The town is considering investing themoney in a Geographic Information System (GIS) software, a type of computer program that takes database information and applies it to a digital map, providing a visual presentation of an area.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, whichgave the town the grant to initiate a septic management program, is encouraging towns to invest the money in the GIS technology.

Of course, the same thing could be done by taking a town map and using pushpins to indicate each incident, but GIS makes analysis fasterand easier. [Allan] Klepper said that all of the relevant information is instantly updated with the latest information in the database, because the program is connected to databases all over town.