Developing an Adaptive Plan for Highly permeable, sandy soil conditions on Cape Cod lead to wastewater-compromised groundwater throughout the peninsula. Recent regulatory changes to Title 5 by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection this past year addresses estuary Wastewater Treatment in Town protection, but do not include our freshwater ponds. Currently, the town has about 27,000 households with approximately 3,500 connected to municipal wastewater treatment. The current three phase, 30-year wastewater collection and treatment expansion plan expects to connect an additional 12,000 households. In 2018, the cost estimate was The graphic below shows some of about $1.45 billion. Costs have risen substantially since then. the components worth considering Due to the timing and location of the sewer plan, for future adaptive planning. along with the groundwater “time to travel”, Enhanced Innovative/ it is unrealistic to expect any Alternative Septic (EIA) significant water quality Municipal Wastewater improvements in our Treatment (MWT) bays for several decades. Municipal Wastewater Treatment (MWT) Enhanced Innovative Alternative Septic (EIA) Cost/Benefit Analysis Challenges Cost/Benefit Analysis • Proven technology and plan. • Effluent disposal challenge rises • Costs at 1/3 of MWT on a unit basis. • Can be modified to treat with increased volume and system • Potential to target “at risk” Contaminants of Emerging expansion. areas quickly. Concern (CECs). • Distance from MWT raises overall • Potential for town-wide adoption. • High and rising costs to build and ongoing costs. • More balanced recharge. and operate. • Recharge may be a consideration • Cost per kg of Nitrogen • Cost per kg of Nitrogen for water departments. removed = +/- $300. removed = +/- $900. • “Time-to-travel” results in slow • Unit cost of $46,000 for full new • Parcel cost $140,000, range improvement in groundwater. replacement, estimated $38,000 of $100,000-$200,000. • Costs preclude ability to address for partial replacement (keep tank • Operation and Maintenance town-wide wastewater. and/or leach field). (O&M) considerations. • Will community be willing and able • O&M considerations. to fund costs? • Betterment opportunity to lower town- wide costs and address housing needs. 8 | Barnstable Clean Water Coalition | Fall/Winter 2025 BCleanWater.org