Cape Cod Ledger

District H Water Supply Wells and Pump Station Project Update

The District H Water Supply Wells and Pump Station project is part of the Public Water System approved at Town Meeting in 2014 & 2015. The goal of this phase of the project is to connect two drinking water wells to Eastham’s drinking water supply and add the Water System’s third pump station. When completed, the site will have, in addition to the wells, a 1,200-square-foot pump station building, an access road to the building, electric and water utilities, and a graded area for a future water supply storage tank (same storage volume and size as the Town’s existing tank at zoning District G).Conservation ImpactsPrior to consideration of the development of the District H Well the Town gave thoughtful consideration to the impact of any development on this pristine parcel. As a result, we asked for 21.3 acres of still undeveloped land off of Ocean View Drive to be placed in conservation. At the 2020 Town Meeting the 21.3 acre parcel was approved for a permanent conservation restriction. This will yield significant public benefit for: wildlife and habit protection, protect nearby natural (undeveloped) areas forever, preserve the scenic landscape, and protect the water quality around our water wells.During construction, The land being developed will have silt fencing to prevent local turtle populations from migrating onsite, and prevent any runoff of sediment from construction. Strict protocols will be followed. After construction, a large portion of the cleared land will be repurposed as a sandy meadowland for the creation of a new habitat area.Permitting ProcessThe District H supply wells were permitted and approved for drinking water supply in May of 2015 with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). Since that permit was approved, the District H project has been issued permits/approvals from: the Cape Cod Commission, Eastham Conservation Commission, Massachusetts (MA) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and MA Historical Commission. Each permit has a set of conditions and requirements in order to minimize impact to local wildlife and maximize the effectiveness of the site as a water supply source.Contractor - Dig It ConstructionAfter many years of planning, permitting, and design, the contract is under construction as of October 2022. The contractor performing the work is Dig It Construction. They are currently clearing and performing grading and leveling of the site. The project is expected to be completed in 2024.

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