Water Commission Chairman Karl Huber recently presented the town's Source Water Protection Plan [1] to the Board of Selectmen to request their support. The plan was developed over the course of the past year by the Source Water Protection Steering Committee [2] (SWPSC [2]) working in conjuction with the Massachusetts Rural Water Association [3].
The Source Water Protection Steering Committee was formed last fall to identify potential water system vulnerabilities and take steps to manage potentially contaminating land uses in order to avoid contamination of our drinking water. The committee includes representation from various town boards and the community at large.
The goals and objectives of the Source Water Protection Plan [4] include:
- Continuing to implement a hazardous floor drain inspection program
- Developing strategies for controlling high-risk use & development within Dunstable's water supply protection district.
- Designating parcels identified as key wellfield recharge areas as being a priority for town acquisition or conservation
In order to develop the plan, the committee has proposed a set of Water Supply Protection Districts [5], each of which requires a certain level of protection to ensure that Dunstable's drinking water will always remain safe and reliable.
| Town Well Protection Zone II | [5]Water Protection Districts |
The committee's next steps are to:
- Create/implement a Zone II WaterSupply Protection Zoning District (See map [6].)
- Conduct educational outreach to residents and businesses within Zone II
- Continue protecting priority parcels within Zone II
- Consult with the Dunstable Highway Department to ensure low-salt application within the designated Water Supply Protection Districts
At the conclusion of Huber's presentation, the Selectmen voted unanimously in favor of endorsing the plan. The plan also has the unanimous support of the Board of Health, Conservation Commission, and Planning Board. The committee plans to reach out to other boards and committees to raise awareness and ask for their support of the plan. The zoning overlays for the water supply protection districts will be presented at a future Town Meeting for approval.
For more information, such as a detailed description of the four protection districts and the land uses that would be permitted and prohibited within these districts, refer to the executive summary of Dunstable's Source Water Protection Plan [7].