Your Help is Needed!

Your property is within or near an Aquifer Protection District (the land that supplies water to our wells) or a recharge area (the land that absorbs rainwater and melting snow to recharge the aquifer).

Water is one of our most precious natural resources, but quite often is taken for granted. Turn on the tap and there it is. Imagine what your quality of life would be without it!

Groundwater Vulnerabilities

Groundwater is vulnerable to contaminants from many types of land uses and activities, including road salt, septic systems, underground storage tanks and improper disposal of hazardous materials. If the groundwater supplying a well becomes contaminated, it may be impossible to eliminate the contamination so the well can be used for drinking water.

How You Can Help

There are a number of ways in which you can help reduce the possibility of contamination of our water supply. For example:

• It is critical to maintain your septic system properly, to pump the tank every two or three years, not to use commercial septic tank cleaners because they contain hazardous materials, and do not put hazardous materials down the sink, drains, or toilets. These materials reduce the effectiveness of the system by killing necessary microorganisms, and they can pass through the system and contaminate the groundwater.
• Avoid applying hazardous or toxic materials to lawns or other areas of your property. Many of these products move down through the soil and can contaminate groundwater.
• When washing your car, direct the rinse water towards an unpaved area and away from storm drains. And never dispose of used motor oil or other hazardous or waste materials on your property or in storm drains as these materials may move through the soil into the groundwater.
• If you have an underground storage tank, you should have it tested and consider removing it. If you live or operate your business within a District II area, underground storage tanks for hazardous materials, including fuel oil and gasoline, are prohibited.

To maintain a safe water supply, we all need to do our part in protecting it. This map below shows Westford's Resource Protection Districts (JPG). Special restrictions apply to land use within Districts 1, 2 and 3. Your assistance and cooperation in protecting our water supply are greatly appreciated by the Westford Water Department, Westford Conservation Commission, and the Westford Board of Health.