Water Quality and Wastewater Infrastructure

The coastal waters of Cape Cod have provided a rich habitat for many important fish and shellfish. In recent years, the quality of many of our coastal water bodies has deteriorated due to an excess supply of nitrogen-containing compounds. This excess nitrogen fuels the rapid growth of some species of phytoplankton and seaweed (also known as algae), which suffocates eelgrass, a submerged plant that provides ideal habitat for for bay scallops and other coastal species.

A large portion of the excess nitrogen in our coastal waters comes from on-site septic systems, which were designed to remove bacteria and viruses, but not nutrients like nitrogen. In order to remedy this problem, the Cape must invest in wastewater treatment systems that remove nitrogen.

APCC has spearheaded efforts to facilitate the development of needed wastewater infrastructure on Cape Cod. From working to establish a regional wastewater entity, the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative, to the passage of the Massachusetts Clean Water Act as part of the 2008 Environmental Bond, APCC has been at the forefront of addressing one of the most pressing issues on Cape Cod. 

APCC, the Cape Cod Business Roundtable and the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative commissioned a comparative study of costs of wastewater infrastructure to help communities as they embark on wastewater infrastructure planning. The study, an executive summary and a powerpoint presentation are available for download.

Cape Cod Wastewater Costs - April 2010
Cape Cod Wastewater Cost Excecutive Summary
Cape Cod Wastewater Cost Study Slides