The Alternative

The Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) is a program of the

Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.24 Billion in Loans and Grants to Fund Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure Projects

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced recently that 67 projects across Massachusetts are eligible to receive approximately $1.24 billion in low-interest-rate loans to fund construction to improve water quality, upgrade or replace aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and cut treatment plant energy use and costs.

“Our administration is committed to delivering support for our communities to make sure Massachusetts continues to have the cleanest drinking water in the country,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These funds help cities and towns upgrade wastewater and drinking water infrastructure at an affordable cost, while ensuring residents across the state have access to safe and clean water.” 

MASSTC Installs Waterless Urinals & Composting Toilets

Ecological sanitation or “eco-san” is a sanitation strategy that aims to manage human waste in ways that sustainably maximize resource value and protect the health of people and ecosystems. Some examples of eco-san practices include using eco-toilets, harvesting rainwater, irrigating with greywater and composting food scraps.

We’re excited to now be showcasing waterless urinals and composting toilets in all our bathrooms at MASSTC! Check out the graphic above to learn more about how our urinals work.

Earth Month Events All In One Place

Have you checked out the APCC's Conservation calendar? It's so great to have all our local environmental events listed in one place. Earth Month is a 30 day celebration of our beautiful planet with lots more happening than just one celebration on Earth Day April 22nd. Head over to the calendar and find some great local events you can take part in.

We'll be at the Cape Cod Canal Clean Up this upcoming Saturday and would love to see you. Come by and say hello!

National County Government Month: What Do You Know about Where You Live?

This April, we celebrate National County Government Month with the theme: Barnstable County: Then & Now.

Join us as we explore how Barnstable County has evolved over the centuries—from its historic role in the Revolutionary War to the modern-day services that support our communities. You might be surprised to learn about Barnstable County’s role in key moments of early American history. From Revolutionary War connections to pioneering wildfire control with our first airplane in 1954, the County’s story is both unique and fascinating.

Learn more about where you live to have an appreciation of the past as well as the future!

(Image: Army Corps of Engineers photo of the Bourne Bridge being built)

Wastewater Updates!

(The Cape Cod Times) $60M sewer funding on Falmouth town meeting agenda: "Town meeting members will vote on borrowing $60 million to pay for engineering, design and construction of the Great Pond Phase 1 sewer project, including the sewer lines, the pump stations, and the force main to transport sewage to the town’s main treatment facility, as well as rehabilitation of the town’s existing northernmost open sand beds for treated wastewater discharge."

(Cape Cod Chronicle) Funds Sought To Help Homeowners Pay For Sewer Connections: "Homeowners who may have financial difficulty connecting to the town’s sewer system could benefit from a proposed sewer assistance program, which will go before voters at the May 10 annual town meeting."

(Cape Cod Chronicle ) Chatham, Brewster Earn Wastewater Planning Grants: "Brewster and Chatham are among eight Cape Cod towns receiving state water quality grants designed to boost wastewater planning efforts. Each town received just over $133,000 in Natural Resource Nitrogen Sensitive Area grant funds from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection last month."

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