Frequently Asked Questions

The Board of Health has the authority to require property owners to connect to the municipal sewer 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.

On December 19, 2023, the Board of Health voted to ammend their Seewer Connection Policy. The policy currently requires, “the owner of a building on a parcel of land which abuts a public or private way in which there is a public sewer shall connect the building to the public sewer within six months of the Board’s letter notification.“

The Sewer Connection Policy also provides guidance on Hydraulically Failed Septic Systems as well as Extension Requests. Download the full Board of Health Sewer Connection Policy here. 

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.

The Board of Health and Department of Public Works are working closely with property owners to avoid situations where new Title 5 systems are installed in areas that will be receiving sewer service in the near future. If you have a failed Title 5 system or questions about the status of your septic system, please contact the Barnstable Health Division at 508-862-4644 or email health@town.barnstable.ma.us.

On our Sewer Connection page (click here) we break down the eight essential steps that comprise the sewer connection process, which includes pre-construction communication from the Town, in-road construction and restoration activities, and ultimately connection notification from the Barnstable Health Department.

A property owner will not be expected to begin the sewer connection process until notification has been received from the Board of Health, signaling that the property is eligible for connection.

Per the approved Board of Health Sewer Connection Policy, property owners will be required to connect to the municipal sewer system within six (6) months of receiving notification.

As a property owner you will be responsible for hiring a licensed sewer installer to complete the connection from the sewer service stub installed by the Town at your property line to the physical building on your property. The Town does not install or perform construction on private property.

Property owners connecting to new sewer service are responsible for the following costs: (1) a one-time Sewer Assessment, (2) costs associated with connecting the sewer service to your property and abandoning your on-site septic system, and (3) fees for using sewer service once activated. Each of these costs is explained in more detail, including financing alternatives, loan programs and situational deferment options, on our Anticipated Costs page (click here).

We understand that septic to sewer conversion can be expensive. That’s why the Town of Barnstable is continuously exploring every option available to reduce costs to residents.

Any property owner may opt to pay their Town-issued Sewer Assessment (also known as a betterment) in quarterly installments and have it added to their property tax bill over thirty years. An abatement process will be available if a property owner believes they were incorrectly charged for a sewer assessment or if the sewer assessment charge is incorrect.

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.

If you have questions about your Sewer Assessment, plesae contact the Barnstable Treasurer/Collector’s Office at 508-862-4054 or taxcollector@town.barnstable.ma.us.

As the Town becomes aware of new or expanded financing options, we will share those resources on our Anticipated Costs page (click here). Currently, the Town encourages property owners to consider the well captialized Cape Cod AquiFund, offered through Barnstable County.

The Cape Cod AquiFund: Barnstable County is pleased to provide low-interest betterment loans to Cape Cod homeowners faced with the cost of replacing their septic systems. Cape Cod AquiFund provides financial assistance for septic system replacement, installation of advanced onsite wastewater treatment units, and sewer connections. Learn more about the Cape Cod AquiFund here: https://www.capecod.gov/departments/health-environment/programs-services/water-and-wastewater/community-septic-management-loan-program-csmlp/

Your on-site septic system must be either removed or filled in due to future safety concerns. This may be done by the same contractor who connects you to municipal sewer. All septic system related questions should be directed to the Barnstable Health Division at
508-862-4644 or via email at health@town.barnstable.ma.us

While much of the sewer connection process is similar, commercial properties will be subject to different permit fees and sewer unit calculations.

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. A property owner will be charged the same number of sewer assessments as there are residential or commercial sewer units on the property.

If you have questions regarding how best to connect your commercial property to the newly expanded sewer system, please contact the Department of Public Works at 508-790-6400.

While much of the sewer connection process is similar, sewer connection for multi-dwelling residential properties will differ. Commercial property owners and managers, including apartment and condominium communities, are encouraged to reach out to the Barnstable Department of Public Works at 508-790-6400 to learn more about best practices for connecting multi-dwelling residential communities to municipal sewer.

The Sewer Assessment Ordinance is intended to charge property owners who will be connected to new sewer service, as outlined in the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan, a fair share of the cost of the infrastructure needed to provide that service. Property owners connecting to sewer service will have the convenience and reliability of modern sewer service without the costs of maintaining and ultimately replacing a Title 5 septic system. Properties connected to sewer service may experience a 6-13% increase in home value (1), and an increase in the marketability of the property. In addition, roadways where sewer mains are installed will be repaved.

(1) Based on recent studies performed for Mt. Pleasant Township, PA and Old Lyme, CT.

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.

A property owner will be charged the same number of Sewer Assessments as there are residential or commercial sewer units on the property. 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.

The Sewer Assessment represents the allocated cost of the sewer infrastructure that will be serving an owner’s residential or commercial property, as defined above.

Allocated cost is the sum of (a) 100% of the cost of general benefit facilities (i.e., main trunk lines, pumping stations) divided by the number of properties served by those facilities; and (b) 100% of the cost of special benefits facilities (i.e., adjacent sewer main tied into the main trunk line), divided by the number of properties served by those facilities.

The combined cost allocated for the general and special benefit facilities will be capped at $10,000 at the beginning of the program and possibly adjusted for the inflation in construction cost annually thereafter.

The Sewer Assessment Ordinance was adopted by Town Council on July 1, 2021, and establishes a Sewer Assessment to be charged to property owners identified to be connected to municipal sewer service under the sewer expansion plan.

The Sewer Assessment represents the allocated cost of the sewer infrastructure that will be serving a property. The Town Council adopted $10,000 as the sewer assessment unit amount.

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.

One bedroom and fewer shall be considered a half dwelling unit; therefore these properties will be assessed at half, or $5,000.

The Sewer Assessment Ordinance was adopted by Town Council on July 1, 2021, and establishes a Sewer Assessment to be charged to property owners identified to be connected to municipal sewer service under the sewer expansion plan.

The Sewer Assessment represents the allocated cost of the sewer infrastructure that will be serving a property. The Town Council adopted $10,000 as the sewer assessment unit amount.

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. A property owner will be charged the same number of sewer assessments as there are residential or commercial sewer units on the property.

The Sewer Assessment represents 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. It also does not include the cost of decommissioning the current on-site system. However the Sewer Assessment does cover the cost of the first grinder pump per sewer unit on the property, if needed to connect to the sewer system located in the street.

Once the sewer system serving your respective property becomes live, property owners can expect to receive two (2) communications from the Treasurer/Tax Collector’s Office:

1. An Estimated Assessment notifying eligible property owners of the anticipated maximum cost
2. A final Sewer Assessment, which will reflect the actual cost to be charged.

The final Sewer Assessment will be charged whether or not the property is immediately connected to the sewer system.

The lien for the Sewer Assessment may either be transferred to the new owner of the property or paid off at the time of transfer. If financing is involved with the property transfer, this will depend upon the financial institution.

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.

Most projects will need to be financed with the issuance of a bond (loan) due to the amount of cost involved. It is anticipated that all projects will be submitted to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (MCWT) for financing as it operates a revolving loan fund with competitive borrowing rates and, in some cases, principal subsidies. The Trust will also administer the distributions from the Cape Cod & Islands Water Protection Fund (CCIWPF) which will be in the form of principal subsidies Due to the limited funding capabilities of the MCWT and CCIWPF some projects will need to be financed with General Obligation Bonds (GOBs) which will be competitively bid in the capital markets.

Prior to commencing implementation of the Comprehensive Wastewater Mangement Plan, the Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) developed a robust list of frequently asked questions related to the plan and its funding.

Download the complete guide to CFAC questions about sewering and funding the CWMP, here: https://barnstablewaterresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Questions-on-CWMP.pdf

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.

The Town of Barnstable, like many on Cape Cod, is suffering from impaired coastal waters due to excessive nitrogen. Our community has also experienced a decline in water quality across multiple sources resulting in groundwater quality concerns and pond water quality concerns. With impaired water resources we face a myraid of other issues that demand attention and action, including flood zone and climate change concerns, economic development, and regulatory requirements.

A watershed is an area of land that drains or “sheds” water into a specific waterbody. Every body of water has a watershed. Watersheds drain rainfall and snowmelt into streams and rivers. These smaller bodies of water flow into larger ones, including lakes, bays, and oceans.

Nitrogen pollution in Barnstable has been documented by the Massachusetts Estuary Project (MEP). Studies have determined that roughly 78% of controllable nitrogen comes from our reliance on septic systems (Source: Cape Cod Area Wide Water Quality Management Plan Update, 208 Plan, Cape Cod Commission).

The current Title 5 septic systems are not designed to remove signigicant nitrogen. Additionally, currently approved Innovative/Alternative (I/A) septic systems do not remove enough nitrogen to achieve TMDL’s in Barnstable.

The Town is required to meet Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), essentially a ‘nitrogen budget’ and in order to achieve these TMDLs, sewers are necessary.

The Federal Clean Water Act requires communities to meet Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). Failure to implement changes that protect our water resources can future damage water quality, impose negative impacts to local economy and property values, and puts the Town at risk of court order, lawsuits and/or regulatory enforcement.

The CWMP outlines both the traditional and non-traditional approaches the Town intends to implement to assist in nutrient management. The plan includes:

(3) 10-Year Phases of Sewer Expansion

• • Approximately 190 miles of new sewers
  • Approximately 11,800 properties to be connected to sewer
  • Phases executed as multiple smaller projects

Leveraging Existing Infrastructure

• • Upgrades to the Water Pollution Control Facility
  • Improvements and enhancements to existing sewer infrastructure and sewer pump stations

Non-Traditional Projects

• • Including but not limited to dredging, stormwater, floating wetland treatments, etc.

Adaptive Management

• • The plan is flexible and adaptive
  • 5-year updates are required
  • Annual report submission to the Cape Cod Commission

Furthermore, 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 if a village was receiving sewer as part of our Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan, or not. Our application remains under review with MassDEP; we will be sure to keep our community updated throughout the review process.

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. After completing a comprehensive review, our initial understanding is that the Town’s state-approved Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) will comply with the requirements of a Watershed Management Plan (WMP) and can be used as the basis for a Watershed Permit.

Furthermore, 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 remains under review with MassDEP; we will be sure to keep our community updated throughout the review process.