We, petitioners, are calling on Governor Baker to take responsibility for a disastrous public health crisis that needs swift attention after being stalemated.
Housatonic WaterWorks (HWW), a private utility, was purchased by the current owners in 1984. HWW serves the township of Housatonic within the Town of Great Barrington and has been under surveillance and in violation of the MA DEP. The violations relate to poor management processes, unremedied systems, and lack of investment over a long period of time. As a result, the water puts the health of Housatonic residents at risk. In contrast, the Great Barrington Fire District serves residents in other parts of town. It has an excellent track record and users of that public utility would never have accepted the unhealthy water being sold by HWW. The Town has spent an enormous amount of time, money, and efforts to understand the issues of HWW over the past two years. But the Town of Great Barrington does not have oversight over this private utility.
The Chair of Great Barrington Select Board has sent the attached letter in an effort to mobilize MA Dept of Public Utilities (DPU) to act and has addressed MA DPU to no avail. We need:
- HWW to be taken over by eminent domain, converting it to a quasi-governmental organization with an independent board and oversight.
- Rejection of approval for additional funding for HWW, whether by MA or through higher fees, as nearly 50% of every dollar goes into the pocket of two private owners.
- If GBFD were to take over HWW, it would need infrastructure funding to remedy the immediate situation(relocation of the four foot lake draw, a new filtration system, and a staged pipe replacement program).
Our Select Board has commissioned independent consulting studies in the past three years which have recommended costly remedies. We are pressing for action from MA DPU. We recommend the State Auditor study the finances of HWW and its lack of adequate investments as a privately-owned utility that is endangering public health.
See addendum of the last report of the HWW from MA DEP, which enumerates deficiencies and the latest violation in the January 2022 DEP finding showing a substance which can cause cancer.
The enclosed NON [Notice of Non-Compliance] addresses Disinfection Byproduct Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) violations during the third and fourth quarter of 2021. The NON also addresses reporting and public notice violations.
https://www.townofgb.org/ sites/g/files/vyhlif636/f/ uploads/dep_non_haa5_march_3_ 2022.pdf