Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund

Overview

The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund (CCIWPF) was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2018 to help Cape Cod and Islands towns pay for necessary wastewater infrastructure and water quality remediation projects. Creation of the CCIWPF was the result of efforts by a diverse set of stakeholders, including the Cape and Islands Legislative Delegation, local officials, environmental groups, business leaders, and the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, who recognized the need for new financial tools to address the region’s degrading water quality and lack of wastewater infrastructure.

The CCIWPF is a dedicated fund within the state’s Clean Water Trust set up to solely benefit communities on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Its source of revenue is a 2.75% excise tax on traditional lodging and short-term rentals. The fund is administered by the existing Clean Water Trust and overseen by a management board comprised of representation from every member town from the region. Currently, the 15 Cape Cod communities are members of the fund.