fishing activities such as gutting, descaling, etc.

Allowed:
Outdoor watering by hand-held hose or watering can Monday, Wednesday, Friday, midnight to 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Exceptions to these measures are permitted for health and safety, agriculture and livestock, and core functions of businesses, such as nursery centers.

Violations will result in:
First offense – Warning
Second offense - $100 fine
Third and subsequent offenses - $200 fine

These measures are required to ensure the Town’s ability to provide adequate water supply for fire protection and water system pressure, limiting wear on infrastructure from excessive pumping, and avoiding bacterial or other contamination of the drinking water supply due to excessive drawdown.

We ask that private well owners share in the responsibility of protecting our region’s drinking water supply by adhering to these conservation measures as we all draw from the same aquifer. Good quality and enough fresh potable water are vital to the health of our community.

Thank you for your compliance.

In Case You Missed It

The Annual Summer Town Meeting, held on Tuesday, August 9th, featured a presentation by Dr. Robert Duncanson, Director of Natural Resources on Potable Water . It covers where the Town's drinking water comes from, the impacts of humans and sea level rise on the quality of that water, and how the Town delivers that water from the aquifer to your tap.
It also includes timely and important information on our groundwater levels and drought status.

The entre meeting is available for viewing online and on Channel 18's YouTube channel.

Tire tracks in the sand on a beach with blue water in the background

North Beach Re-Opened to OSVs

The Chatham portion of North Beach has re-opened to Oversand Vehicle (OSV) travel to all permit holders with the following limitations:

Front beach travel only from the Town Line (Trail 6) to Trail 9 (flagpole).
The Inner Road can be used as an alternate between Trails 7 & 9.
The Inner Road is closed between Trails 6 & 7.
The Point (Inlet) area remains closed due to active nests and unfledged Least Tern chicks.

The restrictions of the Orleans Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and self-escorting requirements were lifted today.

Cons Comm Proposes Revisions to Regulations

The Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed revisions to the Town’s Wetland Protection Regulations on Wednesday, August 17^th at 1 p.m. in the small meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

The Commission is proposing revisions to sections of the Regulations on Adjacent Upland Resource Areas and Variances and new sections on Landscape Standards, Mitigation Standards, Pleasant Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and Catwalks.

The draft sections are posted, along with the agenda and link to join the meeting on August 17^th remotely, at www.mytowngovernment.org under the Conservation Commission. All interested parties are encouraged to participate and provide input on the proposed revisions.

Yellow square with white megaphone with Your opinion matters spelled in white letters

Council on Aging Rebranding

The Council on Aging Board of Directors is looking for your help as they choose a new name for the Senior Center that more accurately reflects the dynamic programs and services offered there.

Vote online for your choice of five suggested names throughout the month of August:

Chatham Adult Resource Center
Chatham Anchors Center for Active Living
Chatham Center for Active Living
Chatham Center for Balanced Living
Chatham Community Life Center

or drop your ranking of the names in one of the ballot boxes located at the Council on Aging, Community Center, Town Offices, Town Office Annex or the Eldredge Public Library. You can submit your ideas for new names too!

Administrative Help Wanted in Town Manager's Office

Swimmer icon in black against a orange background

Follow Us for Beach Updates

As summer starts to wind down, keep up to date on the status of our beaches by following the Town on Facebook and Twitter.

Updates are provided on these platforms and on our website about swimming prohibitions due to water quality or hazardous conditions such as the recent influx of Man O'Wars. We also post updates on lifeguard staffing so you can best choose which beach to visit.

Heading Back Home? Please Update Your Address

If you are a non-resident taxpayer who will be heading back to your primary residence this fall, please update your mailing address with the Assessors Office and the US Postal Service (for forwarding purposes) for the fall Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills. Doing so will ensure that you receive your bills in a timely manner.

Or sign up to pay your bills online and skip the need for a stamp!

South Chatham Library Book & Bake Sale

The South Chatham Library's Annual Book & Bake Sale is tomorrow, August 13th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Chatham Village Hall, 2567 Main Street (right next door to the Library).

Hundreds of hardback and paperback books will be available at super low prices. Also featured are home-baked goodies, plants, cuttings and summer bouquets. Come out and support the Library!

Cartoon images of spray cans and bottles containing household hazardous waste.

Hazardous Waste Collection

There are only a few more chances this year to rid your home of household hazardous waste in a safe, convenient way.

Take advantage of the next collection by the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension tomorrow, August 13th, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Harwich Transfer Station, 209 Queen Anne Road, Harwich.

Not sure what to bring? Check out the flyer on our website.

Next Select Board Meeting - August 16, 2022 @ 5:30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend and participate in our open and public meetings. The agenda for each meeting is posted 48 business hours prior to the scheduled meeting time and can be accessed through the Select Board’s webpage.

Attend in-person at the Town Office Annex, Large Meeting Room. Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#.

I. Joint Meeting with the Council on Aging Board of Directors - New Senior Center/COA Feasibility Study Update Presentation - 193 Stony Hill and 702 Main Street (Architect Joel Bargmann and Owner’s Project Manager Rick Pomroy) Public comments will be accepted.

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!

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov