Orleans Voters
choose Phase 1A at the polls!
Conservation moorings and Question 9 voted down.
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Orleans Can and Orleans Pond Coalition Are Co-sponsoring
Ask The Experts Series On WastewaterView Them Now! |
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Ask the Scientists our April 22, 2013 forum |
Ask the Engineers: our May 2, 2013 forum |
Ask Our Neighbors: our May 7, 2013 forum |
The mission of Orleans Can is to provide factual information in support of a wastewater management implementation plan that is effective, economical, efficient and equitable for the citizens of Orleans. Twelve years of planning and numerous studies have confirmed the science and need for action. Inaction and delay are no longer options.
The plan should:
- Reduce nutrients in our groundwater, coastal waters and ponds;
- Meet the total maximum daily load (TMDL) limits for these nutrients;
- Protect the ongoing health of our ponds, bays and estuaries;
- Keep the cost of remediation and infrastructure lower by acting while interest free loans are available
We are a group of Orleans residents, businesses, property owners and visitors who care deeply about our town and want to ensure that it retains the qualities that have attracted us to live and visit here. We would like Orleans to remain a seaside community that protects the waters – fresh and salt – that support the fish and shellfish industries that we all enjoy, and that beguile the many tourists who come to enjoy its beaches and water activities.
Unless we solve the problem of increasing pollution flowing into our waters, primarily from septic nitrogen and phosphorous, and also from runoff from roads and fertilized lawns, we will see only further degradation of the quality of our waters. Already, many of our freshwater ponds are clogged with algae, our salt water bays have seen die-offs of eelgrass, large growths of sea lettuce smother the bottom, and saltwater ponds lack oxygen. Without sufficient oxygenation, our waters become inhospitable sites for recreation and cannot serve in their role as nurseries for an astounding number of sea creatures on which the coastal ecosystem depends.
For 12 years Orleans has been seeking a solution to this difficult problem. Voters have expressed their desire to move ahead and have voted for development of a comprehensive wastewater plan as well as for additional studies that examine potential alternative solutions. It is time to act. We hope that you will join us in accomplishing this critical task for the Town.
In the months ahead this web site will provide factual information about the progress and issues that arise as the Town moves forward. We hope it will help to increase understanding of the process and will be a source of information and an interactive site that can respond to questions you might have. If we don't have the answers, then we will find them for you to the best of our ability and we welcome your comments and suggestions.
Orleans Can
Box 268
East Orleans, MA 02643-0268