Wilmington Receives $150K State Grant From MassDEP To Help Build Booster Water Pump Station, Increase MWRA Water Supply

Below is a modified press release from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection:

BOSTON, MA — The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently awarded $950,000 in grants to help five communities enhance their public water supplies, improve water availability, and remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from drinking water. PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” are persistent and harmful chemicals that can cause adverse health outcomes. The grants, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), will help maintain and improve access to clean and safe drinking water for communities in the Ipswich River Basin.

“The Ipswich River Watershed serves as the drinking water source to more than 350,000 people in nearby communities,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to supporting our public water suppliers and protecting this resource.”

“This funding will provide communities with the tools they need to design and construct infrastructure to preserve current water supplies, build interconnections to share neighboring supplies, and address PFAS contamination.” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “The Ipswich River Basin has unique drinking water challenges and we are committed to supporting communities in addressing harmful PFAS in our drinking water.”

This is the second year for this grant program, which aims to guide water management in the Ipswich River Basin for both the long-term water supply needs of communities and the protection of the aquatic ecosystems.

The following communities and water suppliers were awarded funds this year:

MWRA Connection
Town of Wilmington – $154,208
This project consists of completing the planning and design of a booster water pump station to increase the capacity of the Town’s MWRA connection so that Wilmington can supply MWRA water up to their maximum daily demand.

Modeling and Connection to Salem Beverly Water Supply Board (SBWSB)
Hamilton and Wenham – $279,775
This project consists of conducting computer simulations to identify possible limitations of wheeling a portion of SBWSB’s water supply through Wenham and up to the new connection with Hamilton, the bidding process for a new interim water supply connection between Hamilton and Wenham to obtain supply from the SBWSB, conducting a pilot study on recommended treatment strategies for removing PFAS from Wenham’s two groundwater sources, and recommending the most favorable treatment strategy for Hamilton’s School Street well.

PFAS Treatment
Town of Ipswich – $370,000
This project consists of providing 30 percent design documents for a new Ipswich Water Treatment Plant (WTP), consisting of final design criteria, preliminary drawings, an outline of technical specifications and a preliminary opinion of probable construction costs. The new WTP is being designed with capacity to treat additional sources of varying water quality and quantity in the Parker River Basin, which will improve the opportunity to reduce the Town of Ipswich’s reliance on its Ipswich River Basin sources. This project also funds monitoring associated with Ipswich’s proposed Lynch wells.

Construction of an Alternative Source Interconnection Lynnfield Center Water District (LCWD) – $138,160
This project consists of reimbursement of funds spent on completing the design, the bidding and award of a contract to connect the Wakefield and LCWD systems, and the funding to assist LCWD in applying for and meeting the requirements of MWRA membership, including all necessary certificates and permits.

MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and to ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.