Barnstable County at 24th Annual Southeastern Massachusetts Drinking Water Fair
June 21, 2019 – Yesterday employees representing two departments at Barnstable County gathered to share their expertise at the 24th Annual Southeastern Massachusetts Drinking Water Fair held at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Shannon Jarbeau, Cape Cod Cooperative Extensionâs Floodplain Specialist and Community Rating Systems Coordinator, gave an overview on the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, discussed what can go wrong for drinking water utilities in a flood, and offered examples of how our communities can improve our flood resiliency by planning and coordinating with partners.
Presenting on the topic of drinking water and the wastewater cycle on Cape Cod, George Heufelder from the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center spoke about the abbreviated water cycle on Cape Cod and the importance of tracking potential contaminants in our region where roughly 85% of households rely on unregulated septic systems.
Sam Butler, a masterâs student at Massachusetts Maritime Academyâs Emergency Management program and intern at Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, presented on business continuity and discussed how important it is that businesses and organizations develop strategies and plans that minimize impacts on drinking water in natural disasters.
Other speakers included:
- Marcel Belaval, Environmental Protection Agency
- Tiffany Skogstrom, Office of Technical Assistance and Technology
- Hilary Hackbart, Department of Labor Standards
- Kristin Divris, Department of Environmental Protection
Barnstable County Water Utilities Association (Paul Anderson from Town of Brewster Water Department) coordinated the event.
Sponsors: Massachusetts Water Works Association, New England Water Works Association, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
