Clean Water Action

Massachusetts

New Report Says $8 Billion Needed To Fix Aging State Drinking Water Infrastructure

Water main breaks are only one manifestation, but a very visible sign, of our aging, crumbling drinking water infrastructure. There have been over a dozen water main breaks reported in Massachusetts communities in the last three months.

Currently, there is no comprehensive, statewide compilation of water main miles, or of water main breaks in Massachusetts. In this report, Clean Water Fund staff has reviewed the Annual Statistical Reports filed by municipal water districts in 2006; even with 56 of 266 Community Water Systems' data unavailable, our figures show that in 2006 there were at least 1,970 leaks found which lost hundreds of millions of gallons of potable water from leaks in water mains.

The EPA estimates that $8 billion is needed in Massachusetts over the next 20 years to rehabilitate our aging drinking water infrastructure: $6.6 billion to replace aging water mains, $877 million for treatment plants, $622 million for water storage facilities, and $318.2 million to develop new sources for public drinking water supplies.

Current state legislation, S-2292, filed by Senator Resor and Rep. Sanchez, would establish a new 15-member Special Water Infrastructure Finance Commission to examine the problem and recommend a long range water infrastructure financing plan for the Commonwealth. The bill was developed by the Massachusetts Infrastructure Investment Coalition's  Water  Infrastructure  Finance  Steering  Committee  which  includes  representatives from the Mass. Water Works Association, Clean Water Action, and other stakeholder groups. The bill passed the Senate October 18 and is now in the Joint Rules Committee.

The drinking water infrastructure provides many benefits to Massachusetts. It is estimated that 57,400 jobs are created for every $1 billion spend on the drinking water infrastructure. The provision of clean public drinking water preserves our standard of living and contributes to a growing economy. The drinking water infrastructure provides a critical public need by supporting fire protection. Proper treatment and maintenance of the drinking water infrastructure is essential to protecting and preserving public health.

Get the complete report (pdf, 2MB)

Say No To New Coal Subsidies

The Green Communities Act, passed by the Massachuesetts House on November 15, 2007, has the potential to put energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy at the heart of new energy policy. It is a bold next step on the road to climate friendly energy legislation that will address our energy problems, reduce global warming from power plants and buildings, and launch our state into the forefront of the energy debate nationally.

But the bill also includes provisions that call for the use of public money to subsidize coal gasification technologies which will increase greenhouse gas emissions.

New or retrofitted power plants running on gassified coal produced without permanent sequestration - the mass capture and permanent storage of carbon dioxide (C02) - will actually exceed average global warming pollution emissions rate in New England. Given that this type of mass storage of CO2 has not been proven, and may not be for several years, it does not make sense to direct public incentives toward fossil fuel technologies when there are still significant untapped opportunities to invest in clean, renewable resources and energy efficiency. Read testimony about the bill by the Massachusetts Climate Coalition.

Sign the petition to protest new coal subsidies

Support Bold Solutions: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

The scientific community agrees that deep reductions of carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants are needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. If we don't take action now, Massachusetts' climate will resemble the present-day climate of northern Virginia by mid-century and that of Georgia by 2100.

We know what the solutions to global warming are. We have to transition away from fossil fuel overdependence and grow a clean energy economy in Massachusetts. That means committing to safe renewable energy like solar and wind on a large scale. It means significantly expanding energy efficiency and creatively transforming our transportation system to move people and goods more efficiently.

Learn more about Clean Water Action's work on climate and energy issues in Massachusetts.

Ask your State legislators and Governor Patrick to commit to 80% reductions in global warming pollution by 2050.

Support Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals

More than 1/3 of the U.S. population is suffering from a range of chronic diseases, including cancers, asthma, learning and developmental disabilities, birth defects, endometriosis, diabetes, ALS ("Lou Gehrig's Disease), Parkinson's disease, and others.

Scientific evidence increasingly indicates that toxic chemicals contribute to this epidemic of diseases and disorders. These chemicals have become widespread in our air, water, food, schools, workplaces, everyday products and, ultimately, in our bodies.

However, some companies are already using safer alternatives and many more could be. Clean Water Action supports "The Safer Alternatives Bill" which will create a program to replace 10 of the worst toxic chemicals with safer alternatives.

Take Action: Write your State Senator and Representative and urge them to support safer alternatives to toxic chemicals.

The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow

The AHT is a coalition of citizens, scientists, health professionals, workers, and educators seeking preventive action on toxic hazards. Our goal is to correct fundamental flaws in government policies that allow harm to our health and environment. We will create proactive policies to prevent harm before the damage is done, and to choose the safest alternatives. We believe protection of our health must become the first priority of government policy. We support innovation to advance safer technologies, materials and solutions. The Campaign to Protect Child Health is our first project and we are calling on Governor Romney to reduce the use of toxins and to implement a comprehensive reform of government policies so that children are protected.

Please visit the Alliance for a Health Tomorrow for more information and to join this exciting campaign!

Join the Massachusetts Campaign to Protect Drinking Water

Drinking Water Funding Report

Clean Water Action calls on Massachusetts Legislature to restore $1.5 Million to Drinking Water Program, $6 Billion in state funding is also needed over the next 20 years. "To protect public health and the environment, funding needs to be restored to the states underfunded environmental agencies to allow them to do their jobs, " said MA Senator Pamela Resor (D-Acton).

Find the full report here (PDF - 1.2MB).

Zero Mercury Campaign

Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that has contaminated the fish that we eat, making many of them unsafe to eat for pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and children under 12. The New England Zero Mercury Campaign (ZMC) was launched in 2000 to pressure the New England Governors to virtually eliminate the use of, release of, and exposure to mercury in the region by the year 2010.

The campaign goals are to:

• Achieve implementation of state Zero Mercury Plans that result in virtual elimination of the use and release of mercury by 2010
• Implement protective and effective warnings on contaminated fish that truly protect developing children;
• Ban the disposal of mercury products and require manufacturers of mercury products to take them back and phase out the use of mercury
• Eliminate mercury emissions from power plants and industry.

Please visit the New England Zero Mercury Campaign website for more information.

Clean Water Action Releases Comments on the Proposed State Drinking Water Standard for Perchlorate

Press Release (pdf, 47 kb) | Comments (pdf, 109 kb)