Ten years in ten minutes: learn about Advisory Board successes and issues in progress from 2010 to 2020. read more
Category: Water Long-Term Redundancy
Community Tour of MWRA Facilities at Spot Pond
Join a tour of water system facilities on September 21! read more
“Board Briefs” – March 21, 2018 MWRA Board of Directors Meeting
Board Briefs - PMD Update, Community Assistance Update, and Deer Island Storm Event read more
Green Sheet – Proposed FY18 Comments and Recommendations
The June 2017 installment of the Green Sheet gives a brief overview of the Advisory Board’s Integrated Comments and Recommendations. Highlights include:
- How we get to the lowest rate increase in five years
- How we reevaluate risk to protect ratepayers in future years
- Our approach on Deer Island’s NPDES permit and how it could save ratepayers millions of dollars
You can view, print, or download our entire Integrated Comments and Recommendations here.
February 2017 – Thank You for Your Service
This installment of News and Notes for February 2017 celebrates the achievements of Mr. Walter Woods, who is three months away from his 99th birthday, and is retiring from the Advisory Board as the Wellesley representative. read more
January 2017 – Shaping MWRA Projects and Initiatives
This installment of News and Notes for January 2017 talks about giving the communities a voice. read more
Shaping MWRA Projects and Initiatives – Giving Communities a Voice
The role of the Advisory Board is to provide feedback on MWRA projects and initiatives. At the January 19 meeting in Canton, the AB weighed in on two such undertakings.
The first was the MWRA’s emerging plans for system-wide water redundancy. Having participated in a half-day information session on redundancy in December, AB members unanimously voted to support an emerging MWRA plan to insure water system redundancy to the metropolitan area.

AB members included five conditions to their recommendation:
1. Use a Program Management Division (PMD) approach, similar to the Boston Harbor Project
2. Select deep rock tunnel versus surface piping alternative
3. Support the MWRA’s recommendation for two tunnels, north and south
4. Recommend that MWRA construct both tunnels concurrently, rather than in a phased manner
5. Pursue strategies that dedicate revenue from non-typical, or one-time water users sources (e.g. drought connections) to help fund the Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy
The MWRA Board of Directors will take up their discussion on redundancy as we move forward in the spring. The Advisory Board looks forward to participating with the Board and MWRA staff in shaping this critical project.

AB members also weighed in on expanding eligible projects under the Local Community I/I Grant/Loan Program. This community-initiated discussion was first presented at our Operations Committee meeting in November. Eligible projects now include:
- Permanent flow monitoring equipment
- Sewer inspection equipment
- Building inspections, smoke testing, dye testing
- Administrative tasks related to planning/development of procedures and public outreach
- Database development and mapping of connections to public utilities
This expansion will provide communities more tools to upgrade their local sewer systems.
Your voice can make a difference. Please attend AB Operations and regular meetings. There are also seats available on our Executive Committee. Feel free to contact us for more information.
December 2016 – #MuniWorks Recap
This installment of News and Notes for December 2016 discusses the Advisory Board's well-attended meeting at Boston College on the subject of MWRA long-term water redundancy. read more
#MuniWorks | Stakeholder Letter for MWRA Long-Term Water Redundancy workshop
Dear Stakeholder,
Each decade there is one construction project that sets the stage for decades to come – a generational decision the impacts and benefits of which are felt for the next 30 years or beyond. For the MWRA, these projects have included the Boston Harbor Cleanup, the Carroll Water Treatment Plant, and the MetroWest Tunnel. Today, the generational decision for the MWRA is how to best ensure potable drinking water for all of its cities and towns all of the time. The project that will accomplish this for Greater Boston is the MWRA’s Metropolitan Water Redundancy Project.
Continue reading “#MuniWorks | Stakeholder Letter for MWRA Long-Term Water Redundancy workshop”