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MassDEP Announces 45 Recipients of 2016 Public Water Systems Awards to Celebrate 'National Drinking Water Week'

Posted on: May 4, 2016 - 1:46pm

MassDEP Announces 45 Recipients of 2016 Public Water Systems Awards to Celebrate 'National Drinking Water Week'

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today announced 45 winners of the annual Public Water Systems Awards, which are given each year to celebrate National Drinking Water Week (May 1-7). The awards were presented today at 11:00 a.m. during a ceremony held at Devens Community Center in Devens.  

MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg, who served as keynote speaker said, “We are fortunate, in Massachusetts to have 1734 public water systems that work to provide the safe and consistent supply of drinking water we all depend on when we open the tap each day,” he said. “Whether large or small, there are many worthy drinking water systems, and yet, there are some whose consistency in operations and foresight in planning for the future, are deserving of special commendation.”

MassDEP initially began issuing water systems awards in 1986 as a way to acknowledge the many dedicated professionals for their accomplishments in maintaining consistent and safe delivery of potable water to the residents of the Commonwealth.   

All of the state's public water systems were nominated simply by serving as a public water system. The following is the list of the 45 award recipients chosen by MassDEP:

Nontransient Noncommunity System Award

  1. 330 Codman Hill Road-Boxborough
  2. Cosgrove Realty-Boxborough
  3. Deer Island (MWRA)
  4. Hopkinton Country Club
  5. Kids A Lot Daycare-Stow
  6. Prime Toyota Rt. 2- Lancaster
  7. Riverbridge North Complex-Berlin

Small Community System Award

  1. Applewood Condominium Corporation- Boxborough
  2. Nemasket Health Care Center-Middleborough

Medium/Large Community System Award

  1. Andover Water Department
  2. Concord Water Department
  3. Dedham Westwood Water District
  4. Dennis Water District
  5. Easton Water Division
  6. Harwich Water Department
  7. Lynn Water and Sewer Commission
  8. Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
  9. Orleans Water Department
  10. Pinehills Water Company, Inc.-Plymouth
  11. Salem Beverly Water Supply Board
  12. Worcester DPW, Water Supply Division

Consecutive Community System Award

  1. Belmont Water Department (MWRA)
  2. Brookline Water and Sewer Division (MWRA)
  3. Everett Water Department (MWRA)
  4. Quincy Water Department (MWRA)
  5. Reading Water Department
  6. Revere Water Department (MWRA)
  7. Riverside Water District
  8. Weston Water Department

Consistent Performer Recognition

  1. Beverly Water Department 
  2. Boston Water and Sewer Commission (MWRA) 
  3. Bright Horizons Daycare- Boxborough

Source Protection Award

  1. Greenfield DPW - Water Facility
  2. Haverhill Water Department
  3. Mass DCR Wachusett Reservoir
  4. Seekonk Water District

Energy Conservation Award

  1. Egremont Water Department
  2. Stockbridge Water Department

Water Conservation Award

  1. Reading DPW Water Department
  2. Orange Water Department
  3. Norton Water Department

Regional Recognition

  1. Chicopee Water Department
  2. Bellingham DPW Water and Sewer Division (MWRA)
  3. Boston Water and Sewer Commission
  4. Seekonk Water District

National Drinking Water Week recognizes the importance of water source protection and conservation, as well as the value, importance, and fragility of the Commonwealth's water resources. MassDEP works with drinking water utilities to make sure that the water delivered to consumers meets all federal and state standards and is clean and abundant. These efforts are vital to the Massachusetts economy and to public health. For more information on drinking water in Massachusetts, visit: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/drinking/ The tasks facing state drinking water programs and public water systems continue to be extremely challenging, especially in an era of scarce resources. The drinking water infrastructure in many cities and towns is aging and presents daunting resource demands. The nation continues to be challenged by new and emerging drinking water contaminants associated with an industrial society.

Sponsors for this year's event include: Barnstable County Water Utilities Association; Massachusetts Rural Water Association; Massachusetts Water Works Association; Middlesex/Worcester County Water Works Association; New England Water Works Association; Plymouth County Water Works Association; RCAP Solutions; Western Mass Waterworks Association; U.S. EPA; and, MassDEP.

MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.

40 Years Cleaner, 40 Years Greener – MassDEP Celebrates Four Decades of Environmental Progress

Pictured Left to Right: MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg; Belmont Town Administrator David Kale, Belmont DPW - Water Division Manager Michael Bishop, Belmont DPW Director Jay Marcotte, and Mass DEP Northeast Reginal Office​ Representative Bill Zahoruiko