Press Release: 5/27/2025

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards over $1 Million to Protect Drinking Water Across Massachusetts

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

5/23/2025

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Danielle Burney, Deputy Communications Director

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Call Danielle Burney, Deputy Communications Director at (857) 303-7286

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Email Danielle Burney, Deputy Communications Director at Danielle.Burney@mass.gov

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced over $1 million in grant funding to protect drinking water resources in Massachusetts. Through the Drinking Water Supply Protection program, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) will provide funding to five communities. This investment will allow communities to purchase land that is important for maintaining the safety and quality of their drinking water, directly benefiting public health.

“This funding is a critical step in ensuring that our communities have access to safe, clean drinking water,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “By investing in land protection, we are not only safeguarding our vital water resources but also enhancing the quality of life for residents who rely on these resources for health and recreation.”

“Massachusetts has some of the cleanest and most abundant drinking water in the nation—due in large part to our proactive planning,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple.“Protecting land near the water bodies that provide our drinking water protects residents from contaminants that could pollute the water supply if that land were otherwise developed.”

Since 2004, this program has empowered municipalities, public water systems, and fire districts to acquire land through purchase or conservation easements specifically for water protection. The land secured through these efforts will be designated as protected open space under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, ensuring it remains dedicated to preserving our water supply and conserving natural resources.

EEA carefully selects projects that enhance water supply safety, including the protection of current and future wells and reservoirs, as well as lands vital for groundwater recharge. Conserving these areas protects our water supply and also enhances community spaces for outdoor recreation, providing residents with more opportunities to enjoy nature.

“This investment enables Amesbury to purchase part of a watershed that provides the city’s water supply,” said State Representative Dawne Shand (D-1st Essex). “We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration for making possible this visionary environmental goal of being a smart steward of its water supply while also opening to recreation the beautiful Powwow River.”   

Projects receiving Drinking Water Supply Protection grants are: 

Awardee	Project Description	Total Grant Award
Town of Amherst	50+ acre wooded property in Pelham adjacent to designated Watershed Protection Land held by the Town of Amherst. This purchase will protect designated Zone A surface water that contributes to the Pelham Reservoir System which provides approximately one third of Amherst’s drinking water.	$218,820
City of Haverhill	These 40+ acres will expand the 500+ acre Brandy Brow Forest Area - an ecologically significant landscape within the Millvale Reservoir watershed that provides 65% of Haverhill’s drinking water.	$237,000
Town of Falmouth	This critical 2-acre property lies entirely within the Zone B Surface Water Supply Protection Area for Long Pond, the Town’s primary drinking water source.  This acquisition addresses a gap embedded within 640 acres of protected open space owned by the Town of Falmouth.	$158,100
City of Amesbury	This 8 acre parcel abuts the Powwow River - Amesbury’s primary surface water source.  The property is also within 1,800' of a town wellhead and entirely within the City’s Zone II wellhead protection area. The parcel is easily accessible from the road and will create access to the river for canoers and kayakers.	$122,661
City of Cambridge	These 52 acres of environmentally sensitive land west of the upper Hobbs Brook (Cambridge) Reservoir will directly facilitate the protection of an additional 20 acres, bringing the total protected land to 72 acres.  Through partnership with the Town of Lincoln, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and Rural Land Foundation, this purchase will protect critical water supply for the City of Cambridge and create public access to the property trail network.	$350,000

Town of Amherst  50+ acre wooded property in Pelham adjacent to designated Watershed Protection Land held by the Town of Amherst. This purchase will protect designated Zone A surface water that contributes to the Pelham Reservoir System which provides approximately one third of Amherst’s drinking water. $218,820	Town of Amherst  50+ acre wooded property in Pelham adjacent to designated Watershed Protection Land held by the Town of Amherst. This purchase will protect designated Zone A surface water that contributes to the Pelham Reservoir System which provides approximately one third of Amherst’s drinking water. $218,820	Town of Amherst  50+ acre wooded property in Pelham adjacent to designated Watershed Protection Land held by the Town of Amherst. This purchase will protect designated Zone A surface water that contributes to the Pelham Reservoir System which provides approximately one third of Amherst’s drinking water. $218,820