Press Release: 9/29/2025

Barnstable County Celebrates Ribbon Cutting of Newly Expanded Clean Water Center

 

Published on: September 29, 2025

 

Local Hub for Innovation Poised to Make Global Impact

From left to right: State Rep. Steven Xiarhos, David Lentz, James Byrnes, George Heufelder, Kristen Sarri, Brian Baumgaertel, Commissioner Mark Forest, Congressman Bill Keating, Commissioner Ron Bergstrom, and Senator Julian Cyr.

SANDWICH, MA (September 29, 2025) – Barnstable County celebrated the grand opening of the newly expanded Barnstable County Clean Water Center at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) in Sandwich last Friday. The ribbon cutting brought together local, state, and federal officials alongside national and international partners to mark a new chapter in wastewater innovation and water protection on Cape Cod and beyond.

The event featured remarks from Congressman Bill Keating, Senator Julian Cyr, David Lentz of the Gates Foundation, Kris Sarri of The Nature Conservancy, and James Byrnes of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. County Commissioners Sheila Lyons, Mark Forest, and Ronald Bergstrom, together with members of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, joined community leaders and agency partners in cutting the ribbon. State Senators Julian Cyr and Dylan A. Fernandes also issued a legislative citation recognizing the opening of the Center; Senator Fernandes was unable to attend in person.

Brian Baumgaertel, Director of MASSTC, opens the ceremonies.

“The opening of the Barnstable County Clean Water Center marks a new era of innovation and commitment. This center is more than a new building; it’s a declaration that we will lead in solving our water quality challenges, creating local solutions with global impact,” said Brian Baumgaertel, Director of MASSTC.

The expansion was made possible through a combination of federal, state, and philanthropic support. A $1.3 million ARPA investment funded site and laboratory improvements, including a new office and training center featuring water recycling and nutrient capture technologies. Building on that foundation, $1.8 million from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative will create a new laboratory and prototyping workshop. Additional support from the Gates Foundation will allow the Center to test and certify next-generation systems under ISO 30500, the new global standard for non-sewered sanitation.

“Our region is a proven incubator for environmental technology, and I expect the Barnstable County Clean Water Center will be a hub for the next generation of clean water solutions,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “This work is essential: our environment is Cape Cod’s greatest resource. By protecting our precious natural resources, the BCCWC will also safeguard our local economy by supporting housing development and ensuring the millions of tourists who visit annually continue to enjoy our pristine beaches.”

“I am thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Barnstable Clean Water Center, which will play a crucial role in helping us address one of Cape Cod’s steepest challenges. For decades, pollution from septic systems and cesspools has endangered our bays, estuaries, and ponds. Finally, we are making real progress,” said State Senator Julian Cyr. “This center is a testament to what we can achieve when Cape Codders unite, collaborate across towns, and think regionally. And thanks to the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund, we are on track to fund more than $2.42 billion in wastewater projects across Cape Cod by 2030. Tackling wastewater is neither easy nor cheap, but with this Center and the innovation it embodies, we are on the path to protecting our waters and way of life for future generations.”

David Lentz of the Gates Foundation, a key partner supporting innovation at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) and the Barnstable County Clean Water Center.

David Lentz of the Gates Foundation underscored the importance of Cape Cod’s leadership, noting that MASSTC is now one of only three facilities in the United States where manufacturers can test and certify systems at a national standard.

“Building on a 25-year legacy of research from the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center, this expanded facility will be our hub for innovation. Here we will develop the next generation of clean water technologies—solutions that will not only protect Cape Cod but serve as a model for communities globally,” said Commissioner Mark Forest.

Kris Sarri of The Nature Conservancy highlighted the role of wastewater solutions in protecting ecosystems and fighting climate change, including nature-based systems such as constructed wetlands. James Byrnes of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative described the expansion as a cornerstone for cluster development in water technology innovation, creating new opportunities for jobs and partnerships on the Cape.

George Heufelder and Joe Costa, two of the original visionaries behind the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC).

“This center really does stand on the shoulders of giants. The original idea for MASSTC was famously sketched on a napkin by four visionaries — George Heufelder, our former County Health Director and the driving force behind the Test Center, along with Joe Costa, Tony Millham, and Dave Janik, all longtime advocates for clean water. Their leadership helped turn that sketch into reality and laid the groundwork for everything we see here today,” said Barnstable County Commissioner Sheila Lyons.

The Barnstable County Clean Water Center will serve as a hub for research, testing, workforce development, and innovation in wastewater solutions. By working with municipalities, researchers, nonprofits, and technology developers, the Center is helping Cape Cod lead the way on affordable, innovative strategies that protect drinking water, coastal waters, and ecosystems—while also serving as a model for communities around the world.

Optional tours of the site underscored the Center’s role as both a community resource and a global model for sustainable water management.

About Barnstable County Regional Government of Cape Cod: Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offers a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov. 

About Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center: A Division of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Technology Center (MASSTC) is the nation’s premier third-party testing and research facility for innovative/alternative (I/A) onsite septic treatment technologies. Since 1999, MASSTC has tested dozens of technologies for industry standard certifications, provided space for technology vendors to do R&D work, and conducted original research on topics from constructed wetlands to nutrient and virus removal.