Worcester Water Gets $76,000 State Grant to Improve Quality, Supplies

WORCESTER, MA — Nearly $647,000 in grant money from the state was given to nine public water suppliers with water conservation, source and demand management, and other water withdrawal planning and mitigation projects across the Commonwealth.

The funds are being awarded to the communities of Auburn (with supply of water to Worcester), Danvers, Dedham-Westwood, Millis, Plainville, Provincetown, Scituate, Shrewsbury and Wrentham.

“As Massachusetts continues to experience serious drought conditions, these grants are an important tool for the state to help municipalities ensure they have enough clean water,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement. “Today’s water conservation and planning grants will support local projects that protect water quality, provide habitat improvements, upgrade water supply operations, and mitigate the impacts of water withdrawal.”

“This year’s drought has reminded everyone of the need for municipalities and water suppliers to plan ahead and ensure the sustainability of their water supply sources,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “With these grants, our administration partners with local officials to help them improve the ecological condition of their watersheds and manage the demand placed on those resources.”

The grants are part of the Water Management Act (WMA) Grant Program, an effort by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to maintain healthy rivers and streams and, where possible, improve degraded water resources over time. The WMA Grant Program helps water suppliers by providing grants for watershed planning projects, demand management, minimizing for the impacts of existing withdrawals, and mitigating for increased water withdrawal impacts.

The WMA Grant Program helps guide water management in the Commonwealth for both the long-term water needs of communities and the protection of the aquatic ecosystems.

The following grants were awarded:

• Auburn Water District: Water Interconnections with Worcester –$76,000
• Town of Danvers: Data Collection and Planning – $103,940
• Dedham-Westwood Water District: Dropcounter, Source Optimization, and Stormwater Projects – $96,610
• Town of Millis: Stormwater Utility Feasibility Analysis – $44,742
• Town of Plainville: Water Rate Study – $19,920
• Town of Provincetown: Leak Detection and AC Pipe Condition Assessment – $75,600
• Town of Scituate: First Herring Brook - Dam Modifications – $115,250
• Town of Shrewsbury: Water Accounting – $45,690
• Town of Wrentham: Biorentention System – $68,737

“Congratulations to the Auburn Water District and the Town of Shrewsbury on receiving funding through this important grant program,” said State Senator Michael O. Moore, D-Millbury. “These grants will strengthen water conservation and sustainability efforts, and have a tremendous impact on protecting our most precious natural resource. I commend the Administration for awarding these grants and I look forward to continuing my support in the Senate to help ensure that these funds are available to flow in the future.”