Town Meeting voters approved an addition to the town's bylaws Tuesday, which will require that new construction of medium-sized residential and commercial developments contribute no nitrogen to Wareham's watershed.

The Board of Health will develop the necessary regulations to implement the bylaw, which addresses new residential construction of ten units or more, and commercial construction whose wastewater discharge is 3,300 gallons or greater per day.

Proponents of the article, which was proposed by the Clean Water Committee, argued that the bylaw was necessary to protect residents who pay tens of thousands of dollars to tie into town sewer, only to have their efforts negated by developments that add the nitrogen right back in.

This bylaw "is needed now to protect the residents and protect the environment," said Ed Pacewicz, chair of the Clean Water Committee. "Let the developers pay their fair share. They're not paying anything right now; you are."

But opponents argued that more research should be done before the bylaw hits the books, and worried about why representatives for the Coalition for Buzzards Bay were not present at Town Meeting to support the article.

"When we write a regulation like this, it impacts the entire community," said Selectman Cara Winslow, stressing that the bylaw could deter developers from working in Wareham. "Something like this is well worth the wait to make sure we get it right."

The Clean Water Committee said the Coalition was not in favor of the timing of the article, but did approve of its merits.

The article passed by a majority vote.

In other Town Meeting business:

• Voters approved a reduction in the number of members of the Council on Aging from 11 to 9, and adding two Associate, non-voting members.
• Voters did not approve the addition of a bylaw that would have imposed fines for making loud noise between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Voters authorized the Community Events Committee to use funds from the Hotel/Motel tax and Parking Meter Fund.
• Voters did not approve a citizens' petition article that would require the approval of Town Meeting before the construction of any wind turbines would be permitted.