Residents Need to Demand Decisive Action on Harbor
At the recent Harbor Plan public meeting held on June 18th, 2025, I addressed the distinguished panel representing the communities of New Bedford and Fairhaven with the following statement: “There can be no Harbor Plan without a plan for clean water in our harbor.”
I emphasized three key elements critical to the Fairhaven community:
1. Bridge Connectivity: Fairhaven and New Bedford are physically and economically connected by a bridge. While the new bridge must support present and future vessel traffic, it must also reflect the everyday needs of our residents. Safe, accessible pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists are essential and must be incorporated into any design.
2. Waterfront Development: The Harbor Plan must align with the will of Fairhaven residents, as expressed through the Town Meeting vote approving 40R smart growth development along designated portions of our waterfront. As a coastal community with real tourism potential, we must encourage mixed-use development — housing, retail, and restaurants — that brings vibrancy, economic opportunity, and sustainability to our harborfront.
3. Clean Water & Environmental Justice: A comprehensive Harbor Plan is incomplete without addressing New Bedford’s long-standing Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) problem. Fairhaven is leading by example, investing over $50 million to upgrade our wastewater treatment facility to expand capacity and reduce nitrogen. In contrast, New Bedford has discharged over 133 million gallons of untreated wastewater — human waste, plastics, chemicals — into our shared harbor in just the first 2.5 months of 2025. If rainfall patterns continue, this number could exceed 700 million gallons by year-end.
At a meeting I attended at the Buzzards Bay Coalition headquarters last fall, it was estimated that fixing New Bedford’s CSO system would cost approximately $1.2 billion. The price tag is steep — but how can we place a value on our children’s health, our shellfishing industry, and the enjoyment of our coastal environment?
I urge residents of both Fairhaven and New Bedford to demand decisive action from our elected officials. Other cities — Boston, Providence, Fall River, Pawtucket — have taken steps to solve this problem. We must do the same.
Rick Trapilo, Fairhaven
•••
Click here to download the 6/26/25 issue: 06-26-25 FhvnPride
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
