State grants benefit local water conservation programs; Harwich, Upper Cape towns included

Patrick Administration Announces $950,000 to Fund 25 Projects Targeting Drinking Water Losses

Regional and Local Projects to Focus on Water Conservation Efforts 

BOSTON ? The Patrick Administration announced today that $950,000 in grants has been awarded to 25 projects aimed at reducing drinking water losses through local water conservation programs.

The projects, part of the 2009 Water Conservation Grant Program, will help to preserve Massachusetts? water resources by supporting conservation education and outreach, water audits, leak detection surveys, rate studies, and conservation device and rebate programs. Recipients include public water system operators and municipalities.

Grants Awarded Locally

Town of Harwich EOEEA Watershed: Cape Cod Basin Grant funding up to $36,000; Project Total $45,000

Onset Fire District EOEEA Watershed: Buzzards Bay Basin Grant funding up to $24,600; Project Total $49,786

Buzzards Bay Water District (Bourne)
EOEEA Watershed: Buzzards Bay Basin Grant funding up to $25,000; Project Total $49,938

Wareham Fire District
EOEEA Watershed: Buzzards Bay Basin Grant funding up to $30,890; Project Total $64,952

(see a complete list of towns below)

?The Patrick Administration recognizes that we must conserve water and reduce demand on our natural resources in order to protect them from overuse,? said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles. ?These grants will assist communities in their efforts to protect water supplies and prevent the loss of this vital resource.?

?Nearly half of the Commonwealth?s rivers and streams do not have enough water during the summer months, so it is critical for the health and long-term viability of our watersheds that we do all we can to protect them,? said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Laurie Burt. ?Municipalities and water suppliers will use these grants to manage their water resources in a more sustainable and cost-effective way, making sure that water supplies are available for local needs, public safety and economic growth.?

The Massachusetts Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund provides funds for this grant program in support of the water policies of the Massachusetts Water Resources Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA).

Qualified proposals were selected on a competitive basis. Priority projects include those public water systems with:

• Water Management Act permits with unaccounted-for-water or residential gallons per capita day limits
• An identified problem meeting demand
• A significant environmental concern that would benefit by a reduction in demand
• A comprehensive strategy to conserve water
• Water pricing policies that strongly encourage conservation
• Existing water loss prevention and water conservation programs

?Nearly half of the Commonwealth?s rivers and streams do not have enough water during the summer months, so it is critical for the health and long-term viability of our watersheds that we do all we can to protect them,? said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Laurie Burt.

Receiving grant funds in this round are: North Reading, Hanson, Hopkinton, Harwich, Walpole, Concord, Quincy, Malden, Wayland, Lowell Regional Water Utility, North Attleborough (two projects), Onset Fire District, Milton, Cherry Valley Rochdale Water District (Leicester), Marlborough, North Chelmsford Water District, Holyoke, Hatfield, Maynard, Easthampton, Spencer, Buzzards Bay Water District (Bourne), Wareham Fire District, and Gloucester.

MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.

List of Projects ? 2009 Water Conservation Grant Program
A 25 percent match is required for all projects

• Project applicant: Town of North Reading
  EOEEA Watershed: Ipswich River Basin
  Grant funding up to $31,200; Project Total $49,200
• Project applicant: Town of Hanson
  EOEEA Watershed: Taunton River Basin
  Grant funding up to $37,600; Project Total $47,600
• Project applicant: Town of Hopkinton
  EOEEA Watershed: Blackstone/Charles/SuAsCo Basins
  Grant funding up to $26,500; Project Total $44,673
• Project applicant: Town of Harwich
  EOEEA Watershed: Cape Cod Basin
  Grant funding up to $36,000; Project Total $45,000
• Project applicant: Town of Walpole
  EOEEA Watershed: Boston Harbor/Charles River Basins
  Grant funding up to $40,000; Project Total $89,070
• Project applicant: Town of Concord
  EOEEA Watershed: SuAsCo Basin
  Grant funding up to $32,475; Project Total $41,950
• Project applicant: City of Quincy
  EOEEA Watershed: Boston Harbor Basin
  Grant funding up to $49,000; Project Total $61,250
• Project applicant: City of Malden
  EOEEA Watershed: Charles/North Coastal Basins
  Grant funding up to $39,000; Project Total $48,750
• Project applicant: Town of Wayland
  EOEEA Watershed: SuAsCo Basin
  Grant funding up to $34,000; Project Total $46,000
• Project applicant: Lowell Regional Water Utility
  EOEEA Watershed: Merrimack Basin
  Grant funding up to $50,000; Project Total $75,000
• Project applicant: Town of North Attleborough
  EOEEA Watershed: Blackstone/10-Mile Basins
  Grant funding up to $36,835; Project Total $48,565
• Project applicant: Town of North Attleborough
  EOEEA Watershed: Blackstone/10-Mile Basins
  Grant funding up to $60,000; Project Total $77,850
• Project applicant: Onset Fire District
  EOEEA Watershed: Buzzards Bay Basin
  Grant funding up to $24,600; Project Total $49,786
• Project applicant: Town of Milton
  EOEEA Watershed: Boston Harbor Basin
  Grant funding up to $49,000; Project Total $61,250
• Project applicant: Cherry Valley Rochdale Water District (Leicester)
  EOEEA Watershed: French River Basin
  Grant funding up to $25,500; Project Total $49,500
• Project applicant: City of Marlborough
  EOEEA Watershed: SuAsCo Basin
  Grant funding up to $35,000; Project Total $61,250
• Project applicant: North Chelmsford Water District (Chelmsford)
  EOEEA Watershed: Merrimack River Basin
  Grant funding up to $33,000; Project Total $48,000
• Project applicant: City of Holyoke
  EOEEA Watershed: Connecticut River Basin
  Grant funding up to $32,000; Project Total $40,000
• Project applicant: Town of Hatfield
  EOEEA Watershed: Connecticut River Basin
  Grant funding up to $40,000; Project Total $50,000
• Project applicant: Town of Maynard
  EOEEA Watershed: SuAsCo Basin
  Grant funding up to $43,900; Project Total $75,000
• Project applicant: Town of Easthampton
  EOEEA Watershed: Connecticut River Basin
  Grant funding up to $50,000; Project Total $68,000
• Project applicant: Town of Spencer
  EOEEA Watershed: Chicopee/Nashua River Basins
  Grant funding up to $39,500; Project Total $49,375
• Project applicant: Buzzards Bay Water District (Bourne)
  EOEEA Watershed: Buzzards Bay Basin
  Grant funding up to $25,000; Project Total $49,938
• Project applicant: Wareham Fire District
  EOEEA Watershed: Buzzards Bay Basin
  Grant funding up to $30,890; Project Total $64,952
• Project application: City of Gloucester
  EOEEA Watershed: North Coastal Basin
  Grant funding up to $49,000; Project Total $61,250

Release courtesy of the MassDEP.