Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program

Introduction
About the Program
Community Updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Contact Us

Introduction

Overview

Through the Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program (Tunnel Program), MWRA will construct two new water supply tunnels that will provide redundancy for MWRA's existing Metropolitan Tunnel System, which includes the City Tunnel (1950), City Tunnel Extension (1963) and Dorchester Tunnel (1976). The Tunnel Program will also allow our aging existing water tunnel system to be rehabilitated without interrupting service. The Tunnel Program is in the preliminary design and environmental review stage. Final design will begin after preliminary design is complete, with tunnel construction planned to occur from approximately 2027 through 2038.

Background

MWRA provides wholesale water and wastewater services to over 3.1 million customers in 61 communities in eastern and central Massachusetts with most service communities located in the Greater Boston area. The Quabbin Reservoir and Wachusett Reservoirs, which are the main water supply sources, are located 65 and 35 miles west of Boston, respectively. Water from the reservoirs is treated in the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant before transmitting to the Greater Boston area through a number of existing tunnels and aqueducts.

A redundant water transmission system exists for approximately 25 miles from the Wachusett Reservoir to the beginning of the existing Metropolitan Tunnel System.

A map of the existing metropolitan tunnel system. Tunnels run from the Carroll Water Treatment Plant, forking off near there harbor into two tunnels.

The existing Metropolitan Tunnel System carries approximately 60% of the Metropolitan Boston area's daily demand through the remaining 19 miles of tunnels. With no redundancy to the Metropolitan Tunnel System, partial system shutdowns for planned maintenance of the aged infrastructure or unplanned emergencies cannot take place.

The planned Tunnel Program will provide redundancy for this crucial part of our water infrastructure.

Why Redundancy?

Redundancy in the water supply infrastructure has been part of the plan as early as 1937 for the reliability of service and operational maintenance. Various versions of tunnel loops and redundant tunnels have been proposed over the years.

A significant portion of these plans have been implemented. With the completion of the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel in 2003, the water transmission system has redundancy from the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant to the beginning of the existing Metropolitan Tunnel System.

The Metropolitan Tunnel System was constructed in the 1950s to the 1970s and has been in continuous service ever since. While the concrete-lined deep rock tunnels have a long design life, some of the associated valves and piping are in poor condition after over 50 years. In order to exercise, service and replace some of these valves and piping without interruption to water supply, a redundant system is required.

Program Goals

The Tunnel Program was conceived to address several outstanding challenges, most notably the fact that the existing Metropolitan Tunnel System cannot be maintained or repaired nor can an emergency be readily addressed because shut down of the system is not currently possible without imposing a boil-water order.

The first and foremost goal of the Program is an operational goal; to protect public health, provide sanitation, and provide fire protection. The MWRA exists to provide these services. In support of this overall goal, the Program is intended to:

Provide full redundancy for the Metropolitan Tunnel System:
- Provide normal water service and fire protection when the existing tunnel system is out of service
- Provide the ability to perform maintenance on existing tunnels year-round
- Provide uninterrupted service in the event of an emergency shut down
- Meet high day demand flow with no seasonal restrictions
- Avoid activation of emergency reservoirs
Meet customer expectations for excellent water quality
Preserve sustainable and predictable rates at the water utility level
Minimize cost of borrowing
Be constructible
Result in no future boil water orders

The selected tunnel alternative is expected to meet all of these goals.

About the Program

The proposed Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program will consist of approximately 15 miles of deep rock tunnels and surface connections to provide redundancy to the existing Metropolitan Tunnel System in the Metropolitan Boston area.

As proposed, the new tunnel system will consist of a northern tunnel and a southern tunnel in and around the Metropolitan Boston area. Both tunnels are proposed to begin near the terminus of the Hultman Aqueduct and MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel in the town of Weston, Massachusetts. The northern tunnel is proposed to extend north with a connection to the MWRA water system in the vicinity of Waverly Oaks Road near the Belmont/Waltham line. The southern tunnel is also proposed to extend south with a connection to the MWRA water system in the Morton Street area near the American Legion Highway in Boston. The proposed tunnels will have intermediate connection points to other existing MWRA facilities along the alignment.

After the May 2010 water main break and during the mid-2010s, it became apparent that MWRA would need to execute another large water tunnel program in the near future to provide redundancy for maintenance and emergencies. On October 6, 2016, the MWRA Board of Directors held a special meeting where MWRA staff provided a briefing on the status of the existing MWRA water transmission system and the lack of redundancy for the Metropolitan Tunnel System. The preferred alternative of constructing two tunnels, one to the north and one to the south, was recommended.

At the conclusion of the special meeting, staff were directed to brief member communities and state and local officials on the Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy initiative in order to build consensus and support for the preferred project approach. On December 8, 2016, a Long-Term Water Redundancy Forum hosted by the MWRA Advisory Board for the customer communities was held at Boston College. MWRA staff presented the history of the MWRA waterworks system, the need for Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy and the challenges, both implementation and financial, of building redundancy.

On January 19, 2017, the MWRA Advisory Board met and voted to support moving forward with a deep rock, two-tunnel project. They also voted also to recommend: a program management division approach to manage the Program similarly to the model used for the Boston Harbor Project (BHP); concurrent construction of both tunnels rather than a phased approach; and allocation of any revenue from non-typical or one-time water users (e.g. emergency drought connections) towards the cost of the program.

On February 15, 2017, the MWRA Board of Directors approved the preferred alternative of construction of northern and southern deep rock tunnels to provide redundancy for the Metropolitan Tunnel System, and directed staff to proceed with preliminary design, geotechnical investigations and Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review of the Program.

On October 17, 2022, MWRA filed its Draft Environmental Impacts Report (DEIR) for the Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program. The DEIR responds to the Secretary of EEA’s Environmental Notification Form (ENF) Certificate issued on May 7, 2021 and provides responses to all comments received on the ENF.

On December 16, 2022, the EEA issued its Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the DEIR for the Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program.

On July 31, 2023, MWRA submitted the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (SDEIR) for the Tunnel Program which provides responses to the EEA Secretary's DEIR Certificate.

On September 29, 2023, the EEA issued its Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the Supplemental DEIR.

On February 15, 2024, MWRA submitted is Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Tunnel Program. The FEIR responds to the EEA Secretary's SDEIR Certificate.

On April 1, 2024, the EEA issued its Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).

Given the significant community impacts and difficulties associated with large diameter surface piping, together with operational reliability concerns, MWRA staff are pursuing a preferred all-tunnel redundancy alternative. The alignment, which was subject to a detailed review and alternatives analysis during the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) public review period, is shown below.

Tunnel study area map — **Tunnel alignment study area**

This alternative consists of two deep rock tunnels, both beginning in Weston near the Massachusetts Turnpike/Route 128 interchange where they will connect to the existing water system. The Northern Tunnel generally follows the route of MWRA’s existing Weston Aqueduct Supply Main (WASM) 3 transmission main near the Waltham/Belmont line. The length of the Northern Tunnel would be approximately 4.8 miles and the tunnel would have a finished inside diameter of approximately 10 to 12 feet.

The Southern Tunnel would run east to southeast to tie into the MWRA water system in the Morton Street area near the American Legion Highway in Boston. The length of the Southern Tunnel is anticipated to be approximately 10 miles and would have a finished inside diameter of 10 to 12 feet. Both the normal Northern and Southern Tunnels are anticipated to include intermediate connection shafts to existing water system infrastructure.

The proposed plan limits community disruptions and construction impacts to the locations of the tunnel construction and connection shaft sites. The all-tunnel alternative meets the strategic objective of being able to make a seamless transition to a backup supply, allowing maintenance to be scheduled for the Metropolitan Tunnels, without use of a boil water order, without impacting local fire protection abilities, and without noticeable changes in customers’ water quality, flow or pressure. It has the ability to meet high water system demand conditions, which extends the potential time frame for future maintenance and rehabilitation activities.

The final cost of the Tunnel Program is not yet defined because final design and construction are still years away with much work to do in the meantime. However, an estimated $2.1 billion (FY25) is being carried in our Capital Improvement Program Budget. The impacts of the estimated cost are included in MWRA’s current rate projections.

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program consists of two new water supply tunnels that will provide redundancy for MWRA's existing Metropolitan Tunnel System. The Tunnel Program is currently in the design phase. The next few years will include Program wide activities including detailed design, continued field investigations, construction management, and preparation of construction contract document, land acquisition, TBM power supply, and stakeholder outreach.

A snap shot of upcoming Tunnel Program activities includes:

A Final Design Engineering consultant will be contracted in late 2024 to begin detailed design of both the North and South Tunnel systems. Field investigations at future shaft sites and along the tunnel alignment will continue during final design. The Final Designer will serve as the engineer-of-record for the Tunnel Program and will be involved throughout construction. The Final Designer will work closely with MWRA’s Tunnel Redundancy Department through all phases of final design which is expected to take about 3.5 to 4.5 years.
Procurement for a Construction Management consultant will begin in 2025 with selection occurring in 2026. The Construction Manager will be responsible for construction management and resident inspection services for all construction and construction support activities during the pre-construction, construction and start-up phases of all Construction Contracts for the Tunnel Program. The Construction Manager will work closely with MWRA’s Tunnel Redundancy Department, have expertise in deep hard rock tunnel construction, and managing complex megaprojects (i.e., projects over $1B).
Procurement for construction of the South Tunnel is targeted to begin in 2027 with actual construction starting in 2028. Procurement for construction of the North Tunnel is targeted to begin in 2028 with actual construction starting in 2029. Tunnel construction, including surface work and commissioning, is estimated to take 8 to 12 years to complete. Construction of the new tunnels is planned to be completed and the tunnels in operation by 2040.
It is expected that two or three smaller construction contracts will be procured and completed prior to the start of tunnel construction to remove early enabling works from the tunnel contracts’ critical paths. These enabling contracts are related to demolition of existing buildings, site reconfiguration to allow continuity of current use, and dewatering drain line work at or near future launching shaft sites.
Prior to construction the MWRA will acquire land at shaft sites and easements along the tunnel and in roadways or on public land for new water and drain pipelines.
Subterranean easements will be acquired for each property below which the new tunnels will be constructed. The subterranean easements will be 200 to 450 feet below ground and will not allow for surface access, and thus will not affect property usage above the tunnel. Currently, it is estimated that approximately 600 subterranean easements will be required.
The MWRA is working with Eversource to ensure that sufficient power supply is available at the launching shaft sites prior to the start of tunnel construction. When the Tunnel Program is complete, the added power supply will remain and provide further resilience to the power grid.
Community and stakeholder outreach has been ongoing since the early stages of the Tunnel Program. Over 140 meetings with various community representatives, state agencies, stakeholders, and property owners have occurred. Starting in late 2024, broader public information sessions will be held with a variety of topics including a Tunnel Program overview, an overview of tunneling methods (i.e. “Tunneling 101”) and associated construction period impacts such as traffic, noise and vibration, and other topics of interest to stakeholders. Outreach to stakeholders will be in alignment with MWRA’s overall environmental justice strategy and will continue through final design and construction.

City of Newton City Engineer Louis M. Taverna visits MWTP test boring/rock coring site in Newton, Massachusetts, July, 2021 — **City of Newton City Engineer and MWRA Board of Directors**
**Member Louis M. Taverna visits MWTP's test boring/rock**
**coring site in Newton, Massachusetts, July, 2021**

Community Updates

Through the Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program (MWTP), MWRA will construct two new water supply tunnels that will provide redundancy for MWRA's existing Metropolitan Tunnel System, and allow our aging existing water tunnel system to be rehabilitated without interrupting service.

Schedule

Final design is anticipated to start in 2024 with a target for the first tunnel construction contract bidding in 2027.

Host Communities

The MWTP is planned to be constructed in seven communities: Boston, Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Weston and Wellesley. To support the tunnel design, MWRA is performing geotechnical investigation field work consisting of test borings and various types of surface geophysical testing to better understand the subsurface conditions that are likely to be encountered during construction. Depending on the location, this work may be seen along city streets and can have impacts on neighborhoods. MWRA’s Community Relations Department works with municipal staff and residents to ensure good communications during these projects.

Notices for Abutters in Boston

Notices are distributed to those abutting work to notify them of work in their area.

Active Notices
There are no active notices at this time.

Notices Archive
11/09/2023: Field work on DCR property within the material processing area of Landscape Express (Site One Landscape Supply) 10/03/2023: Field work in the grassy area behind the parking lot for the Department of Public Health (Jamaica Plain) 07/21/2022: Field Work on Woodlawn Street 08/19/2021: Field Work at City of Boston Department of Public Works Lot near 415 American Legion Highway 06/24/2021- Field Work in 430 and 500 Canterbury Street area

Notices Archive

11/09/2023: Field work on DCR property within the material processing area of Landscape Express (Site One Landscape Supply)

10/03/2023: Field work in the grassy area behind the parking lot for the Department of Public Health (Jamaica Plain)

07/21/2022: Field Work on Woodlawn Street

08/19/2021: Field Work at City of Boston Department of Public Works Lot near 415 American Legion Highway

06/24/2021- Field Work in 430 and 500 Canterbury Street area

Meetings in Boston

04/04/2023 - Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC)
Presentation

02/28/23 - Asticou Martinwood South St. Neighborhood Association
Presentation

Geotechnical Work in Boston

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is working on the geotechnical investigation at specific locations in your community. The following fact sheet explains geotechnical investigation work.

Fact Sheet: About Field Work

Notices for Abutters in Brookline

Notices are distributed to those abutting work to notify them of work in their area.

Active Notices
There are no active notices at this time.

Archive
05/30/2023: Field work within Transfer Station Drive area 05/30/2023: Field work in Allandale Farm area at 186 to 282 Newton Street 07/21/2022: Field work in Fairgreen Place area 05/12/2022: Field work at Wolcott Road and Shaw Road area 05/12/2022: Field work at Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course, along the cart path of the 18th hole 07/08/2021: Field work at Newton Street Pump Station at 321 Newton Street

Archive

05/30/2023: Field work within Transfer Station Drive area

05/30/2023: Field work in Allandale Farm area at 186 to 282 Newton Street

07/21/2022: Field work in Fairgreen Place area

05/12/2022: Field work at Wolcott Road and Shaw Road area

05/12/2022: Field work at Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course, along the cart path of the 18th hole

07/08/2021: Field work at Newton Street Pump Station at 321 Newton Street

Meetings in Brookline

Information about public meetings in your town will be posted here.

Geotechnical Work in Brookline

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is working on the geotechnical investigation at specific locations in your community. The following fact sheet explains geotechnical investigation work.

Fact Sheet: About Field Work

Notices for Abutters in Needham

Notices are distributed to those abutting work to notify them of work in their area.

Active Notices
07/15/2024: Field work at the traffic island off Highland Circle 07/02/2024: Field work at the south end of the Mills Field property off Ellis Street and Hampton Avenue in Needham 05/10/2024: Field work on the MassDOT property within the northeast cloverleaf of I-95 and Highland Avenue, and one shallow boring off Brook Road in Needham

Active Notices

07/15/2024: Field work at the traffic island off Highland Circle

07/02/2024: Field work at the south end of the Mills Field property off Ellis Street and Hampton Avenue in Needham

05/10/2024: Field work on the MassDOT property within the northeast cloverleaf of I-95 and Highland Avenue, and one shallow boring off Brook Road in Needham

Archive
09/12/2023: Field work, at the back of a parking lot on Cabot Street 07/05/2022: Field Work, Northwest cloverleaf of the intersection of I-95 and Highland Avenue 05/03/2022: Field Work, Wellesley Avenue and the Sudbury Aqueduct trail near Cedar Street 06/24/2021: Field Work, Walking trail in the Upper Charles River Reservation east/southeast of Highland Avenue 06/07/2021: Field Work, 31 St. Mary Street 05/06/2021: Field Work, Evergreen Road and the Sudbury Aqueduct trail near St. Mary Street

Archive

09/12/2023: Field work, at the back of a parking lot on Cabot Street

07/05/2022: Field Work, Northwest cloverleaf of the intersection of I-95 and Highland Avenue

05/03/2022: Field Work, Wellesley Avenue and the Sudbury Aqueduct trail near Cedar Street

06/24/2021: Field Work, Walking trail in the Upper Charles River Reservation east/southeast of Highland Avenue

06/07/2021: Field Work, 31 St. Mary Street

05/06/2021: Field Work, Evergreen Road and the Sudbury Aqueduct trail near St. Mary Street

Meetings in Needham

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program has held the following public meetings in your town.

Needham Select Board on 11/22/2022
Agenda | Presentation | Video

Geotechnical Work in Needham

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is working on the geotechnical investigation at specific locations in your community. The following fact sheet explains geotechnical investigation work.

Fact Sheet: About Field Work

Notices for Abutters in Newton

Notices are distributed to those abutting work to notify them of work in their area.

Active Notices
08/02/2024: Field work at the intersection of Donna Road and Nardell Road

Archive
09/12/2023: Field work within the City of Newton easement at the end of Nickerson Road near the intersection of Drew Road 08/02/2023: Test boring work at Hartman Park 07/24/2023: Field work at the northern corner of the intersection of Christina Street and Goddard Street, on land owned by the City of Newton 07/06/2023:Field work in Newton Lower Falls, Hamilton field area 06/20/2023: Field work within the City of Newton’s Hartmann Park, limited to one area along the side near Country Club Road 08/11/2022: Field work at Countryside Road, within the former water tower parcel 08/03/2022: Field work at Quinobequin Road between the intersections with Grove Street and Washington Street (Rt. 16) 05/20/2022: Field work at Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course near the 16th hole and Pine Grove Avenue 04/28/2022: Field work at wooded area along the former railroad grade at the edge of the Leo J. Martin Golf Course, and along the sidewalk on Pierrepont Road 04/28/2022: Field work along the south side of Dedham Street 04/28/2022: Field work in Baldpate Hill Road area 06/16/2021: Field work near 177 Brandeis Road, across the street from Newton South High School and south of the tennis courts 04/29/2021: Field work at West Pine Street, Auburndale Park, Pine Grove Avenue, Hamilton Park and Quinobequin Road

Archive

09/12/2023: Field work within the City of Newton easement at the end of Nickerson Road near the intersection of Drew Road

08/02/2023: Test boring work at Hartman Park

07/24/2023: Field work at the northern corner of the intersection of Christina Street and Goddard Street, on land owned by the City of Newton

07/06/2023:Field work in Newton Lower Falls, Hamilton field area

06/20/2023: Field work within the City of Newton’s Hartmann Park, limited to one area along the side near Country Club Road

08/11/2022: Field work at Countryside Road, within the former water tower parcel

08/03/2022: Field work at Quinobequin Road
between the intersections with Grove Street and Washington Street (Rt. 16)

05/20/2022: Field work at Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course near the 16th hole and Pine Grove Avenue

04/28/2022: Field work at wooded area along the former railroad grade at the edge of the Leo J. Martin Golf Course, and along the sidewalk on Pierrepont Road

04/28/2022: Field work along the south side of Dedham Street

04/28/2022: Field work in Baldpate Hill Road area

06/16/2021: Field work near 177 Brandeis Road, across the street from Newton South High School and south of the tennis courts

04/29/2021: Field work at West Pine Street, Auburndale Park, Pine Grove Avenue, Hamilton Park and Quinobequin Road

Meetings in Newton

Information about public meetings in your town will be posted here.

Geotechnical Work in Newton

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is working on the geotechnical investigation at specific locations in your community. The following fact sheet explains geotechnical investigation work.

Fact Sheet: About Field Work

Fact Sheet: About Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA)

Notices for Abutters in Waltham

Notices are distributed to those abutting work to notify them of work in their area.

Active Notices
06/24/2024: Field work on City of Waltham property at the traffic island near the intersection of Curtis Street and Highland Street 06/07/2024: Field work on MWRA property at 167-173 School Street

Active Notices

06/24/2024: Field work on City of Waltham property at the traffic island near the intersection of Curtis Street and Highland Street

06/07/2024: Field work on MWRA property at 167-173 School Street

Archive
08/31/2023: Field Work within Brandeis University’s parking lot near Angleside Road 06/23/2023: Field Work entirely within the Bentley University South Campus at 450 Beaver Street, near the intersection of Beaver Street and Field Road 05/30/2023: Field Work within Brandeis University campus at 296 to 480 South Street 11/10/2022: Field Work at Bentley University South Campus near the softball field and within the UMass owned parcel at 225 Beaver Street 08/18/2022: Field work at River Road/South Street between Norumbega Road in Weston to Charlesbank Way in Waltham 07/14/2022: Field Work at School Street between Exchange Street and Lexington Street 11/10/2022: Field Work at Lyman Street and Beaver Street from the intersection of Summer Street to Forest Street; and, Forest Street from the intersection of Beaver Street to Rogers Way 06/10/2022: Field Work at Bentley University south campus at 400 Beaver Street 05/19/2022: Field Work at Southeast corner of Leary Field, near the Yetten Baseball Field 5/19/2022: Field Work at Waltham Field Community Farm area at 240 Beaver Street 10/05/2021: Field Work at 167 School Street 07/29/2021: Field Work at 92 Felton Street 07/15/2021: Field Work at 200 Chapel Road on the former Fernald School campus 06/17/2021: Field Work at Cedarwood Pump Station at 222 South Street 04/22/2021: Field Work at Chapel Road, Howe Avenue, Edgewater Drive and the playing field next to McDevitt Middle School

Archive

08/31/2023: Field Work within Brandeis University’s parking lot near Angleside Road

06/23/2023: Field Work entirely within the Bentley University South Campus at 450 Beaver Street, near the intersection of Beaver Street and Field Road

05/30/2023: Field Work within Brandeis University campus at 296 to 480 South Street

11/10/2022: Field Work at Bentley University South Campus near the softball field and within the UMass owned parcel at 225 Beaver Street

08/18/2022: Field work at River Road/South Street between Norumbega Road in Weston to Charlesbank Way in Waltham

07/14/2022: Field Work at School Street between Exchange Street and Lexington Street

11/10/2022: Field Work at Lyman Street and Beaver Street from the intersection of Summer Street to Forest Street; and, Forest Street from the intersection of Beaver Street to Rogers Way

06/10/2022: Field Work at Bentley University south campus at 400 Beaver Street

05/19/2022: Field Work at Southeast corner of Leary Field, near the Yetten Baseball Field

5/19/2022: Field Work at Waltham Field Community Farm area at 240 Beaver Street

10/05/2021: Field Work at 167 School Street

07/29/2021: Field Work at 92 Felton Street

07/15/2021: Field Work at 200 Chapel Road on the former Fernald School campus

06/17/2021: Field Work at Cedarwood Pump Station at 222 South Street

04/22/2021: Field Work at Chapel Road, Howe Avenue, Edgewater Drive and the playing field next to McDevitt Middle School

Meetings in Waltham

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program has held the following public meetings in your city.

Waltham City Council on 06/21/2021
Presentation

Geotechnical Work in Waltham

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is working on the geotechnical investigation at specific locations in your community. The following fact sheet explains geotechnical investigation work.

Fact Sheet: About Field Work

Notices for Abutters in Wellesley

Notices are distributed to those abutting work to notify them of work in their area.

Active Notices
There are no active notices at this time.

Archive
7/20/2023: Field work within the Wellesley Housing Authority’s Barton Road property 07/13/2023: Field work along the access road to the Schofield Elementary School at 27 Cedar Street 06/14/2022: Field work, 100 Walnut Street, near the intersection of Walnut Street and Cedar Street 05/19/2022: Field work on Walnut Street near the intersection with Cedar Street, and along the Crosstown walking trail east of Cedar Street 05/19/2022: Field work, Redwing Road area 08/19/2021: Field work at 125 Barton Road, within the Hegarty Street Pump Station site

Archive

7/20/2023: Field work within the Wellesley Housing Authority’s Barton Road property

07/13/2023: Field work along the access road to the Schofield Elementary School at 27 Cedar Street

06/14/2022: Field work, 100 Walnut Street, near the intersection of Walnut Street and Cedar Street

05/19/2022: Field work on Walnut Street near the intersection with Cedar Street, and along the Crosstown walking trail east of Cedar Street

05/19/2022: Field work, Redwing Road area

08/19/2021: Field work at 125 Barton Road, within the Hegarty Street Pump Station site

Meetings in Wellesley

03/21/2023 - Wellesley School Committee
Presentation | Meeting Documents

11/15/2022 - Wellesley Board of Public Works
Presentation | Video

Geotechnical Work in Wellesley

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is working on the geotechnical investigation at specific locations in your community. The following fact sheet explains geotechnical investigation work.

Fact Sheet: About Field Work

Notices for Abutters in Weston

Notices are distributed to those abutting work to notify them of work in their area.

Active Notices
There are no active notices at this time.

Archive
11/09/2023: Field work on DCR Leo J Martin Memorial Golf Course property 10/25/2023: Field work within the MassDOT right-of way on the grass shoulder of I-95, with access through a maintenance entrance off River Road 10/23/2023: Field work on MWRA property off Loring Road 09/12/2023: Field work on the grass shoulder of the ramp from I-95 southbound to I-90 west-bound 08/11/2023: Test boring at the intersection of Rt 30 and River Road 05/30/2023: Field work on MassDOT property at the Tandem Trailer lot located between South Avenue and the on-ramp to I-90 01/20/2023: Field work on Park Road in Weston between I-90 and Route 30 08/18/2022: Field work on River Road/South Street between Norumbega Road in Weston to Charlesbank Way in Waltham 07/08/2021: Field work on Norumbega Road from 99 Norumbega Road to the intersection with River Road 06/02/2022: Field work at Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course area, at 190 Park Road, Weston 07/08/2021: Field work near Norumbega Tower Park on Norumbega Road

Archive

11/09/2023: Field work on DCR Leo J Martin Memorial Golf Course property

10/25/2023: Field work within the MassDOT right-of way on the grass shoulder of I-95, with access through a maintenance entrance off River Road

10/23/2023: Field work on MWRA property off Loring Road

09/12/2023: Field work on the grass shoulder of the ramp from I-95 southbound to I-90 west-bound

08/11/2023: Test boring at the intersection of Rt 30 and River Road

05/30/2023: Field work on MassDOT property at the Tandem Trailer lot located between South Avenue and the on-ramp to I-90

01/20/2023: Field work on Park Road in Weston between I-90 and Route 30

08/18/2022: Field work on River Road/South Street between Norumbega Road in Weston to Charlesbank Way in Waltham

07/08/2021: Field work on Norumbega Road from 99 Norumbega Road to the intersection with River Road

06/02/2022: Field work at Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course area, at 190 Park Road, Weston

07/08/2021: Field work near Norumbega Tower Park on Norumbega Road

Meetings in Weston

Weston Select Board on 01/10/2023
Agenda | Presentation | Minutes | Video

Geotechnical Work in Weston

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is working on the geotechnical investigation at specific locations in your community. The following fact sheet explains geotechnical investigation work.

Fact Sheet: About Field Work

Frequently Asked Questions

MWRA's water comes from the Quabbin Reservoir, about 65 miles west of Boston, and the Wachusett Reservoir, about 35 miles west of Boston. The reservoirs are filled naturally. Rain and snow fall onto watersheds (protected land around reservoirs) and eventually turn into streams that flow into reservoirs. This water comes into contact with soil, rock, plants and other material as it follows its path. This process helps to clean the water.

MWRA's drinking water is treated according to strict state and federal standards so that it is safe to drink. Because drinking water is a natural resource, its taste, color and odor can sometimes vary slightly from day to day, from town to town, and from faucet to faucet. MWRA provides drinking water to 51 communities. Some communities are only partially-supplied by MWRA. More detailed information about where the water in your city or town comes from and how it is treated is available in our Annual Water Quality Report.

Water for most of MWRA's customer communities (except Chicopee, South Hadley Fire District #1 and Wilbraham) is treated at the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant at Walnut Hill in Marlborough. Water from the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs enters the plant through the Cosgrove or Wachusett Aqueduct. The treated water leaves the plant through the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel and the Hultman Aqueduct. Water for Chicopee, South Hadley Fire District #1 and Wilbraham is treated at the William A Brutsch Water Treatment Facility in Ware, Massachusetts.

The new tunnel system, as proposed, will consist of a northern tunnel and a southern tunnel in and around the Metropolitan Boston area. Both tunnels are proposed to begin near the terminus of the Hultman Aqueduct and MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel in the town of Weston, Massachusetts. The northern tunnel is proposed to extend north to existing WASM3 transmission main near the Waltham/Belmont line. The southern tunnel would run southeast to tie into the surface connections near Shaft 7C of the Dorchester Tunnel in Mattapan.

The Program alignment study area is shown below:

The exact location of the tunnels and shafts will not be determined until well into the design phase. MWRA will be working closely with the host communities to ensure minimum impact to residents and businesses along the routes.

The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is in the preliminary design and environmental review stage. Preliminary design will involve alternatives screening and evaluations, environmental assessment, permitting, base mapping, geotechnical investigation and preliminary design of the new tunnels. Final design will commence after preliminary design is complete, with tunnel construction planned to occur from approximately 2027 through 2038.

The MWRA has a core mission to provide reliable, cost-effective and high quality water, and a goal of maintaining sustainable and predictable rate assessments to our member communities. In keeping with this, the expected long-term rate impacts resulting from the Tunnel Program have been evaluated.

The final cost of the Tunnel Program is not yet defined because final design and construction are still years away with much work to do in the meantime. However, an estimated $1.5 billion is being carried in our Capital Improvement Program Budget. The impacts of the estimated cost are included in MWRA’s current rate projections.

Resources

Program Documents

Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) “MEPA Certificate," EEA Number: 16355, April 1, 2024
Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR)
- Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), (.PDF), February 2024: Preliminary Design, Geotechnical Investigation, and Environmental Impact Report, MWRA Contract 7159 (Posted 02/15/2024)
- Environmental Justice (EJ) Screening Forms
  English | Español | 中文| Kreyòl Ayisyen
  (posted 02/06/2024)
Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (SDEIR) “MEPA Certificate", EEA Number: 16355, September 29, 2023
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (SDEIR)
- Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (SDEIR), Volume 1 of 2, July 2023: Preliminary Design, Geotechnical Investigation, and Environmental Impact Report, MWRA Contract 7159 (Posted 07/28/2023)
- Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (SDEIR), Volume 2 of 2, July 2023: Preliminary Design, Geotechnical Investigation, and Environmental Impact Report, MWRA Contract 7159 (Posted 07/28/2023)
- Revised Environmental Justice (EJ) Screening Form
  English | Español | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen
  (posted 07/11/2023)
Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (“MEPA Certificate”), EEA Number: 16355, December 16, 2022 (Posted 12/20/2022)
- Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), Volume 1 of 3 October 2022: Preliminary Design, Geotechnical Investigation, and Environmental Impact Report, MWRA Contract 7159 (Posted 10/17/2022)
- Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), Volume 2 of 3 October 2022: Preliminary Design, Geotechnical Investigation, and Environmental Impact Report, MWRA Contract 7159 (Posted 10/17/2022)
- Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), Volume 3 of 3 October 2022: Preliminary Design, Geotechnical Investigation, and Environmental Impact Report, MWRA Contract 7159 (Posted 10/17/2022)
  - Environmental Justice (EJ) Screening Forms
    English | Español | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen
Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on The Environmental Notification Form (“MEPA Certificate”), EEA Number: 16355, May 7, 2021 (Posted 05/17/2021)
Environmental Notification Form (ENF), March 2021: PRELIMINARY DESIGN, GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, MWRA Contract 7159 (Posted 03/30/2021)

Fact Sheet, About MWRA's Metropolitan Water Supply Tunnel Program

English | Español | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisye
Fact Sheet, Shaft Site Selection

English | Español | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen
Fact Sheet, Potential Traffic Impacts

English | Español | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen
Fact Sheet, Potential Noise, Vibration and Air Quality Impacts

English | Español | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen
Fact Sheet, Potential Natural and Cultural Resource Environmental Impacts

English | Español | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen
Fact Sheet, Potential Water Supply Impacts

English | Español | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen

Notice to abutters in Boston (Jamaica Plain): field work within the Daughters of St. Paul property

Notice to abutters in Boston (Jamaica Plain): field work within the Italian Home for Children property off Centre Street

Notice to abutters in Weston: field work on DCR Leo J Martin Memorial Golf Course property

Notice to abutters in Boston: field work on DCR property within the material processing area of Landscape Express (Site One Landscape Supply)

Notice to abutters in Weston: field work within the MassDOT right-of way on the grass shoulder of I-95, with access through a maintenance entrance off River Road

Notice to abutters in Weston: field work on MWRA property off Loring Road

Notice to abutters in Boston (Jamaica Plain): field work in the grassy area behind the parking lot for the Department of Public Health

Notice to abutters in Newton: field work within the City of Newton easement at the end of Nickerson Road near the intersection of Drew Road

Notice to abutters in Weston: field work on the grass shoulder of the ramp from I-95 southbound to I-90 west-bound

Notice to abutters in Waltham: field work within Brandeis University’s parking lot near Angleside Road

Notice to abutters in Brookline: Field work within within Transfer Station Drive area

Notice to abutters in Newton: test boring work at Hartman Park

Notice to abutters in Newton: field work, at the northern corner of the intersection of Christina Street and Goddard Street, on land owned by the City of Newton

Meeting Materials and Presentations

Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program Update (Meeting Materials and Presentation) 05/24/2023
Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program - Geotechnical Support Services: GEI-McMillen Jacobs JV, Contract (Meeting Materials) 7557 (12/14/2022)
Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program--Lease for Core Storage Facility: IC Needham Gould Portfolio, LL, W344 (Meeting Materials) 11/16/2022
Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program Update (Meeting Materials and Presentation) 09/14/2022
Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program Update (Meeting Materials and Presentation) 10/20/2021
Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy Program Update: Filing of Environmental Notification Form (Meeting Materials) 02/17/2021
Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy Program Update Meeting Materials and Presentation) 12/16/2020
Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy Program Preliminary Design, Geotechnical Investigation and Environmental Impact Report: CDM Smith, Inc. Contract 7159, and Program Update (Meeting Materials and Presentation) 05/27/2020
Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy Program Update (Meeting Materials and Presentation) 10/16/2019
Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy Program Update on Tunnel Hydraulics and Program Support Services Consultant Key Personnel (Meeting Materials and Presentation) 04/17/2019
Program Support Services for the Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy Program JCK Underground, Inc. Contract 7655 (Meeting Materials and Presentation) 03/20/2019
Update on the Consultant Support Structure for the Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy Program (Meeting Materials) 10/17/18
Approval: Two-Tunnel Alternative for Redundancy of the Metropolitan Tunnel System (Meeting Materials and Presentation) 02/15/2017
Special Meeting of the Board of Directors on Metropolitan Tunnel Redundancy (Meeting Materials) 10/06/2016

Meeting No. 6, September 22, 2022

agenda | presentations | summary
Meeting No. 5, June 15, 2022

agenda | presentations | summary
Meeting No. 4, December 1, 2021

agenda | presentations | summary
Meeting No. 3, August 4, 2021

agenda | presentations | handouts | summary
Meeting No. 2, June 2, 2021

agenda | presentations | handouts | summary
Meeting No. 1, April 7, 2021

agenda | presentations | handouts | summary

Water System History

Please contact Carmine DeMaria, MWRA Community Relations Coordinator, or Tunnels.Info@mwra.com if you have any questions or concerns about the Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program.

Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program

Table of Contents

Introduction

Overview

Background

Why Redundancy?

Program Goals

About the Program

Two Tunnel Alternative

Proposed Plan

Looking Ahead

Community Updates

Schedule

Host Communities

Boston

Brookline

Needham

Newton

Waltham

Wellesley

Weston

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MWRA's water come from?

Who does MWRA provide water to?

How much water does the MWRA system supply to customers?

How much raw water does MWRA have in storage?

How much treated water does MWRA store?

What is the size of the existing MWRA water transmission system?

Is MWRA's water safe?

How often does the water get tested?

Does MWRA's water taste good?

Where does MWRA's water get treated?

Where will the Program's new tunnel system be located?

What is the Program schedule?

What is the diameter of the new tunnels?

How long are the new tunnels?

How deep are the new tunnels?

How will the new tunnels be constructed?

How will the new tunnels be paid for?

Who do I contact for additional information?

Resources

Program Documents

Environmental Impact Reports

Fact Sheets

Notices

Meeting Materials and Presentations

MWRA Board of Directors

Public Meetings

Working Groups

Water System History

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