Working Together

...to promote a healthy Cape Cod community through disease prevention and control, health and safety education, environmental protection and emergency preparedness.

Welcome!

The Department of Health and Environment was established in 1926 to provide regional efficiencies throughout the 15 towns of Barnstable County, while supporting the autonomy of local boards of health. The Department provides a diversity of services that promote public health and environmental protection, from emergency planning, to monitoring of water, land, and air, to disease prevention, inspectional services, COVID-19 pandemic response, and even the practical application of providing loans for septic system repair and replacement. The physical and mental well-being of Barnstable County’s residents, alongside protection of our sensitive ecosystems, are our top priorities.


News

Image of manholes for innovative/alternative septic systems at MASSTC.

WCAI: Environmental advocates plan to sue EPA, could lead to “Sludgement Day” on Cape Cod

CAI | By Brian Engles Environmental advocates are planning to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for not regulating sludge. Sludge is the solid material that’s left over at the end of the […]

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The Wall Street Journal: Why Your Septic System Will Not be Ignored

By Kris Frieswick | The Wall Street Journal Your septic system will not be ignored. You may want to ignore it. It’s designed to be ignored—buried somewhere in your backyard, like […]

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New Weekly Epidemiological Updates Provide Region-Specific Information about Acute Respiratory Illness

Looking to understand the current climate of respiratory disease transmission in our communities here on Cape Cod? Perhaps you’re worried about COVID-19, RSV, the flu, or all three; the trifecta […]

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MA Department of Public Health Updates Guidance to Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Viruses

On March 25, 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health released a new guidance for what to do if you have symptoms of viral respiratory illness, or if you test […]

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Avian Bird Flu on Cape Cod

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as ‘bird flu’ was first found on Cape Cod in the beginning of February 2022, a little more than two years ago. While […]

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The Alternative: It’s MASSTC’s 25th Birthday!

Interested in joining the discussion about wastewater challenges on Cape Cod? Check out “The Alternative”, a new weekly newsletter from Barnstable County’s Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center! Happy 25th […]

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