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WBUR Collaborates with Scientific American to Spread Awareness about Nutrient Pollution from Septic Systems on Cape Cod

Wood Neck River in Falmouth, Photo Credit: Clasby Chope

Big Press for Big Problems

This week, WBUR, Boston’s NPR station, aired a two-part series about Cape Cod’s water pollution challenges. The series was part of a collaboration with Scientific American, which produced an 8-minute video documentary discussing nitrogen pollution from septic systems and how it is impacting our fragile ecosystem and local economy. The video also looks at potential solutions at our disposal to combat nitrogen pollution in order to protect Cape Cod for future generations of residents and visitors alike.

Barnstable County’s Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) was featured in the series, along with local non-profit groups and public officials. The coverage is a testament not only to the importance of this significant environmental problem, but to the effort, dedication, and creativity of our local organizations–both public and private–to face the problem head on with innovative, out-of-the-box solutions.

A special congratulations to all of our staff who were involved in this series. Their hard work and commitment to protecting our water resources is a valuable asset to our environment and the community.

More to Come!

Portions of WBUR’s series will likely be aired nationally. In addition, WBUR continues to work with Scientific American on a related 3-part podcast, anticipated to drop in April. Stay tuned!

Links to the WBUR series and Scientific American Video are provided below:

WBUR Series Part I: Cape Cod needs to clean up its water. The solutions could cost billions.

WBUR Series Part II: Cape Cod’s ‘Power Couple of Pee-cycling’ Wants You to Save that Liquid Gold

Scientific American: Cape Cod Faces a Rising ‘Yellow Tide’

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