BOSTON — Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) and Representative Paul K. Frost (R-Auburn)announced that seven grants totaling $632,917 have been awarded to help 13 communities including the Town of Auburn. The grants will assist with water conservation, source and demand management, and other water withdrawal planning and mitigation projects across the Commonwealth.
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 improve degraded water resources over time. The WMA Grant Program helps water suppliers by providing grants for watershed planning projects, demand management, minimization, and mitigation activities for water withdrawal impacts.
The following grants were awarded:
- Town of Amherst: Adams Brook Watershed – $66,816.
- Auburn Water District: Permanent Interconnection with Worcester/Design and Permitting – $105,900.
- Town of Danvers: Data Collection and Planning in the Ipswich Watershed – $160,790.
- Dedham/Westwood Water District: Dropcounter Public Portal Expansion – $30,350.
- Town of Groton (in conjunction with the Holden Water Department, Kingston Water Department, Lincoln Water Department, and the North Sagamore Water District in Bourne): Water Rate Studies – $108,650.
- Wareham Fire District: Billing Changes and Automatic Meter Reading – $58,800.
- Towns of Westford and Littleton: Stony Brook Flow Restoration Project – $101,611.
“Proper management and conservation of water resources is clearly a priority for the Auburn community,” said State Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury). “I applaud the town’s efforts to pursue this interconnection, which will encourage further conservation and responsible distribution of our most precious natural resource. I look forward to offering my continued support to bring this important infrastructure project to fruition.”
“I appreciate the Baker-Polito Administration including the Auburn Water District for this funding,” said State Representative Paul K. Frost (R-Auburn). “Water is the most crucial and necessary resource we have and this funding will continue to help the Auburn Water District carry out its mission to provide clean drinking water to the residents and businesses in Auburn.”
The WMA Grant Program is funded through the Massachusetts Five-Year Capital Plan. The grant program requires a 20 percent match from the communities involved, so that the grants will leverage an additional $204,000 in project work, bringing the total expenditure for the seven projects to more than $837,000.
Additional details on the WMA grant projects for 2018, or on the Sustainable Water Management Initiative framework and water withdrawals under the Water Management Act, can be found by clicking below.