Town officials expect bathrooms at the Aquinnah Circle will be operating this summer after recent testing and infrastructure upgrades.
During a select board meeting on last Tuesday, infrastructure committee chair Eric Litt said water system testing and filtration improvements for the bathrooms were underway. The issue was first raised in March by shop owners concerned that lagging repairs to the facility would impact their business.
“The clock is ticking, so we’re really trying to get this resolved as soon as possible,” Mr. Litt said.
The bathrooms, located at the bottom of the Aquinnah Circle, have long been an issue for the town, in part due to the facility’s filtration system which is meant for residential dwellings.
Mr. Litt said the facility’s pressure tanks were replaced and a second sediment filter was installed. Island Water Source commissioned the two wells that supply the water for the bathrooms, he said.
“At this point, from a water perspective, we think we’re in good shape,” Mr. Litt said.
The town still needs to turn the water on in the area to test if everything is working properly. As a contingency, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) arranged funding to have restroom trailers available.
Town administrator Jeffrey Madison said the bathroom’s well water tested high for nitrate levels and he is working with health official Marina Lent to understand the implications.
Ms. Lent told the Gazette in March that high levels of nitrate can be fatal to infants but short-term exposure for adults is not harmful.
This article appears in April 10, 2026.