The plan is a regulatory requirement to meet water quality standards under the federal Clean Water Act (Act). Due to excessive nitrogen pollution from surrounding watersheds, many of Barnstable’s coastal embayments are considered “impaired waters” in violation of water quality standards under the Act.  Regulatory thresholds for acceptable levels of nitrogen in these waters, called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), have been certified by federal and state environmental agencies.  The plan provides the road map for meeting the TMDLs and restoring the health of coastal waters. 

Barnstable and other towns on Cape Cod are the designated Waste Treatment Management Agencies (WMA) responsible for planning for and implementing wastewater infrastructure and water quality improvement projects designed to meet TMDLs. This designation is codified under the Cape Cod’s Area Wide Water Quality Management Plan Update (208 Plan Update), developed pursuant to Section 208 of the Clean Water Act, which provides  a framework to restore embayment water quality on Cape Cod. 

Click to view: Cape Cod’s Area Wide Water Quality Management Plan Update (208 Plan Update)

The estimated cost of the 30-year plan is approximately $1.4 billion, including construction, borrowing costs and inflation. The Town has already made significant progress in meeting this funding need. Through legislative action at both the state and local levels the town has created over 50% of the estimated funding sources needed for this program. For the remaining resources needed, the Town has developed an equitable and affordable financing plan to fully implement the CWMP.

• The Town has created an existing dedicated revenue stream that will provide an estimated $600 million over the 30-year implementation timeline.  This revenue stream consists primarily of proceeds from the hotel/motel room occupancy tax, short- term rental occupancy tax, local meals tax and a new excise tax of 2.75% that applies to all types of lodging on Cape Cod
• As new customers come on-line to the public sewer system revenue generated from user rate revenue is estimated to contribute over $200 million to the plan
• With existing spending and revenues accounted for, the remaining funding needed to implement the plan is approximately $600 million over thirty years.  The Town is proposing a two-part strategy to meet this need:
• A Sewer Assessment Ordinance adopted by Town Council created a sewer assessment that applies only to properties that will be receiving sewer service.  The sewer assessment of $10,000 per sewered property at the start of the program. This amount reflects only a portion of the actual cost of sewering the property. It is also less than the potential increase in property value an owner will benefit from by being connected to sewer service. Impacted property owners have the option of paying the full amount upfront, or amortizing the assessment over 30 years, to be included on quarterly tax bills.
• The remaining funding needed to fund sewer construction could come from a reduction in the annual operating budget or a debt exclusion override to authorize an increase in the property tax levy, or a combination of both. This portion of funding would apply to all property owners in Town

Click to view: Sewer Assessment Ordinance

Click to learn about: Financing the CWMP

 The Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) has compiled a detailed list of frequently asked questions about sewering, the CWMP and finances surrounding plan implementation.

Click to view: CFAC Questions about Sewering and CWMP