BARNSTABLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio)—Local, state, and federal elected officials broke ground Friday on Barnstable's Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. The sewer reconstruction project is expected to cost $1.4 billion and take 30 years.
In an effort to protect the health of coastal waterways, ponds, and drinker water, the project calls for the installation of 190 miles of new sewer infrastructure and 87 pump stations for nearly 12,000 properties across town.
Congressman Bill Keating called the overhaul "critical" for Cape Cod.
"If you live on the cape it's part of our lives, and not always the most pleasant part," said Keating.
Cape Cod State Senator Julian Cyr says the project will help solve what he believes are three of the region's most pressing challenges: the wastewater issue itself, the climate crisis, and a housing shortage. In the case of the latter, Cyr says a better wastewater system will allow for more housing in Barnstable than the infrastructure currently allows.
Work will now begin on phase one of the project, which will be conducted in unison with the installation of electrical lines for Vineyard Wind in order to minimize costs.
It's estimated the wastewater plan will be completed in 2051.
WBZ's Timm Dunn (@ConsiderMeDunn) reports:
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