Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
| Company type | Public authority |
|---|---|
| Industry | Water supply and wastewater management |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Chelsea , United States |
Area served | Boston metropolitan region and surrounding areas, including 61 municipalities |
| Products | Wholesale potable water, wastewater services |
| Website | www |
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is a public entity within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts responsible for delivering wholesale potable water and wastewater services to approximately 3.1 million residents spanning sixty-one municipalities, along with more than 5,500 major industrial clients, predominantly situated in the Boston metropolitan region.
MWRA obtains its water supply from the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs as well as the Ware River, all located in central and western Massachusetts. Its wastewater management includes operating a significant treatment plant positioned on Deer Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor.
Formed in 1985 following its separation from the Metropolitan District Commission, MWRA was granted independent authority to raise revenues and issue bonds. The Department of Conservation and Recreation assumed responsibility for managing watershed lands previously overseen by the MDC.
Service area
The MWRA's service territory encompasses fifty-eight communities within Greater Boston and MetroWest, in addition to three towns in Western Massachusetts: Chicopee, Wilbraham, and South Hadley. The following table outlines the scope of services delivered.
| Service | Municipalities |
|---|---|
| Complete water and sewer services | Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Chelsea, Clinton, Everett, Framingham, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Newton, Norwood, Quincy, Reading, Revere, Somerville, Stoneham, Waltham, Watertown, Winthrop |
| Sewer service plus partial water supply | Bedford, Cambridge (emergency water only), Canton, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Wakefield, Wellesley, Westwood, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn |
| Water service only | Chicopee, Lynnfield Water District, Marblehead, Nahant, Northborough, Saugus, Southborough, South Hadley (Fire District No. 1 only), Swampscott, Weston, Wilbraham |
| Sewer service only | Ashland, Braintree, Burlington, Hingham, Holbrook, Lancaster, Natick, Randolph, Walpole, Weymouth |
| Partial water supply | Leominster (emergency only), Lynn (GE only), Marlborough, Peabody, Worcester (emergency only) |
Water system
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority collaborates with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to jointly own and manage the infrastructure for collecting, treating, distributing, and storing drinking water for approximately forty municipalities across metropolitan Boston. The system is structured around acquiring full watershed areas to safeguard water quality. Although natural watershed protection is central to this strategy, regulatory standards mandate that all drinking water receives chemical treatment. Built-in redundancies within the system enable certain segments to be taken offline for maintenance without interrupting service. The MWRA Operations Control Center is based in Chelsea.
Water sources
Main sources:
- Quabbin Reservoir – capacity
- Wachusett Reservoir – capacity
- Ware River (utilized during periods of high flow)
Secondary sources:
- Sudbury Reservoir – capacity
- Foss Reservoir (Framingham Reservoir No. 3) – capacity
Eastbound water flow
Water intended for the Greater Boston area originates from the MWRA's primary storage source, the Quabbin Reservoir, and travels via the Quabbin Aqueduct to reach the Wachusett Reservoir, situated near Boylston and Clinton. This reservoir also receives inflow from tributary rivers within its 108-square-mile watershed. From there, water is conveyed through the Cosgrove Tunnel to the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant, positioned at the intersection of Marlborough, Northborough, and Southborough, Massachusetts. This $340 million facility superseded an earlier plant that was used solely for pH adjustment. It is equipped with four ozone generators paired with diffusers and contains five concrete contact chambers with a combined volume of 11.3 million US gallons. The plant’s average daily treatment capacity is 275 million gallons, with a maximum throughput of 405 million gallons during peak demand periods.
The MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel (MWWST) transports water eastward, passing landmarks such as Norumbega Reservoir, Schneck's Pond, and Norumbega Covered Storage located in Weston. Near Route 128 and along the Charles River, this tunnel divides to supply regional distribution networks at the Loring Road Tanks and links with the City Tunnel heading into Newton. In Chestnut Hill, the City Tunnel branches into two main conduits: the City Tunnel Extension (northeast) and Dorchester Tunnel (southeast). These tunnels serve as principal arteries feeding smaller distribution mains and supplying various regional storage tanks.
Westbound water flow
Water destined for Western Massachusetts municipalities such as Chicopee, Wilbraham, and South Hadley (Fire District No. 1) is delivered via the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct from Quabbin Reservoir. Along its route, it passes through the Ware Water Treatment Facility and the Nash Hill Covered Reservoir located in Ludlow.
Pressure zones
To manage varying elevation levels among consumers, the water distribution system is segmented into seven distinct pressure zones based on measurements relative to "Boston City Base" elevation:
- 185 ft – Low Service: Serving Cambridge; lower Boston neighborhoods; Somerville; Medford; Malden; Chelsea; Everett; Winchester
- 280 ft – Northern and Southern High Service: Covers downtown Boston towers; southern and western Boston; portions of Milton, Quincy, Needham, Weston, Wellesley, Watertown; southern Waltham; Marblehead; Swampscott; Revere; Melrose; Peabody; parts of Newton, Brookline, Arlington, Somerville, Medford, Malden, Everett, Wakefield, Stoneham
- 320 ft – Intermediate High Service: Includes areas within Belmont, Watertown, Newton
- 330 ft – Northern Intermediate High Service: Encompasses Reading and Woburn; parts of Stoneham and Winchester
- 400 ft – Southern Extra High Service: Services Stoughton, Canton, Norwood, Westwood, Dedham; parts of Milton, Boston, Brookline, Newton
- 440 ft – Northern Extra High Service: Covers Bedford and Lexington; portions of Winchester, Arlington, Belmont, Waltham
Water storage facilities
Beyond the source reservoirs themselves, MWRA’s principal water storage assets consist mainly of covered reservoirs with a combined capacity of , which serve as primary storage units. Surface reservoirs are maintained solely as backup resources because uncovered reservoirs necessitate additional treatment before potable use.
| Name | City/Town | Capacity (gal) | Type | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norumbega | Weston | 115M | Covered | 2004 |
| Nash Hill | Ludlow | 25M | Covered | 1999 |
| Carroll | Marlborough | 45M | Covered | 2005 |
| Fells | Stoneham | 20M | Covered | 2000 |
| Loring Road | Weston | 20M | Covered | 2001 |
| Arlington | Arlington | 2M | Covered | 1937 |
| Bear Hill | Stoneham | 6M | Covered | 1986 |
| Bellevue | West Roxbury | 3.7M | Covered | 1955 |
| Deer Island | Boston | 2M | Covered | 1994 |
| Turkey Hill | Arlington | 2M | Covered | 1945 |
| Walnut Hill | Lexington | 2M | Covered | 1961 |
| Blue Hills | Quincy | 20M | Covered | 2009 (replaced open surface reservoir from 1941) |
| Spot Pond | Stoneham | 1,900M | Surface (backup) | circa 1895–1910 |
| Chestnut Hill Reservoir | Boston | 500M | Surface (backup) | 1870 |
| Norumbega Open Reservoir | Weston | 200M | Surface (backup) | 1941 |
| Weston Reservoir | Weston | 200M | Surface (backup) | 1905 |
| Fells Open Reservoir | Stoneham | 67M | Surface (backup) | circa1895–1910 |
| Schenck's Pond | Weston | 50M | Surface (backup) | unknown |
Redundancy
The Wachusett Aqueduct serves as an older parallel water conduit to the Cosgrove Tunnel and remains maintained as a backup transmission route from the Wachusett Reservoir to the Carroll Water Treatment Plant. Its most recent operational use was during a tunnel shutdown in 2003.
Originating at the Carroll Water Treatment Plant, the Hultman Aqueduct runs alongside the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel (MWWST), which superseded it in 2003. Following the MWWST's commissioning, the Hultman underwent extensive renovations between 2009 and 2014, restoring it as a standby pipeline. Post-upgrade, it resumed its role as an emergency alternative should the MWWST become unavailable.
Extending beyond the Carroll Plant, the Wachusett Aqueduct's open channel links to the Sudbury Reservoir. Prior to the construction of the Hultman and Cosgrove aqueducts, it functioned as the main transmission pathway from Wachusett Reservoir. Currently reserved for emergency deployment, it is capable of delivering untreated water from Quabbin and Wachusett into designated emergency storage reservoirs.
The backup Weston Aqueduct transports water from Sudbury Reservoir in Framingham to storage tanks on Loring Road in Weston, passing through the Weston Reservoir—a supplementary surface storage facility. Both the Hultman Aqueduct and MWWST interface with Sudbury Reservoir and the Weston Aqueduct.
Connecting Foss Reservoir (also known as Framingham Reservoir No. 3) directly to Chestnut Hill Reservoir, the Sudbury Aqueduct parallels the MWWST route. Foss and Sudbury Reservoirs are linked by surface channels. However, Framingham Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2 downstream have been decommissioned as emergency water sources.
A redundant pipeline segment of the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct reached substantial completion in 2008.
In May 2010, following a failure between the MWWST and City Tunnel, MWRA sourced water via the Sudbury Aqueduct from Chestnut Hill, Spot Pond, and Sudbury Reservoirs. At that time, reconstruction activities rendered the Hultman Aqueduct unavailable.
During emergencies, sodium hypochlorite treatment can be applied using Mobile Disinfection Units—trailer-mounted systems strategically positioned throughout MWRA’s network. The May 2010 main break incident prompted emergency chlorination; however, delays in subsequent testing led to a boil-water advisory.
Electrical generation
The system includes three hydropower facilities—one currently inactive—and two wind turbines, collectively providing a capacity of 19.8 megawatts (MW). Water discharged into the Swift River passes through turbines at Winsor Station located beneath Winsor Dam; however, these turbines are offline due to fire damage. Transfers of water from Quabbin to Wachusett Reservoir utilize turbines at Oakdale or bypass pipes when flow exceeds turbine capacity. Releases from Wachusett into the Cosgrove Tunnel generate power via Cosgrove turbines. The original four turbines housed in the Wachusett Gatehouse have remained unused for over four decades. A new 1.54 MW turbine is under installation at the dam, while a turbine at Southborough on the Weston Aqueduct remains non-operational.
| MWRA power generation | ||||||
| Name | City | Unit | Year in service | Year retired | Output MW | Type |
| Winsor Dam | Belchertown | WINS | 1950 | Currently Out of Service | 1.2 | HY |
| Oakdale | West Boylston | OAKD | 1951 | In service | 3.5 | HY |
| Cosgrove | Clinton | UNI1 | 1969 | In service | 1.6 | HY |
| Cosgrove | Clinton | UNI2 | 1969 | In service | 1.6 | HY |
The Quabbin Aqueduct serves as a gravity-driven link between reservoirs and operates in three distinct modes: diverting Ware River flows into Quabbin Reservoir; transferring water from Quabbin to Wachusett either through hydropower turbines or bypass pipelines; and regulating flow rates constrained by turbine capacity. The bypass valves permit transfer rates nearly twice those achievable through turbines alone; however, only one operational mode is active at any given time.
Additionally, MWRA owns multiple solar and wind energy installations that contribute to Massachusetts' greenhouse gas reduction initiatives and energy efficiency programs. A notable example is a 1.5 MW wind turbine located at Charlestown sewage pumping station near Encore Boston Harbor.
As a significant energy consumer, MWRA produces electricity onsite at both Deer Island Sewage Treatment Plant and Carroll Water Treatment Plant during peak demand periods. Utilizing demand response agreements, this generation strategy helps lower costs and emissions by reducing dependence on less efficient grid peaking power plants.
Significant Infrastructure Projects
In its early days, Boston depended on local wells, natural springs—including one located on Boston Common—and rainwater collected in barrels. Starting in 1795, water was supplied from Jamaica Pond through wooden pipes, which were eventually replaced by cast iron. Following outbreaks of disease and destructive fires that exposed vulnerabilities in the supply, the Cochituate Water Board constructed the Cochituate System, inaugurated in 1848. This system featured a dam on the Sudbury River, forming Lake Cochituate, which supplied water through the Cochituate Aqueduct to the Brookline Reservoir and nearby storage facilities such as the Beacon Hill Reservoir. When Boston incorporated Charlestown in 1873, it integrated the Mystic Lakes system into its water network. By 1951, the Cochituate Reservoir and Aqueduct were decommissioned; since then, no reservoirs or lakes remain part of the main or auxiliary water sources.
Between 1875 and 1898, the Boston Water Board established seven reservoirs within the Sudbury River watershed. Water was transported to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir via the Sudbury Aqueduct, completed in 1878. Some distribution mains serving Boston’s Low Service area originate from this gravity-fed period. By the turn of the 20th century, water was routed to Weston Reservoir, which saw the addition of covered storage by 1978 and supplementary supply from City Tunnel systems. In the late 19th century, water was pumped from Chestnut Hill to reservoirs at Waban Hill Reservoir in Newton and Fisher Hill Reservoir in Brookline to form the Southern High Service zone. Additional pumping facilities were established at Alewife Brook in Somerville and at Spot Pond in Stoneham. Certain mains from Mystic Lakes and connections to Spot Pond continue to serve the northern Low Service area. Spot Pond supplied this northern zone and pumped water to the Fells Reservoir, which constitutes the Northern High Service zone.
As population growth and indoor plumbing increased water demand, various sources such as Lake Winnipesaukee, Sebago Lake, and the Merrimack River were considered. Ultimately, the Metropolitan Water Board engineered the record-breaking Wachusett Reservoir by damming the Nashua River in Clinton, Massachusetts. Completed in 1905 and filled by 1908, it fed into the Wachusett Aqueduct. Water arrived in Boston either through the Weston Aqueduct and reservoir or via the newer Sudbury Reservoir alongside the older Sudbury Aqueduct.
Rising demand prompted construction of the Wachusett-Coldbrook Tunnel in 1926 to tap into seasonal surpluses from the Ware River. This tunnel was later extended to reach the Swift River, becoming known as the Quabbin Aqueduct. Work on the enormous Quabbin Reservoir commenced in 1936; it was filled between 1939 and 1946, necessitating disincorporation of four towns in Western Massachusetts.
The completion of the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct came in 1950. Pressure zones serving suburbs along Route 128 were established with pumping stations added in 1951.
System capacity was further enhanced in 1941 with construction of the Hultman Aqueduct, connecting Wachusett to Weston Aqueduct at Norumbega. The City Tunnel (1951) linked to Chestnut Hill; its extension (1961) along with the Dorchester Tunnel (1978) transported high-pressure water toward Fells and Blue Hills reservoirs. The Dorchester Tunnel relegated Sudbury Aqueduct and Chestnut Hill Reservoir to backup roles, thereby improving overall water quality. The redundant Cosgrove Tunnel, completed in 1965, allowed for maintenance work on the Wachusett Aqueduct without service interruption.
Conservation era
Starting in 1969, water demand surpassed the "safe supply" threshold of per day. While diverting water from the Connecticut River was considered, the MWRA ultimately prioritized water conservation measures beginning in 1986. By 1989, consumption was brought down to sustainable levels and continued to decrease, reaching approximately per day by 2009.
Between 1996 and 2009, the MWRA constructed covered sanitary storage tanks, which have become the main local storage facilities; uncovered reservoirs now serve solely as backups due to the necessity for additional treatment. The completion of the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel in 2003 facilitated the rehabilitation of the aging Hultman Aqueduct.
2010 supply failure
On May 1, 2010, a major failure occurred when a collar connecting two sections of pipe ruptured in Weston, Massachusetts. This break disrupted the connection between the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel and the City Tunnel, leading to activation of the backup reservoir system for the first time. Consequently, a boil-water advisory was issued impacting roughly two million people across 31 municipalities. After water safety tests confirmed no contamination, the advisory was lifted on May 4.
System expansion
Due to conservation efforts, demand remains significantly below MWRA’s "safe yield." To optimize fixed costs associated with large infrastructure projects such as the MetroWest Tunnel and Deer Island treatment facility, MWRA is pursuing additional wholesale water customers, including nearby towns and properties adjacent to its service boundaries. Several Massachusetts communities are experiencing water shortages driven by population growth.
From 2002 through 2009, MWRA expanded its customer portfolio to include:
- Stoughton, Massachusetts
- Avalon (a private development located on the Danvers-Peabody border)
- Dedham/Westwood Water District
- YMCA (a private client on the Salem-Marblehead border)
- Reading, Massachusetts
- Wilmington, Massachusetts
Lead pipe removal
As of 2016, certain municipalities still had around 5% of service lines composed of lead connecting public mains to private properties. In response to concerns raised by the Flint water crisis, the MWRA board authorized $100 million in zero-interest loans to support municipal lead pipe replacement programs. The agency estimates these funds will enable complete removal of all lead service lines within its system. Since 1996, MWRA has also maintained water pH adjustments to minimize corrosion and reduce lead leaching.
Planned expansions and upgrades
Following contamination problems at Burlington’s Vine Brook Treatment Plant, Burlington, Massachusetts voted in 2018 to connect to MWRA via Arlington. A subsequent construction phase vote was anticipated for 2021. Meanwhile, during supply shortages like the drought in 2020, Burlington has relied on MWRA water delivered through Lexington.
In June 2020, heightened residential usage amid drought conditions pushed Lynnfield Center Water District’s pumping capacity to its limit. This prompted emergency plans for interconnection with Lynnfield Water District, which receives supply from MWRA.
The City Tunnel system currently lacks alternative routing options that would facilitate maintenance without disruption. Due to corrosion and submerged valves in some locations, MWRA is planning construction of two new tunnels with diameters of 10 feet originating from Shaft 55A in Weston. The Northern Tunnel will extend toward the Waltham-Belmont boundary and form a loop with existing tunnels through Belmont, Arlington, and Medford. The Southern Tunnel will link to Shaft 7C on Boston’s Dorchester Tunnel creating a southern loop that enhances redundancy. This Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy Program is expected to require between 17 and 23 years for full design and construction completion.
Additional interim projects are underway to eliminate vulnerabilities that could cause boil-water advisories or supply interruptions. Among these is a new connection at Commonwealth Avenue Pumping Station in Newton designed to maintain water delivery if the City Tunnel becomes compromised. Furthermore, through its Local Water System Assistance Program (LWSAP), MWRA provides funding for local water main replacements or lining efforts aimed at preserving consumer water quality.
Metro Boston sewage
The Boston Main Drainage System, finalized in 1884, originally transported wastewater from 18 municipalities to Moon Island for disposal with the tides. By the early twentieth century, sewage was being pumped straight into Boston Harbor. Treatment plants were introduced by the Metropolitan District Commission at Nut Island in 1952 and later at Deer Island in 1968. In response to the Clean Water Act of 1972, more rigorous standards compelled the MWRA to stop releasing floating debris and scum into Boston Harbor by 1989, opting instead for landfill disposal. The practice of sludge dumping ceased in 1991 when a facility in Quincy began converting it into fertilizer. Sewage treatment operations were consolidated at Deer Island during the 1990s, culminating in the implementation of a deep-water outfall system by 2000. The Charlestown pumping station was renamed in honor of MWRA engineer Peter M. DeLauri in 1993. Federally mandated initiatives to minimize combined sewer overflows (CSOs) progressed into the early 2000s, highlighted by the completion of the South Boston CSO Storage Tunnel in 2011.
Sludge from Deer Island is conveyed through the Inter-Island Tunnel to Quincy, where it undergoes pelletization for use as fertilizer by New England Fertilizer Company and MWRA’s Bay State Fertilizer operation. A portion of this fertilizer is transported via the MWRA-owned Fore River Railroad. Discharges into Massachusetts Bay are treated with sodium hypochlorite followed by dechlorination using sodium bisulfite.
Primary headworks funnel sewage to Deer Island from various points such as Chelsea Creek, South Boston’s Columbus Park area, Nut Island Headworks, Ward Street in Roxbury, and the Winthrop Terminal Facility. The system relies on thirteen pumping stations, including key facilities like the Intermediate Pumping Station in North Weymouth, the DeLauri station in Charlestown, and a refurbished station on Alewife Brook Parkway in Somerville. Additionally, the network incorporates storage tunnels designed to prevent combined sewer overflows as well as emergency discharge locations.
Clinton and Lancaster
In 1987, MWRA assumed legal responsibility for the Clinton Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves Clinton and sections of Lancaster, discharging treated effluent into the South Nashua River. Funding disagreements have occurred between MWRA, its predecessor agencies, and Clinton regarding this plant, initially established as compensation to Clinton for sewage impacts related to the construction of Wachusett Reservoir.
Rutland-Holden
The Rutland-Holden Trunk Sewer, completed in 1934, along with the Rutland-Holden Relief Trunk Sewer constructed during the 1980s, are state-owned projects intended to safeguard drinking water sources including Wachusett Reservoir, Quinapoxet River, and Ware River. These sewers are owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation but operated by MWRA. They collect wastewater from Rutland, Holden, parts of West Boylston via Holden, and Anna Maria College located in Paxton. The sewage is then conveyed into Worcester’s system for treatment at the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District facility in Millbury before being discharged into the Blackstone River. The contributing municipalities and college compensate Worcester for treatment services and pay MWRA for operational expenses based on their respective flow volumes.
Water and Sewage Data
MWRA Aggregate Water Consumption and Wastewater Production
| Calendar Year |
Water Consumption |
Wholesale Water |
Total Wastewater Produced |
Dry Day Wastewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 256 mgd | 222 mgd | 426 mgd | N/A |
| 1997 | 258 mgd | 226 mgd | 353 mgd | N/A |
| 1998 | 260 mgd | 231 mgd | 412 mgd | N/A |
| 1999 | 276 mgd * | 245 mgd* | 344 mgd | 307 mgd |
| 2000 | 252 mgd * | 229 mgd* | 362 mgd | 331 mgd |
| 2001 | 247 mgd * | 229 mgd* | 346 mgd | 305 mgd |
| 2002 | 237 mgd | 219 mgd | 340 mgd | 309 mgd |
| 2003 | 222 mgd** | 214 mgd | 382 mgd | 333 mgd |
| 2004 | 216 mgd** | 208 mgd | 356 mgd | 327 mgd |
| 2005 | 225 mgd** | 213 mgd | 403 mgd | 342 mgd |
| 2006 | 212 mgd | 201 mgd | 380 mgd | 322 mgd |
- * The totals for withdrawals and water sales incorporate temporary demand from Cambridge during its treatment facility reconstruction (1999:15 mgd; 2000:14 mgd; 2001:6 mgd).
- ** Withdrawal figures exclude added demand related to Carroll Water Treatment Plant commissioning and testing (2003:7.4 mgd avg; 2004:3.6 mgd avg; 2005:33.6 mgd avg).
Rates
Final FY08 Water and Sewer Charges
| Proposed FY08 Final | FY07 Final | $ Difference from FY07 | % Difference from FY07 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | $168,292,702 | $163,124,954 | $5,167,748 | 3.2% |
| Sewer | $349,505,130 | $332,233,810 | $17,271,320 | 5.2% |
| Total | $517,797,832 | $495,358,764 | $22,439,068 | 4.5% |
Annual Survey of Water and Sewer Retail Rates
The MWRA Advisory Board advocates on behalf of the sixty municipalities within the MWRA service region, offering ratepayer input regarding capital expenditures, operating budgets, and rate-setting to facilitate enhancements to the regional water and sewer infrastructure.
Water and sewer fees are calculated based on a standard household consumption of approximately one hundred twenty hundred cubic feet (HCF), equivalent to roughly . This survey monitors retail rate adjustments consistently year after year.
Combined Annual Water & Sewer Fees in MWRA Municipalities: From 1991 to 2007: $443 $523 $559 $570 $593 $626 $648 $674 $699 $724 $751 $794 $842 $889 $946 $1,006 $1,069
MWRA SYSTEMWIDE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR 2007 Average combined water and sewer charge: $1,068.54 Year-over-year percentage change: +6.2%
WATER BILLING CYCLES Semiannual billing: 16 municipalities Triannual billing: 2 municipalities Quarterly billing: 38 municipalities Monthly billing: 4 municipalities
WATER RATE MODELS Ascending Block with Base Fee: used by 22 municipalities Ascending Block only: applied by 15 municipalities Flat Rate with Base Fee: adopted by 7 municipalities Flat Rate only: utilized by15 municipalities Fixed Fee only: implemented by one municipality
Annual Combined Water and Sewer Charges in MWRA Communities
(The amounts encompass MWRA fees, local community charges, and alternate services; based on an average household consumption of one hundred twenty HCF or approximately )
| Water Charge | Sewer Charge | Total Combined Charge | Percentage Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont (W/S) | — | $590.20 | $1,011.76 | +4.5% |
| Boston (W/S) | $421.96 | $542.73 | $964.68 | +9.5% |
| Brookline (W/S) | $540.00 | $690.00 | $1,230.00 | +2.0% |
| Cambridge (S/partial W) | $340.80 | $772.80 | $1,113.60 | No change |
| Framingham (W/S) | $397.56 | $408.96 | $806.52 | −7.2% |
| Lexington (W/S) | $379.20 | $873.60 | $1,252.80 | No change |
| Milton (W/S) | $541.20 | $951.36 | $1,492.56 | +1.2% |
| Newton (W/S) | $467.20 | $725.60 | $1,192.80 | +5.8% |
| Quincy (W/S) | $415.20 | $723.24 | $1,138.44 | +7.3% |
| Somerville (W/S) | $432.03 | $761.88 | $1,193.91 | +7.4% |
| Waltham (W/S) | $324.48 | $578.76 | $903.24 | +16.9% |
| Watertown (W/S) | $401.18 | $782.40 | $1,183.58 | +9.2% |
| Winthrop (W/S) | $500.40 | $806.40 | $1,306.80 | +11.0% |
Average Costs for Water & Sewer Services: Water: $421.19 Sewer: $647.35 Combined Total: $1,068.54 Annual Change: +6.2%
MWRA debt
The most significant portion of MWRA's financial plan is allocated to servicing debt incurred from bonds issued for substantial capital projects. Since 1985, MWRA has dedicated $6.8 billion toward modernizing its water and sewer systems, effectively addressing years of deferred maintenance.
The successful completion of the Deer Island sewage treatment plant has transformed the cleanup of Boston Harbor into a nationally acclaimed environmental achievement. On the drinking water front, cutting-edge enhancements—such as a sophisticated ozone disinfection facility and covered storage reservoirs—guarantee some of the nation’s finest water quality for years ahead. Nevertheless, these vital upgrades have considerably increased MWRA’s overall debt obligations.
Annual test reports
To uphold accountability, MWRA releases its annual drinking water quality testing results. The 2014 report was published in June 2015, and historical data from previous years remains accessible online.
Fluoridation
MWRA has consistently maintained fluoride levels in its drinking water at approximately 0.7 parts per million since the 1980s.