Orleans, like all the towns on Cape Cod, obtains its drinking water from the groundwater in the Cape Cod Aquifer. All of our drinking water, whether from Town water supply or from private wells, comes from the rain and snow that falls on Cape Cod and soaks into the sandy soils. The Town of Orleans has eight wells tapping groundwater from the ‘Monomoy Lens’, which is located under the towns of Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, Orleans and a section of Yarmouth. This lens is the second largest of the six freshwater lenses which together comprise the Cape Cod Sole Source Aquifer. Lenses can be thought of as mounds of groundwater (fresh water) bordered by marine water at the edges, bedrock on the bottom and separated from each other by tidal rivers or inlets that cut across the Cape Cod peninsula.
Wells 1-6, and well 8 are located on 500 acres of Town owned land between Route 28 and Route 6. You can see signs along Route 28 noting the land areas around these wells. Well 7 is located on approximately 38 acres of Town owned land off Quanset Road. You can see Well 7 from the road on the left as you head south on Quanset. These parcels of land are restricted use areas.
The Orleans Water Department is responsible for the maintenance of the wells and the well fields, and for purification of the well water before it enters the drinking water distribution system as potable water. Potable water is regulated by state and federal laws and is tested regularly to check compliance with drinking water quality standards. The Orleans Water Treatment Plant uses an ultra-filtration system designed to remove iron and manganese from the water, as well as to provide a barrier to particles as small as bacteria and viruses. The purified water is also chlorinated as necessary to control bacterial growth and to inactivate any remaining bacteria and virus components.
Each year, the Orleans Water Department issues an Annual Water Quality Report covering the prior year. This report covers in detail the results of water quality testing, as well as background on drinking water supply, distribution and treatment. The most recent reports can be found on the Town website: https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/1101/Water-Quality-Reports. Orleans’ drinking water has a long record of excellent quality and received an “excellent” quality rating in APCC’s State of the Waters annual report for 2024: https://capecodwaters.org/overview/#results
The Orleans Water Department is responsible for the maintenance of the wells and the well fields, and for purification of the well water before it enters the drinking water distribution system as potable water. Potable water is regulated by state and federal laws and is tested regularly to check compliance with drinking water quality standards. The Orleans Water Treatment Plant uses an ultra-filtration system designed to remove iron and manganese from the water, as well as to provide a barrier to particles as small as bacteria and viruses. The purified water is also chlorinated as necessary to control bacterial growth and to inactivate any remaining bacteria and virus components.
How you can help safeguard our drinking water
Although Orleans has excellent drinking water, the sole source aquifer is vulnerable to pollution and over-exploitation. Protecting our drinking water source is everyone’s responsibility and you can help in several ways:
- Conserve water and observe town directives for voluntary or mandatory water use restrictions, as posted on the Water Department website: https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/468/Water-Conservation
- Eliminate use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides – they contain hazardous chemicals that can reach your drinking water source.
- Pick up after your pets.
- If you have a septic system, properly maintain it to reduce leaching to water sources.
- Dispose of chemicals properly and take used motor oil to a recycling center. Don’t pour pollutants down a storm drain – they will flow directly into a nearby waterbody.
Additional Information
Residents of the Town of Orleans can have real time access to their water utility accounts and water usage through a cloud-based computer application called Eye on Water. This is accessible through a standard web browser or smartphone application. Eye on Water lets you see how much water you’re using and can even alert you to possible leaks on your property. https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/464/Eye-On-Water
You can find more information about the Orleans Water Department (which is part of the Town’s Department of Public Works and Natural Resources) at: https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/457/Water-Department
The Orleans Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners, answering to the Select Board, sets policy ensuring the adequate production and the high quality of potable water.
https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/547/Board-of-Water-Sewer-Commissioners