$36M for Clean Water

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30 January 2026 — CAPE COD, MA — Eight water project across six Cape Cod towns start 2026 with a $36M investment.

Late last year, Cape Cod community leaders showcased their commitment to furthering water quality improvement efforts throughout the region. On Dec. 18, the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Management Board finalized subsidies for eight clean water infrastructure projects in six towns. According to the Cape Cod Commission, the subsidies total over $36 million and support wastewater management efforts in Barnstable, Chatham, Dennis, Harwich, Mashpee and Yarmouth.

How does this help waste water projects on Cape Cod?

“I think that securing funding for these critical wastewater projects has been and is still a challenge for many of our Cape Cod communities,” said Kristy Senatori, who serves as Executive Director of the Cape Cod Commission and a non-voting member of Water Protection Fund Management Board.

“These are large projects with large dollar amounts and the prices are certainly only increasing.”

What projects received funding?

Of the eight projects to receive funding, three are located in Barnstable. Close to $484 thousand was allocated for a sewer extension and vacuum sewer removal, about $818 thousand went to wastewater pump station improvements and just over $6 million was awarded to the Park City Wind Route Sewer Expansion Project.

Elsewhere, close to $917 thousand was approved to support sludge processing upgrades in Chatham, about $1.8 million was allocated to Harwich’s Route 28 Sewer Construction Project and $1.35 million was awarded to Mashpee for the town’s treatment and collection system.

Dennis and Yarmouth each received $12.5 million to help fund a water resource recovery facility and collection system in both towns.

When do the projects start?

According to Senatori, start times and timeliness vary project-to-project. However, across the board, she emphasized “this is a marathon, not a sprint.”

“Clean water infrastructure projects do take a while,” Senatori said. “It’s important to recognize that these are projects that are lengthy to implement, but really critical and important for our communities.”

What is the Water Protection Fund?

The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2018. It is administered by the state’s Clean Water Trust and is funded by a 2.75% excise tax on traditional lodging and short-term rentals.

As of January 2026, Senatori says the fund has collected $125.5 million in revenue and committed about $309 million to Cape Cod water quality projects.

How does the fund help?

“In the years preceding the fund, there wasn’t a lot of progress on water quality investments,” Senatori said. “Just one town was listed on the intended use plan in the three years preceding the fund’s creation.

“And now, since the fund was established, 13 of our 15 towns have submitted projects on the intended use plan, really reflecting a significant increase in readiness of these projects and participation.”

When were funds awarded?

The fund’s management board–who finalized the eight clean water infrastructure subsidies in December–consists of representatives from every supported by the fund. Currently, membership includes all 15 municipalities in Barnstable County, though communities in Dukes and Nantucket County may join in the future.

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