MWRA’s Local Pipeline Assistance Program
("LPAP") provides $256 million in interest-free loans to MWRA water communities to perform local water main rehabilitation projects. Funds are approved for distribution through Fiscal Year 2013.

ELIGIBLE PROJECT COSTS INCLUDE:

• water main cleaning/lining
• replacement of unlined water pipes
• looping of dead-end mains
• replacement of lead service lines
• engineering design
• engineering services during construction

PROGRAM BENEFITS

The program goal is to aid communities in improving local water system distribution pipeline conditions to better maintain water quality and ensure the use of appropriate distribution system best management practices.

This program is a critical component of MWRA’s Integrated Water Supply Improvement Program. It continues the effort of the two-year, $30 million "pilot" program that provided grants and loans for local distribution system rehabilitation projects during FY98 and FY99. The Phase 2-Local Water System Assistance Program (FY11-20) expands funds available under the LPAP.

LPAP funds are allocated to member communities based on their percent share of unlined water pipe.

Unlined water pipe in each community (PDF) Updated December, 2012

MWRA's partially-supplied communities receive prorated shares based on their percentage use of MWRA water. Interest-free loans are repaid to MWRA over a ten-year period beginning one year after distribution of the funds.

The condition of water pipelines is important to preserve the high water quality from MWRA source reservoirs all the way to customers' taps.

Older water pipes, particularly those constructed of unlined cast iron, need to be replaced or cleaned and lined to prevent tuberculation (rust build-up) and potential bacteria growth.

Unlined, tuberculated water mains

To ensure pipeline improvements, MWRA annually rehabilitates portions of the regional network of larger pipelines that distribute water to member community systems and provides financial assistance for local water system improvements.  At present, the regional water system consists of about 67% lined water pipe.  Since 1998, MWRA has provided local communities over $277 million in interest-free loans to fund nearly 400 miles (about 6%) of community water main cleaning and lining or water main replacement projects. Additionally, communities have separately funded 48 miles (about 1%) of water main rehabilitation projects.

New, cement-lined water mains

Lined / unlined community water mains system wide (PDF)

43 of MWRA's 51 water communities have funds allocated under the LPAP.

Eight communities are not eligible for this program:

• Chicopee, South Hadley FD #1, and Wilbraham - communities that do not receive treated water from the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant;
  
• Clinton, Leominster and Worcester - communities that receive untreated (raw) water from the Wachusett Reservoir;
• Cambridge, which receives MWRA water on an emergency-only basis, and;
• Lynn, which receives MWRA water for the GE plant only.

Communities that complete rehabilitation of their unlined pipe during the 13-year program period are permitted to use remaining funds for other water quality improvements (e.g. replacement of lead services, looping of dead ends, water tank maintenance, etc.).

To qualify for MWRA LPAP funds, a community must demonstrate that it has met or is in the process of meeting certain distribution system best management practices, including:

• Unidirectional Flushing Program Implementation;
• Distribution System Improvement Plan;
• Water Quality Testing Improvements; and,
• Cross Connection Control Program Development.

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Updated December 27, 2012