Town to Purchase Land to Protect Drinking Water Supply

Source: amherstma.gov

The Town of Amherst has been awarded a $218,820 grant to purchase critical land to protect the safety and quality of its drinking water supply. This funding is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s award of over $1 million to support five municipalities across Massachusetts through the Drinking Water Supply Protection (DWSP) Grant Program coordinated by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). 

This grant will be used to acquire a 50-plus acre of wooded property in Pelham, situated adjacent to designated Watershed Protection Land held by the Town of Amherst. This strategic purchase will help preserve designated Zone A surface water that feeds into the Pelham Reservoir System— a vital source that supplies approximately one-third of Amherst’s drinking water. 

Elizabeth Willson, Environmental Scientist for the Department of Public Works, said “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.” 

“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,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman. “By securing this land, we are proactively ensuring the safety, quality, and sustainability of our water supply for generations to come.” 

Since 2004, the DWSP grant program has empowered municipalities, public water systems, and fire districts to acquire land through purchase or conservation easements specifically for water protection. The land secured through these efforts will be designated as protected open space under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, ensuring it remains dedicated to preserving the state’s water supply and conserving natural resources.