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Hopkinton Water Connection
- 2022 Water System Master Plan (Southborough) (PDF)
- Correspondence Regarding Interconnection - Hopkinton (PDF)
- Correspondence Regarding Interconnection - Planning Board and Hoolihan (PDF)
- Correspondence Regarding Interconnection - Widdis (PDF)
- Correspondence Regarding PWPB and Interconnection (PDF)
- First Draft Presentation Hopkinton Water Connection by John Butler (PDF)
- Hopkinton - Southborough Interconnection Evaluation (PDF)
- Hopkinton's 2021 Annual Statistical Report (PDF)
- PARE Corp Interconnection Project Overview 6-14-22 (PDF)
- Southborough's 2021 Annual Statistical Report (PDF)
- Water Supply and Treatment Evaluation 7-21-14 (Hopkinton's Water Master Plan) (PDF)
- What is the “Hopkinton MWRA Water Connection Project”?
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This project is addressing Hopkinton’s request to gain access to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) water supply system by a connection through Southborough’s water system (which is already a part of the MWRA water supply system).
- Who proposed this project and why has it been proposed?
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Hopkinton approached Southborough with the proposal for this project. Hopkinton is making this request because Hopkinton’s current water supply sources (via wells into the underground aquifers) have become contaminated by various chemicals, and no other reasonable water supply options are available for Hopkinton. Southborough is the most practical connection for Hopkinton to the MWRA water system.
- Will implementation of this project cause Southborough to “run out of water”?
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The answer to this question is a firm “no”. Southborough is fortunate to be a part of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) system and to have the Town’s water system completely supplied by the MWRA. The primary MWRA reservoirs (Quabbin and Wachusett) contain approximately 475 billion gallons of water, which is approximately a 6-year supply for the 60 or so MWRA water communities. The recent drought conditions do affect cities and towns that depend on non-MWRA sources for their water (such as wells or rivers), but the MWRA has an abundance of water, and this abundance is expected to continue into the foreseeable future.
- Is the MWRA willing, and able, to provide water for Hopkinton?
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The answer to this question is a definite “yes”. The MWRA currently has excess water delivery capability of approximately 100 million gallons per day. The MWRA is seeking to sell an additional 20 million gallons per day of this excess capacity to new “water communities” such as Hopkinton. Selling this additional water will actually benefit all MWRA water communities, including Southborough, as this will generate additional MWRA revenue to cover the water system fixed costs for all participants. As context, Southborough currently uses an average of about 880,000 gallons per day of MWRA water, and Hopkinton wants to use an average of about 1,060,000 gallons per day.
- Will implementation of this project cause Southborough residents to have unacceptably low water pressure?
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The answer to this question is a firm “no”. In fact, there may be a few parts of Southborough that will see increased water pressure and may require the installation of pressure-reducing devices