We, the residents of Attleboro, ask city leaders to do more to ensure water security.  We ask that ‘lands within resource areas’ and the ‘continuous and undisturbed Wetlands Protection Zone’ be increased from 25’ to 50’.  Supporting this action:

·       25’ buffer is minimally effective for stormwater management, filtering, and erosion1,2.

·       Changing weather patterns require better flood and drought resiliency3,4.

·       Wetlands and buffer zones absorb increasing stormwater runoff5.

·       Larger buffers filter exponentially more pollutants, including PFAS6,7.

·       Increasing buffer zones is far less expensive than building infrastructure, lawsuits, water treatment and insurance claims.

·       Safeguarding current residents takes priority over prospective residents.

·       As buildable land decreases, protecting water supplies are necessary.

·       Sustainable development is not anti-development.

·       44 MA communities have buffers >50’8.