S.638/H.1000 Coastal Wastewater Infrastructure Financing Commission

Creating a Strong Regional Aquaculture Industry

Recent “super storms” have contributed to Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) into Buzzards Bay. These overflows have resulted in beach closures and the temporary suspension of aquaculture harvests.

These events do more than close our beaches; they compromise an important local food source and threaten the long-term economic viability of the Southcoast’s shellfishing and aquaculture industries.

The scale and cost of regional wastewater infrastructure projects can exceed the capacity of individual municipalities. With limited funding available for multi-town initiatives, state-level leadership is critical to moving these projects forward.

What does it do?

An Act to Establish a Coastal Wastewater Infrastructure Financing Commission (S.638/H.1000) would create a dedicated state commission to identify sustainable revenue sources. These funds would help:

• Implement critical wastewater infrastructure improvements.
• Address nitrogen pollution affecting Southcoast communities.
• Protect the biological integrity of Massachusetts’ coastal waters.

Why does it matter?

The health of Buzzards Bay is essential to the Southcoast economy and regional food system.

• Food Security: Wastewater overflows can compromise local food sources and disrupt shellfish harvesting.
• Economic Stability: Repeated closures threaten the livelihoods of local shellfishermen and aquaculture farmers.
• Funding Gaps: The cost of modernization can be too high for individual municipalities to bear through local taxes alone, making state-level funding and coordination critical.