LOCAL RESOURCES

Cape Cod Environmental Education Network
www.cceen.org
An environmental education resource for Cape Cod teachers and concerned individuals. The Cape Cod Environmental Education Network (CCEEN) was formed in response to a state-wide call for Regional Environmental Education Associations. At present, it is an informal collaboration among numerous individuals and groups, including teachers, environmental education organizations, Barnstable County AmeriCorps Cape Cod, and the Cape Cod Foundation. These organizations are concerned with meeting the needs of teachers and others interested in environmental education, and relaying useful environmental education information to all segments of the Cape's population.

Estimating High Groundwater Levels on Cape Cod
Online Resources for Technical Bulletin 92-001

The estimating technique described in this bulletin is specified as an acceptable method of determining the maximum rise of groundwater levels in a given location on Cape Cod according to the State of Massachusetts Sanitary Code (Title 5). Files are available to down load including the Technical Bulletin, Maps, Tables and Computation Forms.

For Monthly Index Well Data, go to: www.capecodcommission.org/wells.htm

STATE AND FEDERAL WATER RESOURCE AGENCIES:   

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
www.state.ma.us/dep/
General information and tips for all programs controlled by the DEP

Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection Division of Water Supply
www.mass.gov/dep/water/index.htm
General information and tips for water supply programs
Click here for a map of communities affected by water use restrictions

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Groundwater and Drinking Water
www.epa.gov/safewater/
Navigational links to all water related topics

US Geological Survey : Water Resources of Massachusetts
http://ma.water.usgs.gov
Reports on Massachusetts water conditions
 

DROUGHT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION:

DEP Model Water Use Restriction Bylaw/Ordinance 
click here to download pdf
Customize this bylaw  to address voluntary and mandatory water use restrictions.
 
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Rainfall Program-
Drought Management Plan and Status
www.mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/rainfall/
Specific information about the Drought Management plan including data and maps.

Current water use restrictions
www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wateruse.htm
STORMWATER REGULATIONS:
 
EPA NPDES Stormwater Information                   http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6

Massachusetts  DEP Stormwater Policy
 http://mass.gov/dep/water/wastewater/stormwat.htm

Stormwater Phase II Rule Fact Sheet Series
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swfinal.cfm

 
WATER CONSERVATION ON THE WEB:

American Water Works Association 
www.awwa.org/waterwiser/

EPA's Energy Star Program
 www.energystar.gov

H2ouse Water Saver Home
Virtual water saver house tour. Interactive site with information about average water use and conservation.
www.h2ouse.net/

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection  http://mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wtrmcons.htm

Massachusetts Water Resource Authority
www.mwra.state.ma.us/04water/html/watsav.htm

New England Rain Barrel Program
Special offer for Barnstable County Residents, discounted prices on rain barrels.
www.nerainbarrel.com

WATER CONSERVATION IN YOUR HOME
Compiled By Tom Warhol, Mass. Riverways Program, (617) 626-1571

1. Use your water meter and/or water bills to track your household’s water consumption. The current residential water usage recommendation from the Mass. DEP is 65 gallons per day per person (rgpcd). Water conservation advocate Paul Lauenstein from Sharon Friends of Conservation http://www.sharonfoc.org/interest.html  has developed a helpful chart (see http://www.sharonfoc.org/interest/lawntips.pdf) which should enable you to easily convert your household’s water usage into an rgpcd figure and see how your usage compares to the recommended 65 rgpcd figure.

2. Fix leaky faucets or pipes. You can estimate how much water is being lost via these leaks by using this calculator: http://www.awwa.org/advocacy/learn/conserve/dripcalc.cfm
3. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and washing dishes. See http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=641 for a table showing the water savings achievable by this and other conservation-minded water use.

4. Install low-flow shower heads: http://www.hometips.com/cs-protected/guides/showerhd.html;
and toilets: http://www.terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm (Great Reviews)

 5. Replace your old clothes washer with a more efficient, front-loading one. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=clotheswash.pr_clothes_washers; http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/topwash.htm

WATER CONSERVATION IN YOUR YARD

“On average, 50 to 70 percent of home water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardens.”
- American Water Works Association

1. Install a rain barrel and use the water it collects for your garden and lawn as well as car washing and cleaning windows. These (often recycled) plastic barrels can hold 60 gallons or more of water (especially when two or more barrels are hooked up in series) and can be attached to a downspout from roof gutters. They’re fitted with filters to keep debris and mosquitoes out and a spigot to aid in easy water dispensing. Only 1/4 inch of rain discharged to a downspout is needed to fill a typical barrel. A full 60-gallon rain barrel can cover about 100 square feet with an inch of water, ideal for small lawn areas or gardens.  Local sources for rain barrels include the New England Rain Barrel Company, www.nerainbarrel.com http://www.nerainbarrel.com  and The Great American Rain Barrel Company, www.tgarb.com http://www.tgarb.com .  Many municipalities have partnered with these and other companies to offer rain barrels at a substantial discount.

 2. Water your lawn and garden only when necessary, and then only when the regulations of your municipality and/or water district permit you to do so.  Watering in the early morning (before 7AM) or evening (after 6PM) helps reduce evaporative waste.  This website offers additional tips: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/index.html 
 
3. Keep better track of your sprinkler system, and turn it off if there has been adequate rain. Or install soil moisture sensors to reduce unnecessary sprinkler use (see http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/links/controllermanf.htm). Minimize the amount of wasted water that misses its target vegetation and sprays or runs off to patios, driveways, sidewalks, etc.

4. Use native plants whenever possible, as they are adapted to the natural cycles and amounts of rain and sun in New England (see http://www.newfs.org/nursery.htm and http://www.nsrwa.org/greenscapes/). See also EOEA’s publication More Than Just a Yard: Ecological Landscaping Tools for Massachusetts Homeowners <http://www.mass.gov/envir/mwrc/pdf/More_Than_Just_Yard.pdf>  – free hard copies are available by contacting Russ.Cohen@state.ma.us or (617) 626-1543.
 
5. Convert non-porous surfaces to porous ones; this helps the ground absorb rainwater, keeping it from washing into storm drains and causing unnatural flood volumes in streams and rivers, scouring banks and destroying habitat. http://www.stormwatercenter.net (choose fact sheets/ porous pavement); http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/porouspa.pdf

6. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway.  (See http://www.usagreen.org/waterConservation.html for this and 99 additional suggestions for saving water.) 

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