really interesting. I knew that the Cape's population had risen tremendously, but I didn't realize that there is no more room for single-family housing. The Cape is one big amalgamation of suburban clutter in the worst sense of the concept.

The concerns on Cape Cod as in most populated areas with shore lines, has extensively focused on Septic Systems as being a prime contributor to eutrophication of water bodies and impairment of groundwater. It has been estimated by Dr. Joe Costa, Executive Director of the Buzzard Bay National Estuary Program, that the greatest percentage of nitrogen in Buttermilk Bay originate from Septic and on-site wastewater systems (74%)*. His estimate appear to be less than accurate as nitrate/nitrogen would need to survive several years in the case of sources more than 1/4 mile from water bodies connected with the bay and further does not appear to account for the massive contribution from biomass occurring in areas not covered by asphalt and concrete. The very expensive central sewer option (8,000 to 10,000 million dollars) would likely not reduce nitrogen and phosphorous anywhere near the projected numbers. In view of possible future seawater rise, the saltwater intrusion would devastate fresh water supplies unless every drop of water is returned to the underlying groundwater throughout the Cape soil mantel. Recharging the groundwater should be done with on-site systems that renovate to a fair quality by systems which have a proven track record without failure and overflows. LC * Horsley and Witten, 1994 Massachusetts Found that 74% of nitrogen entering the Buttermilk Bay estuary was due to septic system effluent.