As Nantucket moves into the 21st century and continues to grow, it is essential that every islander be aware of the need to protect the island's clean water supply. By understanding how what we do affects the quality and quantity of our water, we can take steps to insure that future generations will have drinking water and clean, healthy ponds and harbors.
Ground water is the single source of drinking water on the island.
It is also the principal source of fresh water for domestic, commercial and agricultural use. There is no nearby alternative drinking water supply if our aquifer becomes contaminated. Because of this, Nantucket has been designated a sole source aquifer by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Every resident lives in a watershed. A watershed is an area of land where water flows from high elevations to low elevations, eventually making its way to a pond or harbor.