6 days ago
Amherst awarded state grant to protect drinking water supply
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – The Town of Amherst has secured a $218,820 state grant aimed at safeguarding its drinking water supply through the acquisition of critical watershed land in neighboring Pelham.
The funding is part of a larger initiative by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, which recently announced over $1 million in grants to support drinking water protection efforts in five Massachusetts municipalities.
The grants are distributed through the Drinking Water Supply Protection (DWSP) Grant Program, administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Amherst plans to use its share of the funding to acquire more than 50 acres of wooded land in Pelham, adjacent to existing Watershed Protection Land managed by the town. The targeted area lies within Zone A, a high-priority surface water protection zone that contributes directly to the Pelham Reservoir System, which supplies roughly one-third of Amherst's public drinking water.
Elizabeth Willson, Environmental Scientist for the Amherst Department of Public Works, emphasized the significance of the acquisition. 'We're very excited to receive this DWSP state grant, which will help us add an important piece of the puzzle to our protection of the Pelham Reservoir system watershed,' she said.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman also praised the grant as a vital investment in the community's future. 'I thank the State and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for this grant, which is a critical step forward in protecting our community's most valuable resource—our drinking water,' he said. 'By securing this land, we are proactively ensuring the safety, quality, and sustainability of our water supply for generations to come.'
The DWSP grant program, established in 2004, enables municipalities, water departments, and fire districts to purchase land or secure conservation easements for the express purpose of drinking water protection. Properties acquired under the program are permanently protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, ensuring the land remains dedicated to conservation and water resource protection.
The grant to Amherst reinforces the town's long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable infrastructure as it continues
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