The single most important thing you may ever do to help the Westport River is to get out and vote YES on Question 1 on Tuesday, April 9. We cannot overstate how important your vote is for the future of Westport. On-site septic systems are the single biggest source of pollution to the Westport River and to our drinking water. Expanding sewer to collect the wastewater from homes and send it to the Fall River wastewater treatment plant is by far the best environmental outcome for river habitat. Clean river water means more recreational and commercial fishing and shellfishing — one of the characteristics that make Westport so unique and beautiful.

A second reason to vote “Yes” on question one is financial. There is no question we will be required to do this at some point by the state, just as they are requiring Cape Cod to do right now. If we wait, the costs will be higher, the grants that are available now will have expired, Route 6 will have been paved over and the ability to control our own destiny will have been lost. Solving the problem now saves money for everyone.

The third reason is that there are many wells in the Route 6 area that have been contaminated by nearby septic systems. In many cases private drinking water wells are contaminated with harmful pollutants like PFAS and high concentrations of nitrogen. This forces homeowners to buy expensive bottled water and it limits expansion of their homes. Providing water and sewer to Route 6 and later to surrounding neighborhoods improves public health in the north end of town.

The fourth reason is that with water and sewer in Route 6, we may be able to attract businesses that create jobs that expand our tax base and provide opportunity for our kids to stay in Westport and raise families here.

To preserve the place we live and love we must invest in its protection. Supporting this water and sewer project has multiple town-wide benefits. It protects the river, it improves the homes and businesses along Route 6, and creates controlled redevelopment opportunity.

Now is the time to make this investment in Westport’s future. Join us and Vote YES on Question 1 on April 9th.

John Bullard

Don Dufault

Bullard and Dufault are Westport residents and board members of the Buzzards Bay Coalition. Bullard sits on the Westport Planning Board and chairs the Climate Resilience Committee. Dufault is a former board member of the Westport Fisherman’s Association.