Press Release  MassDEP Recognizes Top Performing Public Water Systems

BOSTON — To commemorate National Drinking Water Week, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced today that 49 public water systems, four certified operators, and one childcare center advocate received awards for their excellent public service in 2024. The awardees demonstrated outstanding water service, had no violations or compliance issues, and supported the overall public water supply.

"Every day, dedicated water suppliers and professionals work hard to ensure millions of Massachusetts residents have access to clean, safe drinking water," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "Water is our most vital resource. These highly skilled professionals are committed to protecting it from pollution, advancing conservation efforts, and building the infrastructure needed to meet our future needs."

"Public Water Suppliers ensure our water meets important health and safety standards and they treat and remove pollutants, making it safe to drink at the touch of a tap," said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. "This National Drinking Water Week, I’m proud to honor the systems and operators for their exceptional service and distinguished work in serving our communities."

Since 1975, MassDEP has been protecting the environment and preserving public health. For the past 39 years, MassDEP has recognized and awarded exemplary systems that have reached meritorious service for their work during the previous calendar year. Today’s ceremony honoring the award recipients was held at the Devens Community Center in Devens, MA.

2025 Public Water System Award Recipients and Honorable Mentions

Non-Transient Non-Community Systems:

• Cape Cod Space Force Station (Bourne)
• Carlisle Public School
• Dover Water Department
• Freetown Elementary School
• John Road Industrial Park (Sutton)
• The Home for Little Wanderers (Plymouth)
• Wee Forest Folk (Carlisle)

Small Community Systems:

• Benfield Farms (Carlisle) 
• Dunstable Water Department
• Eaglebrook School (Deerfield)
• Garrison Place (Carlisle)
• Hampden Housing Authority
• Sunderland Water District
• West Newbury Water Department

Medium and Large Community Systems:

• Athol DPW Water Division
• Bourne Water District
• Dennis Water District
• Edgartown Water Department
• Hanson Water Department
• Lynn Water and Sewer Commission
• Needham Water Department
• North Chelmsford Water District
• North Raynham Water District
• North Sagamore Water District
• Provincetown Water Department
• Seekonk Water District
• South Hadley Fire District #2 Water Department
• Wenham Water Department
• Westford Water Department

Consecutive Systems:

• Acushnet Water Department
• Bedford VA Hospital (Rogers Mem. Hospital)
• Beverly Water Department
• Brookline Water and Sewer Division
• Paxton Water Department
• Swampscott Water Department (MWRA)
• Tyngsborough Water District
• Weston Water Department

Consistent Performer Award
(Public Water Systems that have received awards for three consecutive years):

• Waltham Water Department

Water Conservation Awards

• Billerica Water Department
• Easton Water Department
• Sturbridge Water Department
• West Groton Water District
• Wilmington Water & Sewer Department

Energy Conservation Award

• Burlington Water Department: The Solar Array project at the Mill Pond Water Treatment Plant received a $176,090 Gap Energy Grant from the MassDEP Clean Energy Results Program to install weatherization conservation measures and a 66.6-kilowatt solar array at their water treatment plant. This clean energy project will result in a one-year payback for the town and generate over $276,000 of energy cost savings over the lifetime of the solar array.

STAR L Award 
(Honoring systems taking action to reduce lead within school systems)

• Gloucester Public Utility Division: Through the MassDEP Pilot Program for Public Water Systems, Gloucester Public Utility Division completed testing of all seven public schools and conducted outreach to offer drinking water testing for lead to all 23 licensed childcare centers in their service area to keep Massachusetts children safe from the dangers of lead.

School/Day Care Lead-Reduction Advocate

• Amy Izen of Healthy Chelsea: Izen was awarded special recognition for her work advocating for the reduction of lead in schools and daycares drinking water. Her organizational services of important lead reduction documents and seminars that teach Massachusetts Schools and childcare centers in Chelsea how to reduce lead in their drinking water is enormously important.
   

Central Region

Regional Recognition:

• Townsend Water Department: The Townsend Water Department has been working on system improvements since PFAS6 was detected at the Harbor Trace Well in 2021. In the span of three years, Townsend has piloted and installed PFAS treatment for three of its groundwater sources, a raw water transmission main and finished water main upgrades to support the new entry point to the distribution system.

Distinguished Operator Award

• Howard Asnes: MassDEP’s Central Regional Office is pleased to recognize Howard Asnes as an outstanding operator in the central region.
   

Northeast Region

Regional Recognition:

• Westford Water Department: The Westford Water Department has been consistently reporting PFAS data to MassDEP since at least April 2021, as required by the Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations. While their finished water sample results are yet to exceed the quarterly 20 ppt threshold, they have already wrapped up the piloting process for exploring different treatment options.

Distinguished Operator Award

• Joe Ciccotelli: MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office is pleased to recognize Joe Ciccotelli as an outstanding operator in the northeast region.  
   

Southeast Region

 Regional Recognition:

• North Raynham Water District: The North Raynham Water District provides water to a population of 3,902. The water system includes six active ground water sources, three treatment facilities and two water storage tanks with a total storage capacity of 1.75 million gallons. The distribution system contains 32 miles of water main, and they are preparing to replace about 2700 feet of main to facilitate a new filtration plant with a project finish of three years to include a new MassDEP-approved wellfield. The system has approximately 1440 service connections.

Distinguished Operator Award

• Robert (Bob) Worthley: MassDEP’s Southeast Regional Office is pleased to recognize Robert (Bob) Worthley as an outstanding operator in the southeast region.
   

Western Region

 Regional Recognition

• West Springfield DPW Water Division: In July 2024, West Springfield DPW Water Division experienced a backflow incident when an oily sheen was identified in public drinking water, potentially indicating unsafe drinking water conditions. West Springfield immediately took action by informing MassDEP (who issued a Do-Not-Use order), isolating the affected area, performing water quality samples, and flushing lines to prevent any possible contaminants from reaching customers, all within hours of first noticing the potential contamination. A backflow device was installed at the newly identified cross connection, and just over 48 hours from first identifying the issue, the Do-Not-Use order was lifted.

Distinguished Operator Award

• Anthony Lastowski: MassDEP’s Western Regional Office is pleased to recognize Anthony Lastowski as an outstanding operator in the western region.

More information on the 2025 Public Water System Awards is available on the MassDEP website.

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