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GEROGETOWN
TODAY
What
Smells Like Sulfer?
Lonnie
Brennan
Todays water forecast:
a touch of swampiness, followed by periods of brown
metallics, and occasional sulfer smells. And, your water
bill just rose $60/yr this month because YOU are not
using enough of this stuff!
Welcome to Georgetown, circa 2007. To be fair, the water
quality isnt always bad, and for the most part, its
just cosmetically challenged (the water might
taste or look bad, but lead and such nasteis are within
acceptable parameters). But, $60 more each year? For
what?
Noted residents Jack and Cathy LHommedieu summed up
our situation in a letter to the water commissioners:
This is to express our displeasure with your
addition of a $15 per quarter billing fee for
basic service. Previous reduction in the minimum usage,
rate increases
have resulted in doubling our bill
from 1996 to 2006. More money for less water of lower
quality.
But, never to criticize without offering a solution, they
suggested: if you really have the need for more
money that you charge more for over-use rather than
burden those who strive to conserve. We feel the numerous
green lawns in Town created by sprinkler systems that
result in our water literally running in the streets
represent a disgraceful waste.
Their timing couldnt have been better. Resident
George Commisky had just presented the selectmen with yet
another photo of an automatic sprinkler system, flooding
the streets, in a rainstorm.
These residents are joined by many others in their
frustrations with paying more for less: less quality,
less quantity. Long-time resident Arthur Greenberg
addressed the board of selectmen to express his concern
with constantly deteriorating water quality, and the $60
fee. Mr. Greenberg opined that NO conservation,
reductions, creative thinking, alternatives, or
administrative changes have been forthcoming from the
water commissioners. Arthur as everyone knows
him, isnt one to pull punches. He said loudly what
many have whispered.
Water commissioners present at the selectmens
meeting responded that we are not using enough water.
They also noted how theyve increased pumping from 1
million gallons/day to 1.5 million gallons/day in the
summer, but they need to pump more, or charge more for
less. The less you use, the more we have to charge
we were told. Their comments drew some concern from
Margaret Kearns, Watershed Ecologist from the Mass
Riverways, a division of Mass Department of Fish &
Game. Ms. Kearns and Mr. Comisky had just presented a
lengthy slideshow depicting the condition of the Parker
River, and the apparent effects of changes to flow and
increased pumping, and the resulting dry river beds,
increased swamp land, and decline in good
fish species. In simpler terms, weve gone from
flowing water to stangnant, smelly, green, muddy, yucky,
froggy, slime, where nice fish once frolicked (if fish
frolic).
And the concern continued after the meeting. Former
Conservation Commissioner and current Planning Board
member Harry LaCortiglia related that the Water Dept has
done a great job of building a first class treatment
facility and improving the water distribution network
throughout the town. Theyve built a formula
one race car of water delivery for our town and that race
car is now roaring down the track bringing us what comes
out of our faucets. The only problem is that somewhere
along the line, as well as they have done, they forgot to
install a brake pedal in the vehicle and Georgetowns
now coming into a tight turn on the track.
You could walk across the Parker River this summer
without getting the sides of your sneakers wet, Mr.
LaCortiglia said. The Planning Board, in its
recently completed Master Plan, and the Conservation
Commission in its Open Space Plan, have both, separately
concluded that the town needs to have what is called a
Safe Yield Analysis performed for the river
that recharges our water supply. Those two town boards
cant usually agree on much of anything, so its
noteworthy that theyve come to a single mind in
this instance. There are State grants coming out this
month for studies such as the one thats being
called for in both of those Plans. Conservation,
Planning, and the Water Commissioners should collectively
apply for the State grant to do this analysis. Or will
they all give us the same old song and dance and say they
are too busy for this and point fingers at
one another saying that its someone elses job
to do?
So, what does one conclude when such a diverse group of
individuals and some on polar opposites on topics of
faith, family, and politics, all come together and agree
that something is dreadfully unfair and unjust and
un-ecological, etc. regarding our water usuage? Got my
attention. Did it get yours? Nothing will change unless
you make it change. Send your comments to the selectmen
and to the water commissioners and to the conservation
commission.
Lonnie Brennan is a selectman in Georgetown and the owner
of the Chocolate Cellar. He was the Republican candidate
for state representative in 2006 and is active in the
Republican party. You can email him at lonnie@thechocolatecellar.com.
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The November 2007
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 15,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
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Westford, Acton, and Lowell.
Hampton & Salisbury Beach, (summers
only)
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