Water Resources Commission

Contact Email: WRC@scituatema.gov

Water Resource Updates: scituatema.gov

Water is a precious resource, key to ensuring public health and safety.   Providing a sustainable supply while safeguarding ecological health is critical to our economic growth.   Protecting the quantity, quality, and value of water ensures Scituate will remain a special place to live, to work, and to play.

While most communities rely on either surface water sources or groundwater wells, Scituate's water supply is a combination of both. Seventy-one percent of the water supplied is from a network of six groundwater wells. Twenty-one percent is from one surface water supply - a reservoir created by an impoundment built in the mid-1960s expanding the Tack Factory Pond, fed primarily by the First Herring Brook. One village of the community, Humarock, is served by the neighboring Marshfield Water Department, accounting for eight percent of supplies from purchased groundwater sources.

Formed in 2006, the Scituate Water Resources Commission (WRC) was created by the Select Board. On all matters related to water resource management in Scituate the WRC coordinates with various other boards and committees in the community, as well as the Department of Public Works (including the water and sewer division).  We provide guidance to the Select Board who also serve as Scituate's Water Commissioners.  The WRC also collaborates with local watershed groups taking steps to protect environmental health and engage in citizen education regarding responsible water use practices.

Recent achievements include the release of a comprehensive Water Conservation Plan (link on sidebar) providing a long range outline of ideas and strategies to better protect our water resources; an update to the Water Resource Protection District; establishment of water restriction triggers based on stream flows from the reservoir; and an expansion of committee membership. We have been actively supporting the Town's water infrastructure improvements, especially the water main replacement program and new water treatment plant.

All are welcome to attend our meetings. Those interested in serving on the Water Resource Commission should submit an application form to the Select Board.

http://www.scituatema.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif11836/f/committee_commission_application.pdf