MWRA Plan Too Much For Norwood

As a ratepaying community of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), 60% of Norwood’s water and sewerage operating budget covers the cost of services provided by the MWRA. The services include providing a clean, and reliable supply of drinking water from the John Carroll Water Treatment Plant in Marlborough, and the removal and treatment of wastewater at the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Winthrop. MWRA is governed by an 11-person Board of Directors, three of whom represent the 60 communities who make up the MWRA district.

Currently, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is accepting public comments regarding the MWRA draft plans to update its Combined Sewer Overflow facilities, which are located along waterways in Cambridge, Somerville and Boston. MWRA is required to receive approval from DEP, as these facilities collect and treat both stormwater and wastewater during significant periods of rainfall. The deadline to offer public comment ends on October 30, 2026.

I encourage Norwood residents to read about the plan and offer public comments. To learn more about these plans and send in your own public comment, I encourage Norwood residents go to the draft plan website at: https://us.planengage.com/updatedcsocontrolplan/page/home Comments can also be emailed to: updated CSOControlPlan@aecom.com. Comments can also be mailed to MWRA, Attn: Draft CSO Control Plan, 2 Griffin Way, Chelsea, MA 02150.

The plan under review calls for an investment of $1.3 billion by MWRA, Cambridge and Somerville to upgrade these CSO facilities. Currently, the proposed investment would be shared between MWRA (paying 60%) and Cambridge and Somerville (40%). This draft plan has a financial impact on Norwood ratepayers. As a ratepaying community, Norwood ratepayers would pay some $36 million over the course of the 40-year debt service period required to pay for these improvements. This cost would be included in Norwood’s operating budget.

There are alternative, less costly plans put on the table by MWRA. However, DEP asked MWRA to revise the less expensive plan and now the $1.3 billion plan is open for public comment.

Consideration should be given to the less costly plan which does much to reduce combined sewage overflows in Cambridge and Somerville. If that plan is not acceptable to DEP, then MWRA should seek a more balanced sharing of costs between MWRA, Cambridge and Somerville. It is important to note that there are advocates in Cambridge and Somerville who are promoting an even more expansive and expensive plan which is estimated to cost $7.0 billion dollars. This plan would cost Norwood over $100 million over the debt service period.

MWRA communities like Norwood, that do not host CSO facilities, need to advocate for plans that provide for effective improvements to the CSO infrastructure. However, there needs to be consideration for reasonable and responsible approaches to financing such large investments. The current draft plan does not achieve that. In addition to the financial burden placed on non-CSO communities, the scale and scope of this plan will jeopardize MWRA’s ability to fund other future major capital projects that directly impact all communities served by MWRA.

Make your voice heard and submit your public comment before October 30th!

Bob Donnelly

Member

Board of Selectmen