Drinking Water Quality Varies Among Water Supplies

Approximately 80 percent of Cape Cod residents receive their drinking water from 18 publicly or privately owned municipal water supplies, which draw on about 130 groundwater wells and 1 surface water source. Cape public water supplies are regularly tested and are regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) to ensure that they meet health standards. Water quality data from the testing of public wells are available from MA DEP. For more on information on testing of private wells on Cape Cod, contact the Barnstable County offices at 508.362.2511.

The maps to the right show public water distribution systems and residential land use within each town. Residences not located near distribution pipes are served by private drinking water wells. Maps for the towns of Eastham and Wellfleet are not included because there is no public water distribution system for these two towns. All residents of these towns have private drinking water wells.

The maps depict water distribution systems as they existed in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Residents of several Cape towns rely on both private wells and public supplies for their drinking water.