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Barnstable outlines sewer expansion, treatment upgrades and drought restrictions
Summary
Town officials said sewer construction is advancing across Centerville, Marstons Mills and Osterville, with key projects out to bid and treatment-plant upgrades expected to cut nitrogen roughly in half; the town also noted a state‑declared level‑two drought and ongoing temporary access impacts for residents.
Mark Ells, Barnstable town manager, opened the April 29 update and said the town is moving forward on multiple water‑resource fronts, including sewer expansion under the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP), treatment‑plant upgrades and drought‑related conservation requirements.
"Sewer expansion continues to advance across Centerville, Marstons Mills, and Osterville," Kelly Collopy of the Department of Public Works said, noting two projects are in active construction and others are moving toward construction this fall. Collopy said 71% of eligible properties covered by the CWMP have completed connections to the expanded municipal sewer system and that the Barnstable Health Division and Board of Health manage compliance and permitting.
Collopy identified several active and near‑term projects: the Centerville Village North project (active construction impacting Shootflying Hill Road); Route 28 West (active construction and backbone infrastructure toward the Three Bays and Popponesset Bay watersheds); Centerville Village South and the Phinneys Lane Neighborhoods projects (both out to bid, with DPW anticipating contract awards by June 30); and the earlier Strawberry Hill Road and Route 28 East phases, which are complete and continue to accept new connections. She said the Route 28 East work includes the largest pump station in the town's 30‑year plan at the corner of Phinneys Lane and Route 28.
To reduce community disruption during summer months, Collopy said the town will transition much work off the road when feasible and allow only limited, site‑specific off‑road work at pump stations with no traffic impacts. She outlined current access impacts: Shootflying Hill Road is closed Monday–Friday about 7 a.m.–5 p.m.; Bumps River Road is closed Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–4 p.m.; and the Quashnet Lake boat ramp was temporarily closed April 28 and reopened to southern access beginning April 29 for the construction season. Collopy said DPW is coordinating with schools, businesses and civic groups and will continue neighborhood‑level outreach after contracts are awarded.
Ells also described a funding development: as Barnstable's representative on the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund board, he said the board voted April 29 to provide a 25% principal subsidy for projects listed on the 2026 Clean Water Intended Use Plan and that Barnstable received subsidies for five projects, including one new project and several carryovers. Ells explained the state revolving fund applies a $50 million annual cap that can split large projects across years.
On treatment capacity and water quality, Collopy described significant upgrades at the wastewater treatment facility — including a four‑stage Bardenpho process and a membrane bioreactor — that she said will reduce nitrogen levels by roughly half in receiving waters such as Lewis Bay and enable consideration of additional treatment processes as regulations evolve.
Collopy also updated water‑supply and conservation status: Cape Cod remains in a level‑two drought, and public water suppliers including the Hyannis system must implement non‑essential outdoor water‑use restrictions under the Water Management Act and the system's withdrawal permit. She emphasized that these regulatory measures do not necessarily indicate a lack of supply capacity for the Hyannis system.
Beyond sewer projects and drought rules, Collopy highlighted stormwater improvements in Cotuit (Old Shore Road and Clam Shell Cove Road) in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and described the town's seasonal volunteer water‑quality monitoring program covering Barnstable Harbor, Lewis Bay, Centerville River, Halls Creek and the three bays. She invited residents interested in volunteering to contact Brooke Withers for training.
Next steps and public engagement include a public information meeting on Centerville Village South scheduled for Wednesday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the Barnstable Adult Community Center (to be recorded by Barnstable Government Access) and anticipated contract awards for out‑to‑bid projects by June 30. Collopy closed by inviting questions and directing constituents to contact DPW leadership for project details.
