Harwich Water Department Water Quality

Monomoy Lens - Focus on: Harwich Groundwater Protection

How much water does Harwich use?
In 1996, the Harwich Water Department had twelve wells in operation that pumped an average of 1,523,240 gallons per day providing water to 12,000 people year round and 2,932,421 gallons per day to 36,000 people during the summer months.

Public water services include over 168 miles of main, 8186 residential hook-ups, and 339 commercial/municipal hookups. An estimated 300 homes and businesses are supplied by private wells.

Is there enough water to supply the town in the future?
The Harwich water department is always in the process of planning for future water supplies to meet its growing needs and to ensure an adequate supply in the event of an emergency well closure. Currently, harwich has plans for two additional well sites which could provide an additional 1.5 million gallons/day. The following chart compares water demand and supply for existing and future conditions. The chart shows that based on current population predictions Harwich can provide enough water to its residents for the next twenty-five years. Additional supplies may be needed if there is a big shift from seasonal to year round residents or if maximum day demand conditions continue for more than a few days. As iron and manganese levels increase at various sites, treatment may be necessary to improve overall quality and ensure continuance of an adequate supply.

Harwich Public Water Supply and Demand