The conservation commission is made up of three to seven appointed volunteers to acquire open space, administer and enforce the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act, administer any local protection bylaws, manage open space land, develop open space plans, initiate other conservation programs, advise town agencies on resource protection, participate in agriculture preservation and educate local citizens. The Board of Health enforces the Massachusetts General Laws, the state Sanitary Code, the state Environmental Code, and local health regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, the location, construction and repair of septic systems, hazardous material storage and disposal, solid waste disposal, bathing water quality, private water supplies, private wells, and non- community public water supplies. The board also sponsors the local annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
Public safety is important when consuming the live perishable product.
The Shellfish Department is responsible for managing shellfish resources with the town including recommendations for regulation, propagation, and enforcement of town and state regulations pertaining to shellfish. The Shellfish Department is involved in water quality issues to protect shellfish resources. Aquaculture, Chatham, Health, Lobster Fisheries, Ports And Harbors, Recreational Fisheries, Red Tide, Regulatory Enforcement and Information, Seafood, Shellfisheries, Water Quality, Water Pollution, Wetlands .