There is increasing evidence that homeowners in the village of Ormond-by-the-sea may be forced to replace their perfectly satisfactory septic systems by connection to a central sewage system owned by the City of Ormond Beach. It appears that the very substantial costs of this compulsory operation will mainly be borne by the homeowners.

The justification being offered for this process is that the Ormond-by-the-sea septic systems are causing unacceptable pollution of the water in the Halifax River and the adjacent Tomoka Basin. However, there is no evidence that the septic systems in Ormond-by-the-sea are contributing any pollution to these waterways, and all the available evidence indicates that they are not.

The undersigned property owners hereby petition the commissioners of Volusia County and the City of Ormond Beach to undertake the necessary scientific work and study to determine whether the septic systems in Ormond-by-the-sea are causing substantial and unacceptable pollution of water in the Halifax River or the Tomoka Basin. We also make the reasonable request that the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of this work and study should be accepted, observed and approved by technical representatives of the homeowners.

Pending the results of this study, the undersigned property owners also petition that any and all work on the proposal to replace the septic systems in Ormond-by-the-sea by the City of Ormond Beach central sewerage should be suspended unless and until the completed scientific study proves that the OBTS septic systems are contributing substantial and unacceptable amounts of pollution to the Halifax River and/or Tomoka Basin waterways.