Dennis Port, MA (02639) – Environmental Hazard Report

ZIP: 02639

Dennis Port, Massachusetts

Score: 8.4/10

Warning: Hazardous substances have been detected in the environment from the nearby Harwich Sanitary Landfill. Residents should use certified water filtration systems or bottled water for drinking until local authorities confirm the area's water supply is safe.

Hazard Data Summary

Hazard Score
8.4/10
Risk Level
Critical
Primary Contaminant
Unspecified Hazardous Substances
Nearest Superfund Site
HARWICH SANITARY LANDFILL
Distance to Nearest
3.8 mi
Sites Within 5 Miles
1
Sites Within 10 Miles
3
County
Barnstable
NPL Status
Active

Regulatory Overview

Dennis Port, Massachusetts, ZIP code 02639, is currently under a critical environmental hazard designation due to its proximity to multiple active waste facilities. There is one hazardous site within five miles and a total of three sites within a ten-mile radius, including Eastham Sanitary Landfill and Cape Cod Septic Services Inc. The most immediate threat originates from the Harwich Sanitary Landfill, located just 3.8 miles from the Dennis Port area. The Environmental Protection Agency lists the Harwich Sanitary Landfill under an active National Priorities List status, indicating that comprehensive assessment, long-term remediation efforts, and site evaluations remain ongoing without a finalized cleanup resolution. The primary environmental threats involve unspecified hazardous substances typically associated with municipal and industrial landfill leachate. When these chemical compounds migrate into local soil and groundwater aquifers, they present severe exposure risks to the population. Prolonged ingestion or dermal contact with these legacy contaminants can induce severe neurological impairment, chronic respiratory issues, persistent organ damage, and an elevated risk of specific cancers over time. Given the potential for localized groundwater contamination, residents utilizing private wells must conduct comprehensive annual water testing through a state-certified laboratory, specifically checking for heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. Households reliant on municipal water supplies should install high-efficiency reverse osmosis filtration systems to capture microscopic chemical particulates before human consumption. Furthermore, individuals cultivating residential vegetable gardens should utilize raised beds filled with imported, certified-clean soil rather than planting directly into the native ground to prevent the dangerous ingestion of bioaccumulated soil contaminants.

Nearby Superfund Sites

Site NameEPA IDDistanceNPL Status
HARWICH SANITARY LANDFILL1100341371283.83 miActive
EASTHAM SANITARY LANDFILL1100092902218.14 miActive
CAPE COD SEPTIC SERVICES INC1100084035489.07 miActive

Data Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Superfund Enterprise Management System (SEMS). Facility data from EPA Facility Registry Service (FRS).

This report is generated from publicly available government data and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For current site-specific information, visit EPA Superfund.

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