Harwich water officials secured a significant budgetary win this week as the Pleasant Lake tank painting project came in hundreds of thousands of dollars under initial estimates. Miles, a consultant with Haley Ward, informed the Board of Water Wastewater Commissioners that the contract was awarded to Worldwide, a Pennsylvania-based firm, which submitted a bid of $835,000. This figure stands in stark contrast to the second and third-place bidders, who submitted quotes of $1.1 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Miles noted that the contractor has a track record with neighboring Brewster and the Wareham Fire District, adding, Your bid price was excellent at $835,000... They are good with the schedule starting after October 6th. The project is expected to take six weeks for painting with an additional two weeks for draining and sampling, aimed at having the tank back online by December.

Chair Noreen Donahue expressed enthusiasm for the timeline, noting she had previously anticipated a later start. Donahue and the board scheduled a follow-up meeting for September 9 at 11:00 AM to formally sign the contract and coordinate with Verizon regarding the cellular antennas currently mounted on the tank’s roof. Commissioner Bob Young added that he was impressed with the level of supervision on the job in terms of someone always being on site. This project comes amid a broader town-wide push for infrastructure transparency, as the board seeks to maintain critical assets without the "budget surprises" that have recently sparked friction between other town committees and the Select Board.

The board also addressed a high-tier water bill at 34 Borham Road, where a leak in a shower stall occurred following a death in the family. While the property was empty, the bill climbed to $727. Under the town’s standard regulations, abatements are typically not issued for leaks; however, commissioners weighed the extenuating circumstances. I'm not opposed to giving them some consideration. Tier 1 at least pays for the cost of the water, Donahue said, suggesting a reduction to the lowest billing tier. Young agreed, stating, I don't want to seem unreasonable when extenuating circumstances happen. The board discussed the possibility of future regulatory changes to include a "50/50 split" option for such cases. Motion Made by B. Young to grant an abatement for 34 Borham Road, adjusting the bill to Tier 1 plus the base rate for a total of $165.70. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

The commissioners moved forward with long-awaited updates to the town’s sewer use regulations, which now formally include protocols for grinder pumps. Superintendent Jason Trapania spent extensive time updating the regulations, which had not seen significant revisions since 2021. The update is a prerequisite for residents waiting to install grinder pumps as part of the town’s expanding sewer infrastructure. Donahue explained that the draft must now be sent to Chatham for comment and approval before returning to Harwich for a public hearing. People are waiting for their grinder pumps, so we want to move along, Donahue said. Trapania confirmed he would attend Chatham’s upcoming meeting in person to urge a swift turnaround. Motion Made by N. Donahue to approve the draft sewer use regulations and authorize the Superintendent to deliver them to Chatham for comment and approval. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

In a significant endorsement of current leadership, the board unanimously approved an Outstanding performance evaluation for Superintendent Jason Trapania. Amalgamating scores from all five commissioners, Trapania received a composite score of 95 out of 100. Young remarked, He has a score of 95 and there was not any score lower than a four. I feel very comfortable and commend Jason on the job he's done. Donahue noted that while she rarely gives perfect scores to allow room for growth, the board was in total agreement that Trapania met every need in his first year. Motion Made by N. Donahue to approve the Superintendent's annual evaluation. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

The Superintendent’s report touched on several ongoing infrastructure and safety concerns, including a $50,000 grant application for cybersecurity following a recent EPA assessment. Trapania also raised questions regarding the Brooks Park fountain, which had appeared on a Town Meeting warrant despite the Recreation Department's previous oversight of the asset. Eric Beebe at Recreation said they take care of it and pay the water bill, Trapania said, noting that a new sanitary fountain with a pet station would be welcomed. Young criticized the town’s past handling of the fountain, stating the town dropped the ball on maintenance and questioned the necessity of a Town Meeting vote for the project.

Addressing the town's water quality, the board discussed recent PFAS settlement funds and the sampling schedule. Donahue noted that Harwich’s low detection levels mean the next required sampling isn't until 2027, but emphasized the need to clarify this on the town website so residents don't mistake a lack of testing for a lack of diligence. It is only a matter of time before PFAS is everywhere; we are ready to buy a gigantic filter for several million dollars when we have to, Donahue said. Commissioner Judith Underwood invited the board to the upcoming One Cape Summit at Wequassett, noting, Is anyone thinking of attending the One Cape Summit this year? It's September 16th and 17th... It's about major challenges like water infrastructure and housing.

Finally, the board handled a technical correction to the July 15 meeting minutes regarding the department's proposed storage building, colloquially known as the "space building." Donahue clarified that the building is planned to be constructed without drainage to comply with MassDEP requirements for structures near wellheads. Motion Made by B. Young to approve the minutes of July 15, 2025, as amended. Motion Passed (3-0-0).