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Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
PRESS RELEASE

Date:

March 10, 2016

Contact:

Ria Convery
(617) 788-1105, Ria.Convery@mwra.com


Work to Begin on MWRA Pipeline in Ware and Belchertown

map of hatchery project alignment

In March 2016, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority will begin construction of the Hatchery Pipeline and Hydroelectric Project, a 20-inch, water pipeline running from the MWRA’s William A. Brutsch Water Treatment Facility in Ware, across Route 9, into Belchertown, where the pipeline will parallel East Street, to the McLaughlin Fish Hatchery.  The pipeline, less than a mile in length, will convey about six million gallons a day of untreated water, first to a new hydropower generator on the MWRA’s grounds and then to the hatchery’s water distribution system.

Currently, the hatchery predominantly uses water pumped directly from the Swift River for its operations.  The water from the river may be warm, particularly in the summer, and this can be detrimental to the hatchery’s operations.  The water in the pipeline will replace the use of river water, and will also flow by gravity eliminating the energy used to pump water from the river.  This will reduce the hatchery’s electrical demand by an estimated 588,000 kWh annually. Ultimately, after circulating through the hatchery’s raceways and treatment, the roughly six million gallons of water each day will be discharged into the Swift River.

Because of the multiple environmental and operational benefits of this project, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game have joined the MWRA in sponsoring this project. The hydropower component, which is projected to export 440,000 kWh to the grid, has attracted two separate grants, one from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and the other from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.  

MWRA has contracted with Waterline Industries Corporation to build the pipeline and hydroelectric project.  Traffic will be directed through the work site by State and Local police.  There are no detours anticipated although motorists may experience brief delays, particularly when work is being done on the bridge over the Swift River.

For more information, please contact Len Cawley at 617 305-5757 or len.cawley@mwra.com.

Updates will be posted on the Project 7235 Update Page.

 

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Updated March 11, 2016