Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund

Overview
Subsidy Awards
Meeting Links

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.

Bylaws and Regulations

Subsidies Awarded

04/14/2021

The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Management Board voted April 14, 2021 to award the first set of subsidies to qualified and eligible water quality projects in several Cape Cod towns. Projects in excess of $1 million will receive subsidies equal to 25% of the project costs. Projects of $1 million or less will receive 50% subsidies.

Projects eligible for funding include innovative strategies and alternative septic system technologies, water quality and wastewater management planning, the construction of sewer collection systems and wastewater treatment plants, and the implementation of drainage improvements and water treatment programs to improve water quality in freshwater ponds and marine resources. Member communities must go through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, or SRF, program to receive funds.

Final Commitments for 2018 and 2019 Intended Use Plans Projects

TOWN	IUP Year	Description	Project Cost	Total Subsidy
Chatham	2018	Phase 1D – Chatham/Harwich Regionalization	$8,174,858	$2,043,715
Chatham	2019	Sewer Extension	$1,324,983	$331,246
Harwich	2018	Harwich Sewer Collection System – Phase 2	$22,214,467	$5,553,617
Bourne	2019	Buzzards Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility	$4,660,410	$1,165,103
Orleans	2019	Downtown Area Collection System and Wastewater Treatment Facility	$59,409,200	$14,852,300
		Totals	$95,783,918	$23,945,981

Contingent Commitments for 2020 and 2021 Intended Use Plans Projects

TOWN	IUP Year	Description	Project Cost	Total Subsidy
Barnstable	2020	Wastewater Pump Station Improvements Project	$1,000,000	$500,000*
Barnstable	2020	Strawberry Hill Road Sewer Expansion	$13,275,023	$3,318,756
Barnstable	2020	Strawberry Hill Road Sewer Expansion	$1,853,762	$463,441
Barnstable	2020	Solids Handling Upgrade Project	$8,495,050	$2,123,763
Chatham	2021	Chatham Queen Anne Pumping Station Upgrade 2021 PE	$2,464,000	$616,000
Chatham	2021	Chatham Stormwater Improvement Projects - 2021	$6,161,000	$1,540,250
Barnstable	2021	Route 28 East Sewer Expansion Project	$17,106,000	$4,276,500
Barnstable	2021	Wastewater Pump Station Improvements Project	$2,000,000	$500,000
Mashpee	2021	Mashpee WRRF and Collection System - Phase I	$51,200,000	$12,800,000
Falmouth	2021	Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Facility TASA Improvements	$19,000,000	$4,750,000
		Totals	$122,554,835	$30,888,710

* Projects of $1 million or less are eligible to receive subsidies of 50%.

Pre-Existing Debt

The CCIWPF Management Board is allowed to award subsidies on pre-existing debt town projects, subject to certain eligibility and verification requirements. The towns of Barnstable, Chatham, Falmouth, and Provincetown had qualifying projects totaling $65.9 million, 25% of which will be subsidized through the fund, per the unanimous vote of the Management Board.

TOWN	Project Cost	Total Subsidy
Provincetown	$19,198,453	$4,799,613
Barnstable	$3,958,400	$989,600
Chatham	$34,619,778	$8,654,945
Falmouth	$8,113,640	$2,028,410
Totals	$65,890,271	$16,472,568