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My View
The title of the article was "We need a new water supply! It is the Lifeblood of Nantucket." Fast forward to 2007 and once again the Wannacomet Water Company is in the process of developing an additional water supply and a second water storage facility on the former Clisby property, also known as 00 North Pasture, off Milestone Road. The headline that in 1995 proclaimed that an adequate public water supply is the lifeblood of Nantucket is still relevant today. The public water supply system of the Wannacomet Water Company contributes to Nantucket in four significant ways. • 1. Public Health Protection: The first obligation of any public water supply system is to ensure that the water it delivers is safe for human consumption. Wannacomet has mandated water sampling protocols that test for over 100 contaminants and must meet close to 90 regulations for water safety and quality. • 2. Fire Protection: Adequate water storage, pressure and supply are critical in protecting Nantucket from fire. Everyone benefits from the ability to provide sufficient water for fire fighting, not just those who are connected to the system and support the maintenance of fire hydrants, pumping and delivery systems through their water bills. • 3. Economic support: A safe reliable water supply is a key factor in the economic health of Nantucket. Turning on the tap and receiving safe, quality water that tastes really good is essential to the day-to-day operations of commercial enterprises. On average over 200 new connections are made to the Wannacomet system annually. Arange of housing initiatives from affordable housing projects such as Abrem's Quary to retired and assisted housing at Sherburne Commons were possible because of the opportunity to connect to the public water supply. • 4. Quality of Life: Tap water is more than a convenience. It is so ingrained into our daily routines that we take it for granted that it will always run to allow us to shower, water our plants and landscaping, run our business, clean clothes and dishes, allow our schools and hospital to function, contribute to public safety and a whole host of other uses. I am often asked if I am concerned about running out of water or fear saltwater intrusion into the three well fields. Before addressing these issues I want to take this opportunity to put to rest Nantucket's water urban legend. Our water does not come from Maine or New Hampshire via an underground river. We have done extensive hydrogeological investigation of our aquifer with Dr. Mark Person of Indiana University as the lead researcher. Dr. Person's research has determined that Nantucket's aquifer is contained within a bowl of dense confining materials that protects it from saltwater intrusion under static conditions. The annual recharge to the aquifer from an average of 43 inches of precipitation more than makes up for the amount of water pumped from all sources. However, to determine the effects of increased pumping rates Dr. Person has developed a 3-D hydrogeologic model of the aquifer. Research and data collection is ongoing, but we are very confident that the occurrence of saltwater intrusion into the well fields is extremely remote. We are all beneficiaries and guardians of the system that Moses Joy, Jr. started 129 years ago. Portions of that original system are still in service. In 1995 the Nantucket Water Commission made a decision to adopt strategies to renew the aging infrastructure and develop financial plans to implement those strategies. That decision has resulted in over $22 million in capital improvements for new supply, water storage, pumping upgrades, water metering upgrade, and water main improvements. Currently, there are two major significant projects in the final stages of design and permitting. The need for additional water storage has been evident for the last several years and the Water Commission moved forward with Town Meeting approval to purchase the former Clisby property at 00 North Pasture as a site for a two- million gallon storage tank. The current standpipe on Washing Pond only has 869,000 gallons, out of two million gallons, of usable storage. The new composite tank will have 100 percent of its capacity as usable storage, and because of its design provide a facility to house the Nantucket Police Department's new public safety communications system. Additionally, a new well will be installed on the property to spread out the pumping demand on the aquifer and even further reduce the possibility of saltwater intrusion. These improvements to our water infrastructure and the cost of operations do not come without a price. In 1995 the average annual water bill for a family of four was $345 and it currently is $558 or an average increase of $18 per year. Yet when you consider the critical needs and benefits that are addressed by public water supply, tap water will always be a bargain. You simply cannot put a price on a service that delivers public health, fire protection, economic development and quality of life. It is not only the Nantucket Water Commission and the staff of Wannacomet Water Company that bear the responsibility of protecting our water supply. We are all beneficiaries of the benefits of the system and we all must contribute to its responsible use and protection. The Wannacomet Web site www.wannacomet.org has many tips for using water efficiently and a Water Aide Water Use Calculator to determine our own water use patterns. Water used for irrigation and landscaping should be used in accordance with the recommendations of professional landscapers and irrigation specialists. I would like to wrap this up with a story that was told to me recently. Two friends of mine were having dinner at an island restaurant and overheard the waiter offering a group of diners the option of sparkling water or Nantucket Water. The reply was, "Nantucket water, it tastes great." It does taste great, on the rocks or with a twist and as you are enjoying it remember: only tap water delivers. I |
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