Massachusetts recognizes drinking water systems, operators for exemplary service

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has announced the winners of its 2023 Public Water System Awards program in honor of National Drinking Water Week.

MassDEP said that the awardees demonstrated exceptional compliance records, leading conservation efforts, and a commitment to water quality.

“Reliable access to quality water is critical to people’s daily lives,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “We are proud to partner with and honor this year’s award recipients in recognition of their round-the-clock efforts to operate superior water systems that provide this vital service — keeping Massachusetts residents safe and improving our resiliency.”

For more than 36 years, during National Drinking Water Week in May, MassDEP has recognized and awarded certain exemplary systems that have reached a high level of service for their work over the preceding year. This year’s public ceremony was held at the Massachusetts State House in Boston.

The award recipients and honorable mentions are as follows:

Non-transient Non-community Systems:

Carlisle Public School
Martha’s Vineyard Airport

Small Community Systems:

Benfield Farms (Carlisle)
Bishops Landing Condominiums (Stoughton)
Essex Water Department
Sawyer Hill Ecovillage (Berlin)
West Newbury Water Department

Medium and Large Community Systems:

Ashburnham/Winchendon Joint Water Authority
Athol DPW Water Division
Avon Water Department
Bourne Water District
Brewster Water Department
Buzzards Bay Water District
Dennis Water District
Edgartown Water Department
Hanson Water Department
Middleborough Water Supply
North Andover Water Department
North Raynham Water District
North Sagamore Water District
Orleans Water Department
Provincetown Water Department
Seekonk Water District
Weir River Water System (Hingham)
Winchester Water Department

Consecutive Systems:

Bedford Veterans Administration Hospital
Belmont Water Department (MWRA)
Beverly Water Department
Chelsea Water Department (MWRA)
Framingham Water Department (MWRA)
Freetown Water Commission
Glen Ridge Residents Trust (Dover)
Holmes Park Water District (Westminster)
Marblehead Water Department (MWRA)
Meadowbrook Water Trust (Dover)
Mendon Water Department
Newton Water Department (MWRA)
Quincy Water Department (MWRA)
Swampscott Water Department (MWRA)
Waltham Water Department

Consistent Performer Awards:

Public Water Systems that have received awards for three consecutive years and are ineligible for this year.

Acushnet Water Department
Brookline Water and Sewer Division
Harwich Water Department
Lynn Water and Sewer Comm
Lynnfield Water District (MWRA)
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)
Whitman Water System

Water Conservation Awards:

The following systems met water conservation standards of 65 residential gallons of water used per-capita per-day, and implemented the minimum, mandatory water use restrictions in 2021. All have websites showing conservation-related information and while not required, all used less water than the previous year.