Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center

Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center MASSTC is the nation’s premier third-party testing and research facility for innovative/alternative (I/A) onsite septic treatment technologies.

The Harwich Ponds Coalition is having their annual meeting on June 6th, 10am at the Harwich Community Center. Who is a f...
06/01/2026

The Harwich Ponds Coalition is having their annual meeting on June 6th, 10am at the Harwich Community Center. Who is a featured speaker at the event? Our very own MASSTC Director Brian Baumgaertel!

Brian will be talking about what MASSTC is up to around I/A systems, eco sanitation, the Falmouth Pilot Project, greywater gardening and more.
Learning something new AND going to support the Harwich Ponds Coalition seems like a no brainer. Go get educated!

Head to harwichwaters.org for more info.

ecosanitation

Our many bays, estuaries, and coastal waters around Cape Cod are polluted with excess nitrogen, mostly from domestic was...
05/29/2026

Our many bays, estuaries, and coastal waters around Cape Cod are polluted with excess nitrogen, mostly from domestic wastewater. Efforts to quantify that pollution and pinpoint its sources were conducted as part of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP), which was a collaborative nitrogen modeling effort by MassDEP, UMASS Dartmouth, and the towns in which their work was focused.

Why should you care about this?

The approach makes sense in that it provides a clear target and a known quantity of nitrogen to be removed. Towns are now using this approach to quantify nitrogen reductions needed to restore water quality and are using a variety of tools to do so.

Read the story written by MASSTC Project Assistant Bryan Horsley here: https://www.capecod.gov/2026/05/27/concentration-vs-load-measuring-performance-of-on-site-nitrogen-reducing-systems/

The Cape Cod Commission writes that “across Cape Cod, nearly 6 million pounds of fertilizer and 1.3 million pounds of pe...
05/26/2026

The Cape Cod Commission writes that “across Cape Cod, nearly 6 million pounds of fertilizer and 1.3 million pounds of pesticides are applied annually. When applied to repel or destroy certain undesired organisms, pesticides can migrate into surface waters, groundwater, and the atmosphere where they can pose risks to the integrity of drinking water supplies and the health of humans, non-target species, and aquatic ecosystems.”

They add that their data, concluded that individual homeowners are the largest users of both pesticides (more than 80%) and fertilizers (69%), golf courses are the second largest users of pesticides (9.3%) and fertilizers (17.1%).

Why do we continue using them if the price tag to clean our waters from using them is in the billions?

Read more here: https://www.capecodcommission.org/our-work/pesticides-and-fertilizers/

When it comes to getting wastewater treatment certifications, quality-controlled sampling and laboratory analysis is par...
05/20/2026

When it comes to getting wastewater treatment certifications, quality-controlled sampling and laboratory analysis is paramount. A good R&D program pays close attention to the numbers as well.

We will work with you to develop a sampling plan that fits your needs and budget. Your samples will be taken by qualified MASSTC staff and taken to our parent agency’s state-certified Water Quality Laboratory for analysis.

Field data are recorded with each sample to give you a better picture of your system’s performance.

To find out more about our lab and sampling, or to inquire about
pricing, head to our link in bio!

We Need Your I/A Story!Have you been following our System Shift series?We’ve been interviewing Cape and Islands homeowne...
05/18/2026

We Need Your I/A Story!
Have you been following our System Shift series?

We’ve been interviewing Cape and Islands homeowners who have I/A systems as well as putting a spotlight on I/A and eco-sanitation pioneers.

What’s it like to have an advanced treatment system? How does it help the local mission to be better land and water stewards? We tackle these questions and more in hopes of helping “shift” the way we see all the moving pieces of Cape Cod’s wastewater puzzle.

That said, we need your story!
Reach out to Amy DuFault at [email protected]

Read System Shift through our link in bio.

We Need Your I/A Story!Have you been following our System Shift series?We've been interviewing Cape and Islands homeowne...
05/18/2026

We Need Your I/A Story!

Have you been following our System Shift series?

We've been interviewing Cape and Islands homeowners who have I/A systems as well as putting a spotlight on I/A and eco-sanitation pioneers.

What’s it like to have an advanced treatment system? How does it help the local mission to be better land and water stewards? We tackle these questions and more in hopes of helping “shift” the way we see all the moving pieces of Cape Cod’s wastewater puzzle.

That said, we need your story!

Reach out to Amy DuFault at [email protected]

Read System Shift here: https://www.masstc.org/system-shift-i-a-storytelling-series/

Mexico City is sinking faster than any other city on the planet. You can even see it happening from space. The city was ...
05/12/2026

Mexico City is sinking faster than any other city on the planet. You can even see it happening from space.

The city was built on top of an ancient aquifer, which provides around 60% of drinking water for the city’s 22 million residents.
Over the years, this aquifer has been so over-pumped that it’s caused the land above it to subside. Over-extraction has also contributed to a chronic water crisis that has left Mexico City facing a potential day zero, where taps run dry.

The city’s rapid sinking has been exacerbated by relentless urban development, with new infrastructure adding extra weight on top of the clay-rich soil.

This is not a dystopian novel, it’s real life.

Read more on : https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/05/climate/mexico-city-sinking-nasa-aquifer-water

Here’s to protecting aquifers for all the reasons.

Former MASSTC Microbiologist, Kathy Regan, had a chance to visit the test center today! Kathy contributed to the initial...
05/08/2026

Former MASSTC Microbiologist, Kathy Regan, had a chance to visit the test center today!

Kathy contributed to the initial construction of the MASSTC Lab and led the Groundwater Separation Study and the beginning of the STAR project. It was a joyous reunion for all!

05/07/2026

Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Awards $53.1 Million for Regional Wastewater Projects

The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund continues to support critical clean water infrastructure across the region. On April 29, 2026, the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Management Board voted to award $53,107,500 in subsidies to support ten wastewater projects in five Cape Cod towns.

“This latest round of funding reflects the region’s strong commitment to addressing longstanding water quality challenges with meaningful solutions,” said Kristy Senatori, Executive Director. “By supporting these projects, the Fund is helping Cape Cod communities accelerate critical wastewater infrastructure improvements that will protect our environment and our economy for generations to come.”

Read more here: https://www.capecod.gov/2026/04/30/cape-cod-and-islands-water-protection-fund-awards-53-1-million-for-regional-wastewater-projects/

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4 Kittridge Road
Buzzards Bay, MA
02542

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