Anticipated Costs
Preparing to connect to the municipal sewer system? Understand your financial responsibilities as a property owner.
The Town of Barnstable is responsible for the design, construction and operation of sewer mains, sewer pump stations, and sewer service stub pipes installed in front of each property, within the Town right-of-way. Property owners also have responsibilities in this process.
As a property owner you will be responsible for completing a pre-construction Sewer Connection Form. Upon project completion, property owners will then be responsible for hiring a licensed sewer installer to complete the connection from the stub left at their property line, within the public right-of-way, to their building on their property.
Property owners connecting to new sewer service are responsible for the following costs: a one-time Sewer Assessment, costs associated with connecting the sewer service to your property, and utility fees for using sewer service once activated. Each of these costs is explained below.
The Town of Barnstable is continuously exploring available options to help to reduce sewer connection costs to residents. A summary of financing alternatives, loan programs and situational deferment options are also shared on our Financial Resources page.
Property Owner Costs
Sewer Assessment
The Sewer Assessment Ordinance was adopted by Town Council on July 1, 2021. As such, the Sewer Assessment is a charge that will be applied to the owners of properties that have one or more residential or commercial sewer units that are eligible to be newly connected to sewer service under the sewer expansion plan.
A residential sewer unit is defined as the number of dwelling units on a residential lot. For example, a two (2) family dwelling unit on a residential lot will be assessed two (2) Sewer Assessments.
A commercial sewer unit is defined by the amount of sewer flow on the property based on Title 5 of the State Environmental Code, 310 CMR 15.203, system sewage flow design criteria; whereby every 330 gallons per day of flow equals one (1) sewer unit.
The Sewer Assessment is calculated as the lesser of (a) $10,000 or (b) the allocated cost of the general benefits infrastructure and special benefits infrastructure. The Sewer Assessment does not include the cost of connecting a property to the sewer service located in the street.
The Sewer Assessment does not apply to existing sewer customers in Town, or to any properties that are already eligible to connect to live sewer service, even if they are not yet connected as the sewer system is already available. If you have questions or concerns regarding your Sewer Assessment, please contact the Barnstable Treasurer/Collector’s Office at 508-862-4054 or taxcollector@town.barnstable.ma.us.
Sewer Connection Costs
In addition to the Sewer Assessment, a property owner is responsible for the cost to install the necessary connection from the building on their property to the public sewer system located within the roadway. This is done by connecting to the sewer service lateral (also known as a “stub”) that the Town’s contractor installs at your property line, within the public right-of-way.
Connection costs will vary based on your property’s unique characteristics and is dependent on factors such as the location of your current septic system and the distance from the building on your property to the roadway. In some instances, to save costs, a property owner may consider re-routing their internal plumbing to assist with sewer connection. If this is of interest, we recommend you consult with a licensed professional plumber to determine the best course of action.
Property owners will be responsible for hiring a licensed sewer installer to complete the actual private construction necessary on your property. Like any residential construction project we recommend that you obtain at least three quotes from a variety of licensed sewer installers. Download a list of licensed sewer contractors here.
Utility Billing
Once your property has been connecting to the municipal sewer system, you will be charged a sewer service user fee based, similar to any other traditional utility for your property. Your sewer service fee is determined based on your property’s water usage and your sewer service bill will be issued at the same frequency in which you receive your water bill.
If your property has an irrigation system you may be eligible to install a deduct meter which can provide you with a cost savings for water that does not enter the sanitary sewage system. Please contact your individual water purveyor to determine if this applies to you.
Please keep in mind there are multiple water districts in the Town of Barnstable — Barnstable Fire District Water Department, Centerville Osterville Marstons Mills (COMM) Fire District Water Department, Cotuit Water District, Hyannis Water Supply Division (the only Town-owned and operated water system), and West Barnstable Fire District Water Commission (via private wells). Each water purveyor has its own policies and procedures.
Meeting our community’s clean water goals necessitates investment. Visit our Financial Resources page to review available financial support aimed at helping Cape Cod homeowners faced with the cost of connecting to the municipal sewer, repairing or replacing failed septic systems, and upgrading to alternative septic system technologies.
Need Additional Assistance?
The Department of Public Works is here to educate, guide, and equip property owners throughout construction and the sewer connection process.
Common Sewer Connection Questions
Is my property located on a sewer expansion route?
If you are unsure if your property is located along a planned sewer expansion route, use the Public CWMP Map to locate your property and determine if it is identified within a proposed sewer expansion project.
Click here to access the Public CWMP Map: https://gis.townofbarnstable.us/Html5Viewer/Index.html?viewer=publiccwmp2
Click here to access the Phase 1 Projects Page:
https://barnstablewaterresources.com/sewer-expansion/
Will I be contacted by the Town prior to sewer construction?
Yes, prior to construction beginning in the roadway, the Department of Public Works will perform a series of outreach efforts such as public information meetings, mailers and in-person door-to-door canvasing. Once your property has been identified as part of an active construction project, you will be asked you to fill out a Sewer Connection Form. The purpose of this form is to provide DPW with relevant information about how your current plumbing works. You will be asked to provide a sketch plan identifying your building’s layout in relation to the street as well as the preferred location of a sewer service stub connection on your property. Detailed instructions will be provided.
Learn more about the Sewer Connection Form and related construction sequencing, here: https://barnstablewaterresources.com/sewer-service-connection-center/
What costs am I responsible for when connecting to municipal sewer?
A property owner is responsible for essentially three primary costs.
- The first being a one-time Sewer Assessment, which is a charge that will be applied to the owners of properties that have one or more residential or commercial sewer units that are eligible to be newly connected to sewer service under the sewer expansion plan.
- Additionally, a property owner is responsible for the cost to connect their property to the municipal sewer system located in the street and to decommission the current on-site septic system, if needed. Connection costs will vary based on property characteristics.
- Lastly, once sewer service is connected, property owners will be charged a sewer service user fee based on their water usage. The current typical residential sewer usage bill averages around $435 annually and may vary based on water usage. If the property has irrigation, a property owner can install a deduct meter which will enable the property owner to realize a savings for water that does not enter the sanitary sewage system.
Review the Town Council Approved Sewer Assessment Ordinance, here: https://barnstablewaterresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-07-01-Town-Council-Approved-Sewer-Assessment-Ordinance-letter-2021-139.pdf
How do I find a qualified contractor to connect my property to sewer service?
You can find a qualified contractor from the Town of Barnstable’s list of licensed sewer installers, which is updated regularly and posted to the the Town’s website. Your licensed sewer installer will do the actual construction at your home on your property and will be responsible for applying for the necessary permits.
In most cases, a qualified sewer installer is sufficient for both design and implementation; however, in a limited number of cases it is necessary to also secure the services of a licensed engineer with civil engineering experience to direct your sewer connection. The connection must comply with the Town of Barnstable’s sewer connection design specifications. Your contractor will assist you in determining the most cost-effective way to arrange pipes on your property.
We update this database regularly! Download the current list of licensed sewer installers, here: https://barnstablewaterresources.com/licensed-sewer-installers/
Do I have a choice whether or not to connect to new sewer service?
The Board of Health has the authority to require property owners to connect to the public system when it becomes live. The Board of Health also has the authority to allow property owners to delay connecting depending upon their unique circumstances. If you have a question or circumstance that you believe may necessitate a delay in connecting to sewer service, please call the Town of Barnstable Health Division at 508-862-4644 or email health@town.barnstable.ma.us.
Is there any payment assistance or abatement of either the Sewer Assessment or connection costs?
A property owner can opt to pay the Sewer Assessment all at once when due, or may opt to finance the Sewer Assessment and pay quarterly installments on their property tax bill over thirty years. In accordance with current policy, the Sewer Assessment under the thirty-year payback option would be amortized at an interest rate equivalent to 2% above the rate of borrowing, unless otherwise determined by the Town Council. If the sewer assessment is added to future tax bills, a lien will be recorded on the property at the Registry of Deeds.
The Town is also exploring the possibility of allowing qualifying homeowners the option to defer their sewer assessment if they meet certain income and asset limits. This would carry an interest charge and the sewer assessment would be paid at the time of a transfer in ownership or refinancing of the property.
Additional financial support includes zero and low-interest betterment loans through Barnstable County’s Cape Cod AquiFund and Cape Cod 5’s Sewer or Water Connection Loan Program. We will continue to update and share additional financial resources as they become available.
My septic failed and I am not yet connected to sewer, what do I do?
Like the decomissioning of your system, the Board of Health is the governing authority on all things septic. If you are currently living at a property with a failed septic system or in the process of buying or selling a property with a failed septic, the best first step is to determine where your property falls within the adapative sewer expansion plan. You can obtain this information by locating your property on our Public CWMP Map, here: https://gis.townofbarnstable.us/Html5Viewer/Index.html?viewer=publiccwmp2
Once you confirm if your property is identified to recieve future sewer service, you will then need to contact the Board of Health to determine the most appropriate course of action. If your property is not eligible for sewer connection within an approved timeframe, the Board of Health may require you to make necessary upgrades or request replacement. If you believe your property’s septic may be failing, please call the Town of Barnstable Health Division at 508-862-4644 or email health@town.barnstable.ma.us.
How do the new Watershed Permit Regulations and revised Title 5 septic system regulations impact me?
The Town of Barnstable received the final Watershed Permit Regulations (314 CMR 21.00), and Title 5 Natural Resource Nitrogen Sensitive Area Regulations (“NSA”) (310 CMR 15.214 and 15.215), on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
As of September 1, 2023, the Town of Barnstable submitted its application for a WP95 Watershed Permit. Our application included the request for a Watershed Permit covering the entire Town of Barnstable, regardless of when, or if, a village was receiving sewer as part of our Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. Our application has advanced to the Draft Permit stage and is currently available for Public Comment via MassDEP, here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massdep-permits-approvals-for-comment
In accordance with 310 CMR 15.215(2)(a)(b) and 314 CMR 21.03(1), the issuance of this Watershed Permit would exempt the Town from Title 5 requirements to install Best Available Nitrogen Reducing Technology (BANRT) for existing septic systems and new construction within the designated Natural Resource Nitrogen Sensitive Area (NRNSA), provided the Town remains in compliance with the permit.