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The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has developedguidance describing how the use of reclaimed water will initially be regulated in thestate. While Massachusetts is a relatively water-rich state, at least in comparison to othersections of the United States, there are several parts of the state where a combination ofrapid growth and demographic changes have caused water resource areas such asaquifers, rivers, ponds, and wetlands to suffer changes associated with significantly lowerwater tables and diminished streamflow. The drought during the spring and summer of1999 has exacerbated these conditions. As a result, a number of communities have beenforced to implement severe water use restrictions. In some instances, the development ofpublic drinking water supply wells or even individual private wells has been curtailed.Additionally, tough new surface water quality discharge standards, coupled with agrowing shortage of technically viable groundwater discharge sites, have leftcommunities facing difficult and increasingly expensive wastewater treatment anddisposal issues. The use of reclaimed water for situations that do not require potablewater will conserve new potable water sources and reduce the pressure to over-employexisting sources as well as to provide cost-effective and environmentally sound optionsfor wastewater disposal. This paper presents exerpts from the approved Massachusetts reclaimed water policy.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 01/01/2000 Number of Pages: 23File Size: 1 file , 160 KB