The Harwich Board of Water/Wastewater Commissioners is shifting its focus to outreach and enforcement as major infrastructure projects move into critical phases. During their Tuesday morning meeting, officials revealed that approximately 125 property owners have yet to connect to the sewer system in Phase 2, prompting a new wave of enforcement actions. Chair Noreen Donoghue noted that the primary driver in addressing these stragglers is now the Health Department, which has begun issuing reminder and enforcement notices to ensure compliance with town regulations.

The push for connections comes as the town prepares for the next major leg of the Route 28 infrastructure overhaul. Superintendent Jason Trapania announced that the department has officially received the Order of Conditions from the Wetlands Protection Act for Phase 2 of the Route 28 project, which covers the area near the Herring River. This $11 million project, which involves complex water main replacements and dry pipe sewer installations, is expected to move to the bidding phase shortly. Trapania confirmed that engineer Bob Drake is currently finalizing the contract packages to get the work out to bid in the coming weeks.

To mitigate the impact on local commerce, the board coordinated with Harwich Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cindy Williams to schedule a business-focused informational meeting on May 14 at 6:00 p.m. Donoghue explained that the board adjusted its original timeline to ensure business owners could participate before the peak summer season begins. Originally we had not planned to have any community meetings until the end of August, but with good advice from people who deal with the businesses, we were won over because apparently after Memorial Day, they just would not have any time to deal with this, Donoghue said.

Williams noted that the Chamber would promote the session through its electronic newsletter to maximize reach. This is perfect because any of the businesses that can't attend in person can hop on, Williams told the board. I can do a little welcome and I can introduce Jason. Then we're right out of the gate showing the partnership. The board spent time refining the informational flyer for the event, with Donoghue insisting on high visibility for remote access links. I don't think it should be blue on blue. I can barely read it, she remarked regarding the graphic design. Commissioner Alan Thompson agreed with the need for clarity but noted his preference for the color palette, stating, I like the blue because we're talking about water.

Beyond construction logistics, the department is aggressively pursuing state funding to modernize town records. Trapania is currently applying for a state grant to implement GIS mapping for all town hydrants and gate valves. Additionally, he is seeking an Asset Management program grant to cover both water and wastewater infrastructure. These efforts align with the town's broader goal of updating its 2002 hydraulic model to better simulate fire flow and water age using modern billing data.

As the town heads into the May Town Meeting, Donoghue expressed confidence in the department's articles, noting that technical experts from GHD and residents with chemical backgrounds will be available to answer any quality-related questions from the floor. The board also finalized its upcoming calendar, opting to skip a meeting on the May 20 election day. Their next regular session is slated for June 3, though Thompson noted the board remains flexible, saying, Let's put something on the books for June and if something comes up in May that we need to address, we'll just meet.

The meeting concluded with brief updates from the remaining commissioners. Commissioner Judith Underwood noted she was all set regarding current project reports, while Commissioner John Goff added that he shockingly enough had no further items to report. The session occurred just days before the town's mandatory two-day-per-week water restrictions are set to take effect on May 1, a measure triggered by the region’s Level 2 drought status.