Wastewater > Project Case Study

Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan
Orleans, MA

Wright-Pierce is developing a comprehensive wastewater management plan (CWMP) for the Town of Orleans as part of an ongoing effort to address the pros and cons of establishing a municipal sewer system in this coastal Cape Cod town.

Like many Cape Cod towns, Orleans has historically utilized on-site disposal systems. While these systems largely comply with Title 5 (the state sanitary code), they are not effective in controlling the release of nitrogen and phosphorus, which has adverse effect on  the groundwater, freshwater ponds, and the poorly-flushed estuaries that surround the town. 

The CWMP assessed the need for improved wastewater management, identified feasible alternative solutions, and recommended a town-wide plan for long-term protection of these important aquatic natural resources.

Wright-Pierce worked in collaboration with the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP), a state program which assesses the health and assimilative capacity of 89 embayments in southeastern Massachusetts. After conducting a thorough evaluaiton of decentralized solutions and an independent review of the MEP technical reports, Wright-Pierce established a procedure for allocating the responsibility for nitrogen control among neighboring towns contributing to the same embayment at Pleasant Bay.

Wright-Pierce coordinated all stakeholders, and facilitated all public participation, associated with development of the CWMP. Implementation of the CWMP is currently underway.