Safeguarding Barnstable's Future
Preserving Our Water, Protecting Our Community
Together we must protect and enhance the quality of Barnstable’s water resources—coastal waters, freshwater ponds and lakes, and drinking water—through comprehensive planning, sustainable infrastructure development, and community engagement.
The Barnstable Water Resources website serves as a central hub for information and updates related to the Town of Barnstable’s Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP). This state-approved, science-based plan aims to manage nutrient pollution from wastewater, primarily by transitioning properties from septic systems to a municipal sewer system. By doing so, we strive to restore and preserve the health of our waterways, ensuring they meet regulatory standards and support the community’s environmental and economic well-being.
Key Initiatives
Explore the impactful initiatives that drive our community’s commitment to protecting and preserving water quality.
Watershed-by-Watershed Approach
The Town’s CWMP is built to be adaptable and utilizes a watershed-by-watershed approach to ensure the
regulatory requirements of each watershed are met. The plan is designed to reduce nutrient pollution in embayments to a level consistent with established Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). By reducing nutrient pollution in embayments, the plan also protects water quality in ponds and drinking water sources.
Municipal Sewer Expansion
The expansion of the Town’s wastewater infrastructure (sewers) will be implemented in three 10-year phases. Each phase consists of multiple individual projects that will proceed through permitting, design, and construction. The newly expanded municipal sewer system will also provide the wastewater infrastructure needed to support community economic development and affordable housing needs.
Innovative and Nature-Based Approaches
Alongside traditional sewering, the Town’s CWMP proposes other innovative and nature-based approaches such as aquaculture, cranberry bog restoration, inlet dredging, and use of Best Available Nitrogen Reducing Technology (BANRT) in septic systems.
Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring
The Town of Barnstable, with support from several organizations and citizen volunteers, conducts robust water quality monitoring programs for embayments, ponds, and lakes. Specifically, the Town’s embayment monitoring data is provided directly to the Cape Cod Commission, per the requirements associated with its 208 Plan Consistency Determination. The Cape Cod Commission then integrates the data into the Cape Cod Water Quality Data Portal, for public viewing.
Public Outreach and Engagement
The Town of Barnstable has developed robust outreach initiatives, aimed at educating residents,
visitors, and business owners about the critical need for the CWMP. From the Homeowner’s Sewer Connection Guide and CWMP Annual Report, to a dedicated email newsletter and regular briefings with Town Council, civic associations, and special interest groups, community engagement remains a vital piece of the plan’s success.
Our Commitment
As an information hub, we are committed to providing clear, transparent communication about the water quality issues that matter most to you. Through this website, residents and visitors can access:
• Detailed information and updates related to water resource specific programs and projects, including sewer expansion projects
• Tools to assist property owners and independent contractors as they navigate the sewer connection process
• Financial planning resources and information on anticipated costs related to sewer connection
• Annual and seasonal water quality monitoring data and beach status updates
• Regulatory compliance reports and documentation
• Recent news, presentation recordings, and more
Our goal is to equip our community with the knowledge and tools necessary to participate actively in the Town’s efforts to improve water quality and related infrastructure.
The implementation of the CWMP is a 30-year endeavor, structured in three 10-year phases. Each phase focuses on expanding sewer infrastructure to reduce nutrient pollution in our watersheds, aligning with Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) established by federal and environmental agencies. The plan also proposes significant upgrades to the Town’s Water Pollution Control Facility, which will result in equipping Barnstable with the next generation of wastewater treatment and technology along with the ability to adapt to future regulations related to contaminants of emerging concern (CECs).
It’s important to remember that the problem we currently face is one that has permeated over a number of generations – yet Barnstable is committed to solving it in one.
For more information, resources, and updates, please explore the various sections of our website or contact us directly at WaterResources@town.barnstable.ma.us.
