Town leaders: No end in sight for outdoor water ban
By Mike BergerCanton’s current outdoor water ban will continue indefinitely after state officials reaffirmed the region’s Level 3-Critical Drought status last week. The formal announcement was issued by the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on August 26, and the Select Board reluctantly supported the action at its meeting on Tuesday.
Canton DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta said the ban, which took effect on August 9, applies to all nonessential outdoor uses, including irrigation of lawns by any means, washing vehicles other than at commercial car washes, and washing exterior building surfaces, driveways, sidewalks, and parking areas.
Essential water uses are for health and safety reasons, by regulation, for the production of food and fiber, maintenance of livestock and to meet the core function of business,
Homeowners who have existing private wells are also exempted but are being asked to participate in the ban on a voluntary basis. The wells are regulated by the Board of Health and Select Board Chair John Connolly said he believes the Board of Health has put a moratorium on new well requests.
The penalty for violations is a $50 fine per day per lot, and Trotta said since August 9, several letters have gone out and some phone calls have been placed. Trotta said more enforcement measures may be forthcoming and he asked for help in enforcing the ban with a development off Indian Lane.
Planning Board Chair David McCarthy asked Connolly to consider forming a town task force to explore their options should the drought continue.
Trotta said the town has reduced water usage over the past decade through water conservation efforts, with residents now using an average 61-62 gallons per person per day compared to 80 gallons per person per day in 2010.
Trotta also showed a video explaining how the town protects its water and the video will be posted on the town website. He added that the town has taken an active stance in testing for water contaminants and will be distributing a flyer with the next set of water bills asking residents to further help in protecting the town’s water supply.
In other news from the August 30 meeting:
* With the approval of Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall, Town Counsel Paul DeRensis and the Town Engineering office, the Select Board accepted Revolution Way as an official town way. At the May town meeting, voters gave Canton Holdings, owner of the Paul Revere Heritage Site, 90 days to complete all town recommendations on street improvements, and Aspinwall and DeRensis confirmed that all conditions were met.
* The board held a pinning ceremony for new Canton Police Sergeant Mike Brady. A lifelong resident of Canton, Brady graduated from Xaverian Brothers High School in 2002 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Curry College in 2006. He became a permanent intermittent police officer in 2008 and a full-time officer in 2012. He started out on the midnight shift before transitioning to the role of school resource officer at the Galvin Middle School. Police Chief Helena Rafferty said Brady became a favorite of the administration, staff and students …
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Posted by Mike Berger
on Sep 2 2022. Filed under News, Town Government.
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