Healey Awards Nearly $1 Million to Ipswich River Communities
BOSTON, MA — Gov. Maura Healey announced on Monday that her administration has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to help five communities along the Ipswich River enhance their public water supply.
Administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), the grants will help maintain and improve access to clean and safe drinking water for communities in the Ipswich River basin, the Healey-Driscoll administration said in a press release.
“The Ipswich River is one of the most threatened in the country,” state Representative Kristin Kassner said.
“These grants will be transformative toward regional water resiliency, water quality and treatment within the Ipswich River basin. I’m grateful to MassDEP for their commitment to addressing the water quality challenges faced by the residents of our region,” she added.
“The availability and quality of water are essential to our lives, and these grants fund tools to ensure that we have safe water supplies now and for the future,” Senator Bruce Tarr said.
Ipswich water treatment plant
The town of Ipswich was awarded $370,000 for PFAS (or forever chemicals) treatment and design of its new water treatment plant.
Town meeting voters will be asked to approve the new $35 million treatment plant on May 13.
According to the press release, the new treatment plant “is being designed with capacity to treat additional sources of varying water quality and quantity in the Parker River basin, which will improve the opportunity to reduce the town’s reliance on its Ipswich River basin sources.”
Other awards
Hamilton and Wenham received a collective $279,775 for modeling and connection to the Salem-Beverly Water Supply Board.
The project consists of conducting computer simulations and pilot studies as the two towns seek to re-route water supply connections and improve treatment strategies.
Wilmington was awarded $154,208 for design and planning of a booster water pump station, and the Lynnfield water district received $138,160 for reimbursement of funds used to apply for and meet the requirements of Mass. Water Resources Authority membership.
