Water Resources Policies & Guidance

These documents describe how MassDEP's water programs administer applicable laws and regulations.
skip table of contents

In this list

Combined Sewer Overflows

Guidance for Abatement of Pollution from CSO Discharges (PDF 54.42 KB)
Assisting permittees in assessing combined-sewer-overflow impacts and developing control alternatives in compliance with the federal Clean Water Act and the Massachusetts Water Quality Standards.
Pollution Abatement from Combined Sewer Overflows - Policy (DOC 67 KB)
The CSO Policy describes a hierarchical menu of options within the Surface Water Quality Standards to accommodate the range of situations in which CSOs are found.

Drinking Water

Drinking Water Policies and Guidance

Coastal Resources & Estuaries

Emergency Repairs in Wetland Resource Areas or Buffer Zones and Waterways
Guidance for homeowners and local officials on authorizing emergency work in the event of a sudden or unforeseen emergency.
Embayment Restoration and Guidance for Implementation Strategies (PDF 3.77 MB)
Pathways to achieving healthy estuaries and recommendations for attaining them, with a focus on nitrogen reduction.
Embayment Restoration and Guidance for Implementation Strategies Appendices (PDF 1.69 MB)
Technical and reference materials and case studies for the Embayment Restoration Guidance.

Groundwater Discharge Permitting

Laboratories: Environmental Compliance (PDF 229.66 KB)
Covers industrial wastewater, hazardous waste management and other requirements.
Design, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Small Wastewater Treatment Facilities with Land Disposal - Guidelines (PDF 2.58 MB)
A technical guide for individuals involved in the design, construction, and use of small wastewater treatment facilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Nutrient Loading Approach to Wastewater Permitting and Disposal (DOC 139.5 KB)
Guidance for the Department and applicants in applying nutrient-loading parameters to wastewater permitting.

Laboratory Certification

Guidance for Compliance with Ethics Training Requirement of 310 CMR 42.00 (PDF 367.7 KB)
The revised regulations at 310 CMR 42.08(6) require that all laboratory personnel participate in a laboratory ethics program on an annual basis. This document provides guidance that will assist with compliance of this requirement.
Memorandum on Revised Massachusetts Regulations for the Certification and Operation of Environmental Analysis Laboratories at 310 CMR 42.00 (PDF 103.16 KB)
Memo to Massachusetts-certified environmental laboratories summarizing changes promulgated in November 201Memo to Massachusetts-certified environmental laboratories summarizing changes promulgated in November 2016 to the Laboratory Certification regulations, 6 to the Laboratory Certification regulations, 310 CMR 42.00.
Rapid Determination of E. coli in Drinking Water Under the Total Coliform Rule in Massachusetts (PDF 1.61 MB)
Methods for rapid determination of total coliform and E. coli in finished drinking water. Rev. October 2009.
Certification for the Analysis of Enterococci (Presence/Absence) in Ground Water Source Samples (PDF 144.13 KB)
Public water systems that use ground water must analyze samples for the presence of fecal indicator organisms each time the system is notified of a total-coliform-positive sample collected under Total Coliform Rule monitoring. Rev. May 2009.
Cover letter, Laboratory Certification Policies on Proficiency Testing: Chemistry and Microbiology (PDF 151.96 KB)
Cover letter explaining the 2014 update to the policies implementing changes to 310 CMR 42.00, Certification and Operation of Environmental Analysis Laboratories. October 2014.
WES-14.001 - Laboratory Certification Office Policy on Chemistry Proficiency Testing (PDF 86.14 KB)
The requirements for providers of and participants in a chemistry proficiency-testing program. Revised October 2014.
WES-14.002 - Laboratory Certification Office Policy on Microbiology Proficiency Testing (PDF 114.22 KB)
The requirements for providers of and participants in a microbiology proficiency-testing program. Revised October 2014.
New England Certification Officers' Chemistry Checklists (PDF 75.61 KB)
Checklist to record compliance with testing parameters for environmental laboratories.
New England Certification Officers' Microbiology Checklist (PDF 157.21 KB)
Checklist to record compliance with testing parameters for environmental laboratories.

Residuals & Biosolids

Blending Policy - Guidance Document 87-1: Utilization of Blended Sludge Compost (DOC 26 KB)
Policy on the utilization of blended sludge compost (compost mixed with sand, peat, or other materials).
Composting Operations Within Zones of Contribution (Zone II) and Interim Well Head Protection Areas (Interim Zone II) (PDF 10.03 KB)
Preventing drinking-water contamination from stored sludge and septage.
Horticultural Use Policy (DOC 22.5 KB)
Clarifying the allowable use of wastewater-treatment sludge in horticultural operations.
Hydrogeologic Evaluations - Guidelines (PDF 39.53 KB)
Hydrogeological evaluations for proposed landfill sites define the geology of the site, groundwater flow paths and rates, design characteristics of the landfill liner, and the location of all proposed groundwater protection and monitoring systems.
Large Privately Owned Treatment Works - Minimum Contractual Requirements for Reuse or Disposal of Residuals (PDF 63.74 KB)
Requirements for large publicly-owned treatment works seeking to contract out sludge reuse or disposal.
Multi-Site/Single Ownership (DOC 23 KB)
Allowing a single application for land application of sludge or septage to cover multiple sites under the same ownership.
Residuals Landfill Plan Submittal List (PDF 35.21 KB)
Plan approval application submittal requirements.
Sludge Analysis Guidelines (PDF 7.99 KB)
Parameters of a sampling and analysis plan for wastewater treatment sludge and septage.
Sludge Compost Facilities - Minimum Technical Information Needs for Submittal of Plans and Specifications (PDF 7.71 KB)
Technical information required for plans and specifications for sludge compost facilities.
Sludge Disposal - Redundancy Requirements (PDF 11.04 KB)
Requirements for back-up facilities for wastewater treatment plants that may not be able to dispose of sludge throughout their design life (20 years).
Sludge Landfills - Closure/Post Closure Requirements (PDF 53.71 KB)
Sludge Landfills - Design & Operation (PDF 11.44 KB)
Labeling Requirement and Additional Information Regarding Biosolids Containing Molybdenum (PDF 162.2 KB)

Seasonal Guidance

Emergency Repairs in Wetland Resource Areas or Buffer Zones and Waterways
Guidance for homeowners and local officials on authorizing emergency work in the event of a sudden or unforeseen emergency.
Guidelines on Road Salt Storage
This guideline summarizes salt storage prohibition standards around drinking water supplies and current salt storage practices.
Snow Disposal Guidance
This guide will help communities and businesses dispose of plowed snow without harming the environment. The guide includes a link to an interactive map to locate snow disposal sites.

Sewer Collection Systems

Guidelines for Performing Infiltration/Inflow Analyses and Sewer System Evaluation Surveys (PDF 2.79 MB)
Communities can use these guidelines in performing I/I analyses for sewer system evaluations.
Response to Comments for Draft Guidelines for Performing Infiltration/Inflow Analyses and Sewer System Evaluation Surveys (PDF 155.01 KB)
This document provides responses to comments received in response to the 2016 Draft Guidelines. May 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions on Regulatory Requirements for Infiltration & Inflow (I/I) Removal Programs (PDF 120.96 KB)
This document provides answers to common questions regarding MassDEP's I/I regulatory requirements and the 2017 Guidelines. May 2017.
Presentation on Infiltration and Inflow Regulatory Requirements (PDF 2.84 MB)
This presentation summarizes MassDEP's Infiltration and Inflow regulatory requirements and the 2017 Guidelines. May 2017.
Fact Sheet: Regulatory Requirements for Infiltration & Inflow (I/I) Removal Programs (PDF 88.56 KB)
This document summarizes MassDEP's Infiltration and Inflow regulatory requirements and the 2017 guidelines. May 2017.
Cover Letter for Optimizing Operation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation of Sanitary Sewer Collection Systems - Guidelines (PDF 15.03 KB)
Information for state agencies and collection system owners, managers, and operators to manage sewerage-collection systems for optimal performance and reduced overall long-term costs.
Optimizing Operation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation of Sanitary Sewer Collection Systems - Guidelines (PDF 3.31 MB)
Guidelines for sewer systems to optimize system performance, enhance program effectiveness, and reduce overall long-term costs.

State Revolving Fund Capital Improvement Plan

2010 PWS Capital Improvement Plan (PDF 578.84 KB)
This document can be used to identify and document capital projects for a public water system.

Stormwater

Complete Erosion and Sedimentation Control Guidelines: a Guide for Planners, Designers, and Municipal Officials (PDF 4.12 MB)
Best management practices for controlling erosion and sedimentation.
Stormwater Best Management Practice Demonstration Tier II Protocol for Interstate Reciprocity (PDF 155.08 KB)
This document is intended to provide a uniform method for demonstrating stormwater technologies and developing quality-assurance plans for certification or verification of performance claims.
Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook and Stormwater Standards
This handbook describes how to follow Massachusetts' stormwater regulations.
Changes to the Stormwater Management Standards, 2008 (PDF 478.43 KB)
A detailed explanation of the revisions made in 2008 to the Massachusetts Stormwater Management Standards, reflecting technological and scientific advancements since the Standards were first issued in 1996.
Wetlands Program Method to Convert Stormwater Water Quality Volume to Peak Flow Rate (PDF 932.93 KB)
Standardized method to convert stormwater Water Quality Volume to Peak Flow Rate.
Water Resource Management Planning Guidance Document (PDF 106 KB)
This guidance is intended to explain the types of water management planning reports towns and communities can use when approaching their particular wastewater, drinking water and stormwater issues.

Surface Water

Antidegradation Implementation Procedures (PDF 71.52 KB)
How the antidegradation provisions of the Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards (314 CMR 4.00) are implemented.
Mixing Zones Implementation Policy (DOC 60 KB)
A mixing zone is an area or volume of a waterbody in the immediate vicinity of a discharge where the initial dilution of the discharge occurs.
Toxic Pollutant Control in Surface Waters - Implementation Policy (DOC 64.5 KB)
This policy sets the program’s goals with regard to toxic pollutants, interpret the water quality standards, and explain the use of biotoxicity tests in the permit process.

Title 5/Septic Systems

Title 5/Septic Systems Policies & Guidance

Underground Injection Control

UIC Class V Well Types
Descriptions of the various types of UIC Class V wells that require a MassDEP Registration Number.
Registration of Discharges to the Ground From Pump Houses and Other Public Water System Facilities Including Discharges from In-line Analyzers (PDF 25.77 KB)
This fact sheet is intended to help determine when a discharge from a public water system facility is exempt from a Groundwater Discharge Permit and instead requires UIC registration.
Guidelines for Ground Source Heat Pump Wells (PDF 139.51 KB)
This document provides guidelines for the installation of Ground Source Heat Pump wells in Massachusetts.
Standard Design Guidelines for Shallow UIC Class V Injection Wells
These guidelines are for people who are proposing to construct a UIC Class V well or have an existing Class V well.
Underground Injection Control Regulations & Public Water Systems (PDF 30.81 KB)
A general description of the UIC regulations, including descriptions of UIC wells and registration requirements.

Wastewater Facilities

Wastewater Facility Planning Guidance (PDF 228.19 KB)
A guide for assisting municipal officials, consulting engineers, citizens groups, and other interested parties in developing comprehensive wastewater management plans.
Water Resource Management Planning Guidance Document (PDF 106 KB)
This guidance is intended to explain the types of water management planning reports towns and communities can use when approaching their particular wastewater, drinking water and stormwater issues.

Water Management Act

Public Water Supply Source Approval Guidance
Information for Public Water Suppliers regarding the siting of a new source of drinking water or the expansion of an existing source.
Model Water Use Restriction Bylaw/Ordinance Update
This model bylaw/ordinance is intended to help municipalities and water districts implement seasonal water-conservation rules for public and private water supplies.
Model Water Use Restriction Bylaw/Ordinance (PDF 32.98 KB)
Suggested language for local outdoor-water-use bylaws.
Wetland Hydrology Monitoring Guidance for Water Withdrawal Permit Compliance (PDF 40.61 KB)
Wetland hydrology monitoring is required for compliance with the terms of water-withdrawal permits issued under the Water Management Act.
Golf Course Water Use Policy (PDF 30.71 KB)
MassDEP's approach to evaluating Water Management Act permits for golf courses.
Policy on Salt Water Withdrawals
This policy outlines the regulatory requirements for the withdrawal of saline or brackish water under the Water Management Act regulations.
Water Resources Commission Policy on Water Needs Forecasts for Public Water Suppliers (PDF 346.31 KB)
The Massachusetts Water Resources Commission develops water-needs forecasts for communities seeking increased water withdrawals under the Water Management Act, in order to ensure that water supplies remain adequate. Updated March 2017.

Water Quality

COMM-94-007: Sampling, Analysis, Handling & Tracking Requirements for Dredged Sediment Reused or Disposed at Massachusetts Landfills (PDF 325.34 KB)
Streamlining the review and approval process for dredged sediments proposed to be reused or disposed at Massachusetts permitted landfills.
Averaging Area for Benthic Invertebrate Assessments (PDF 171.24 KB)
This Technical Update limits the area over which sediment concentrations can be averaged for the purpose of evaluating the risk of harm to benthic invertebrates.
Assessment Endpoints for Benthic Invertebrates (PDF 218.9 KB)
Assessment endpoints are specific effects that will be evaluated in a risk-assessment process examining the risk of harm to the environment from exposure to contaminated sediments.
Freshwater Sediment Toxicity Tests (PDF 290.4 KB)
MassDEP recommends that longer-term toxicity tests be conducted at sites to evaluate the potential effects of sediment contamination.
Assessing Risk of Harm to Benthic Invertebrates (PDF 262.94 KB)
MassDEP recommends an organism-level assessment endpoint for evaluating the risk of harm to benthic invertebrates from exposure to sediment contamination
Revised Sediment Screening Values (PDF 676.05 KB)
Sediment screening values are used to evaluate the potential risk of harm to the environment from sediment contamination. This Technical Update revises the Stage I sediment screening criteria for metals except mercury.
Ecological Value of Surface Water Features (PDF 326.42 KB)
A surface water body is functioning as an ecological resource if it is supporting or providing habitat for aquatic organisms or wildlife and it has become integrated into the natural landscape and the local hydrogeologic system.
Area-Based Screening for Sediment Contamination (PDF 416.1 KB)
This Technical Update proposes a minimum area over which sediment contamination would be considered extensive enough to require a site-specific risk assessment or remediation.

Waterways

Waterways Guidance

Wetlands

MassDEP to Review Recent Studies on Precipitation Rates in Massachusetts (PDF 33.7 KB)
MassDEP is evaluating the most recent precipitation-frequency statistics from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with the goal of updating the Wetlands regulations to accommodate the use of newer data in the permitting process.
Guidance for Aquatic Plant Management in Lakes & Ponds (PDF 946.71 KB)
Guidance for the review of projects proposed to control aquatic-vegetation growth, under provisions of the Wetlands Protection Act.
Airport Vegetation Management GEIR
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act's (MEPA) guidance for the development and review of airport vegetation removal projects in wetlands to comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
Emergency Repairs in Wetland Resource Areas or Buffer Zones and Waterways
Guidance for homeowners and local officials on authorizing emergency work in the event of a sudden or unforeseen emergency.
Beach Nourishment: MassDEP's Guide to Best Management Practices for Projects in MA (PDF 2.28 MB)
Guidance for beach-nourishment projects to maintain habitat, stability, and ecological health.
Beaver and Muskrat-Related Activities - Guidance for Implementing G.L. c.131, s.80A (PDF 43.06 KB)
Guidance for conservation commissions to manage flooding problems caused by beaver and muskrat activities.
The Massachusetts Vegetated Buffer Manual (PDF 5.3 MB)
Creating and maintaining vegetated buffers along waterbodies to control pollution, protect habitat and water quality, and benefit the property owner.
Applying the Massachusetts Coastal Wetlands Regulations: A Practical Manual for Conservation Commissions (PDF 6.64 MB)
Conservation Commissions may use this guidance to evaluate projects proposed in coastal resource areas for their potential to impact the storm damage prevention and flood control interests of the Wetlands Protection Act.
Dam Removal and the Wetlands Regulations (PDF 955.03 KB)
Guidance for dam-removal projects to benefit the ecological health of the waterway.
Delineating Bordering Vegetated Wetlands Under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (PDF 5.41 MB)
A detailed manual for determining boundaries of vegetated wetlands bordering waterbodies, including hydrological and botanical indicators, and a guide to delineating BVWs in the field.
Massachusetts Basic Building Code Regulations Revisions
These revisions establish requirements for structures in areas particularly vulnerable to damage from coastal storms.
Complete Erosion and Sedimentation Control Guidelines: a Guide for Planners, Designers, and Municipal Officials (PDF 4.12 MB)
Best management practices for controlling erosion and sedimentation.
Eutrophication and Aquatic Plant Management In Massachusetts Final Generic Environmental Impact Report (PDF 14.42 MB)
Lake management techniques for control of nutrients and aquatic-plant growth effectiveness and ecological impacts, and additional resources for identifying invasive species and other aquatic-nuisance issues.
Enforcement Manual for Wetlands (PDF 2.09 MB)
Assisting conservation commissions and other municipal officials in protecting wetland resources through effective enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Act.
Farming in Wetland Resource Areas Manual: 1996 Edition (PDF 6.37 MB)
Provisions of the Wetlands Protection Act Regulations that cover exempt and regulated agricultural activities, the permitting process for regulated activities, and resources for farmers, regulators, and the general public.
Hydrology Handbook for Conservation Commissioners (PDF 2.61 MB)
This manual is intended to assist conservation commissions in evaluating the hydrologic impacts of proposed activities on wetland function and statutory interests.
Inland Wetland Replication Guidelines (PDF 130.26 KB)
Increasing the effectiveness of wetland replication to meet performance standards for mitigation projects.
Massachusetts Wildlife Habitat Protection Guidance for Inland Wetlands (PDF 2.02 MB)
Guidance to identify important wildlife habitat in wetlands and ways to protect it while evaluating proposed projects in wetlands.
Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Standards (PDF 244.29 KB)
Criteria for maintaining river and stream continuity, to enable environmentally-critical movement of fish and wildlife through river and stream corridors. March 2012.
West Nile Virus Application of Pesticides to Wetlands Resource Areas (PDF 223.23 KB)
Guidance to determine if mosquito control work (e.g. application of pesticides) is exempt or requires an Emergency Certification under the Wetlands Protection Act, and whether application of pesticides to a public water source for mosquito control can go forward.
Wetlands Policies
Tell us what you think