Water Resources CommitteeThe 495/MetroWest Partnership’s Water Resources Committee focuses on issues related to water and water resources in the region, including but not limited to the region's rivers and watersheds, other bodies of water, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, permitting, regulations, health and safety/ water quality, water supply, environmental protection, and infrastructure.
Past Meetings & Events
EPA RDA Permit Design Process Informational Session: On March 22, 2024, NAIOP and the 495/MetroWest Partnership co-hosted an informational session with staff from the Region 1 office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the session, the EPA provided updates on the draft Residual Designation Authority Permit (sometimes referred to as an “RDA permit”) that it will issue for comment later this year. The RDA permit will require private commercial, industrial, and institutional properties with one or more acres of impervious surface in the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset River Watersheds to control their stormwater run-off in order to reduce pollutants, such as nutrients and bacteria, from entering the watersheds. During the presentation, EPA staff provided an overview of the permit development process, as well as information regarding how stakeholders can communicate feedback.
The 495/MetroWest Partnership strongly encourages impacted stakeholders to engage with EPA's public input process. To discuss this process further or to request assistance in communicating with EPA, please contact 495/MetroWest Partnership Executive Director Jason Palitsch at [email protected]. Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Expansion into MetroWest Communities Feasibility Study Presentation: On December 19th, 2023, the Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted a presentation from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) regarding their study to assess the feasibility of expanding MWRA’s water system further into the Metro West area. The study was intended to quantify the Authority’s capacity to serve new customers, to develop alternatives for new infrastructure that would expand the Authority’s ability to serve new communities, and to provide planning-level cost estimates and timelines for these alternatives. 495/MetroWest communities included in this study were Acton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard, Natick, Sherborn, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough, and Westford.
Sudbury Valley Trustees Preservation Priorities: On June 15th, the Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted a presentation from Sudbury Valley Trustees regarding their recent land protection prioritization work. To guide regional land protection strategies, Sudbury Valley Trustees has worked with the Metrowest Conservation Alliance to develop a tool that identifies the land that is the most essential to conserve in the region around the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers. Because the tool can identify priority areas at the boundaries of towns, it is also intended to facilitate collaboration and conservation partnerships.
SVT is a nonprofit land trust that conserves vital natural areas in the region between Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts. They actively protect some of the region’s most important forests, wetlands, and grasslands. As of Summer 2022, SVT cares for more than 5700 acres in 93 SVT-Owned Conservation Areas and 97 Conservation Restrictions, while maintaining more than 65 miles of trails. Since their inception, they have assisted other organizations and governmental agencies in protecting an additional 3,000 acres in the region. Of the 36 cities and towns in SVT's service area, 25 are 495/MetroWest Partnership communities. Charles River Watershed Stakeholder Discussion: EPA Region 1 has announced that they will exercise their residual designation authority under the Clean Water Act in the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset river watersheds. Certain commercial, industrial, and institutional properties with one or more acres of impervious area will be required to obtain coverage under an EPA Clean Water Act permit. Once permits are issued, property owners will be required to take steps to reduce pollutants in stormwater. Privately owned commercial, industrial, and institutional properties with 1-acre or greater impervious cover will need to seek coverage under one of these permits (or an individual permit if they prefer) and take the actions spelled out in the permits. The Partnership's Water Resources Committee hosted EPA Region 1 staff for an informational presentation on this matter on November 1st; click here to access a recording of that presentation. 495/MetroWest Partnership communities that are fully or partially located within the Charles River watershed are Ashland, Bellingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wayland, and Wrentham. Portions of Foxborough and Medfield are located in the Neponset River watershed. Presentation and Q&A: EPA Residual Designation Authority in the Charles River Watershed: EPA Region 1 has announced that they will exercise their residual designation authority under the Clean Water Act in the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset river watersheds. Certain commercial, industrial, and institutional properties with one or more acres of impervious area will be required to obtain coverage under an EPA Clean Water Act permit. Once permits are issued, property owners will be required to take steps to reduce pollutants in stormwater. EPA anticipates issuing one or more general permits specifying the activities that property owners must implement to reduce stormwater pollution from their properties. Before these requirements are finalized, EPA will conduct a public process, including publication of a draft permit and an opportunity to comment. Privately owned commercial, industrial, and institutional properties with 1-acre or greater impervious cover will need to seek coverage under one of these permits (or an individual permit if they prefer) and take the actions spelled out in the permits.
The 495/MetroWest Partnership's Water Resources Committee hosted EPA Region 1 staff for an informational presentation on this matter on Tuesday, November 1st, 2022. A follow-up discussion among 495/MetroWest Partnership impacted stakeholders is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 at 8:30 AM; check back to this page for further details once they become available.
495/MetroWest Partnership communities that are fully or partially located within the Charles River watershed are Ashland, Bellingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wayland, and Wrentham. Portions of Foxborough and Medfield are located in the Neponset River watershed. Massachusetts Clean Water Trust: On Wednesday, March 16th, 2022 the Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted a presentation on the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust is a state agency that provides low-interest loans to municipalities and other eligible entities for the purpose of improving water quality throughout the Commonwealth. Loan funding is provided through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds. Nate Keenan, Deputy Director of the Clean Water Trust, provided an overview of resources available, as well as information regarding new sources of funding coming to Massachusetts. Click here to access a recording of this event.
Presentation from #InvestInWaterMA Campaign: The Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted a presentation and discussion on the #InvestInWaterMA initiative on Tuesday, January 11th, 2022. Click here to access the slide presentation from this meeting, providing an overview of the #InvestInWaterMA campaign. The #InvestInWaterMA effort aims to see water, sewer, and wastewater infrastructure prioritized for new infrastructure funding. State and federal policymakers will be making critical decisions about where and how to invest billions of dollars in federal infrastructure and COVID relief funding in the coming months and years. Key messages of the campaign include the funding gap for cities, towns, and regional water utilities for water infrastructure needs, and the positive relationship between water/ wastewater infrastructure investment and increased economic activity. To learn more about the effort visit www.ucane.com/investinwaterma.
Water Resources Committee Meeting with Congresswoman Trahan: The Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted Congresswoman Lori Trahan of Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District virtually on Thursday, November 4th, 2021. The Congresswoman discussed her work on the House Energy & Commerce and Natural Resources Committees, as well as comprehensive PFAS legislation recently passed by the House, and took questions from the audience. Congresswoman Trahan represents the 495/MetroWest Partnership communities of Acton, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Westford. Click here to view a recording of the event.
Climate Legislation Presentation with Secretary Theoharides: On May 18th, 2021, the Water Resources and Energy and Sustainable Development Committees of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted a special presentation from Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen A. Theoharides on An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy, major climate legislation signed into law earlier this year. Click here to view a recording of the session with Secretary Theoharides. The legislation, signed into law by Governor Baker in March, codifies a commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions in 2050, establishes new interim goals for emissions reductions, authorizes the Administration to implement a new, voluntary energy efficient building code for municipalities, and allows the Commonwealth to procure an additional 2,400 Megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2027, among other provisions. MWRA Presentation: The Water Resources Committee hosted a presentation from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and the MWRA Advisory Board on Tuesday, March 30th. MWRA is a public authority established by the Legislature in 1984 to provide wholesale water and sewer services in 61 metropolitan Boston communities, including, at present, 6 communities in the Partnership’s service area. The MWRA Advisory Board is an independent agency that was established at the same time to represent the interests of the cities and towns in the MWRA’s service area. Click here to view a recording of the presentation. The presentation focused on MWRA’s activities and services in the Partnership’s service region, and how municipalities interested in joining MWRA may initiate that process. Click here to access the slide presentation from the event. Potential New Stormwater Requirements in the Charles River Watershed: On October 27th, 2020, the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted staff from EPA Region 1 for a presentation regarding potential new stormwater requirements in the Charles River Watershed. In 2019, EPA Region 1 received a petition from the Conservation Law Foundation and the Charles River Watershed Association asking that EPA use its Residual Designation Authority to require permits for stormwater discharges that are not otherwise regulated for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities within the Charles River watershed. EPA is now formulating a response to the petition. Click here to access the slides from EPA's presentation to the Partnership. Partnership communities that are fully or partially located within the Charles River watershed are Ashland, Bellingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wayland, and Wrentham. New PFAS Drinking Water Standard: On October 21st, 2020, the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a presentation regarding the Commonwealth's new PFAS drinking water standard. In January 2019, DEP announced its intention to initiate the process to develop a drinking water standard, known as a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), for a group of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The revised PFAS regulation was published on October 2nd, 2020. |