We work with our municipalities to encourage residential and commercial water conservation.
Since 2008, we’ve worked with Neponset Watershed communities to implement town-wide water conservation programs.
During warm summer months and drought, excessive water use causes low streamflow for the Neponset River and some of its tributaries, which affects wildlife, recreation, public safety, and our drinking water supply.
Our water conservation programs include:
- rebate programs for water-efficient toilets and clothes washers
- giveaway programs for water-efficient showerheads, faucet aerators, and irrigation shutoff sensors
- annual education programs for over 3,000 students in public and private schools
- advocacy at the local and state levels
- public outreach via bill inserts, mailings, web posts, and events
Rebate Programs
We work with municipal water departments in the Watershed to obtain state grants that provide rebates to residents for water-conserving toilets and clothes washers. In addition, many towns offer discounted rain barrels and irrigation sensors, and give away FREE water-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators.
Check with your local water department about their rebate criteria and incentives. When purchasing water-efficient appliances, make sure to look for items that carry the WaterSense and EnergyStar labels.
- Click here for a list of WaterSense-labeled toilets.
- Click here for a list of Energy Star clothes washers.
Please email NepRWA Water Stewardship Manager, Suzanna Sullivan, with any questions about our Water Conservation Program.
More than 120,000 residents of the Neponset Watershed get some or all of their drinking water locally.
Outdoor Water Restrictions
Each spring, most of the Neponset Watershed towns implement outdoor water use restrictions, which are put in place to conserve water for drinking, public health, and firefighting.
Check your town website for the most up-to-date information and always follow local water restrictions.
Water Management Act
NepRWA works with our towns and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to make sure there are adequate protections for water resources incorporated into municipal policies and through Water Management Act (WMA) permits.
The Water Management Act (WMA) authorizes MassDEP to regulate the amount of water that can be taken (or withdrawn) from groundwater or surface water sources to be used as drinking and irrigation water.
NepRWA has a significant interest in these permits.
- Water withdrawals from the watershed impact the amount of water available in streams and the River.
- Most notably, we see impacts during dry weather (seasonally from about May to September) which happens to coincide with a time when many water users increase their use to include outdoor irrigation of lawns.
- The impacts of climate change will exacerbate drought conditions, increasing the importance of water conservation over the long term.
