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Groundwater protection is an area of increasing activity as concern grows over the dangers of contamination from: improper disposal and/or the landfilling of solid and hazardous wastes; use of pesticides and herbicides; inadequate monitoring of underground storage tanks of petroleum products and other chemicals; and improper storage and overuse of salt and other road de-icers. In addition to supporting legislative efforts relating to groundwater protection issues, LWVM has also worked to require regular monitoring of bottled water purity. LWVM was an early supporter of the creation and funding of the Massachusetts Water Resources Commission (MWRA), whose primary function is to provide coordinated management of the water and related land resources of the Commonwealth. The League has supported its long-range planning for adequate water supplies. LWVM continues to monitor the deliberations and decisions of the Water Resources Commission and the MWRA. Section 208 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act water planning process received particular attention from both citizen participation and water quality standpoints. In 1976-77 the 208 Task Force, under a pass-through grant from LWVUS, worked for public participation in statewide planning with emphasis on the Connecticut and Merrimack River areas. The League supported the Clean Waters Act of 1966 which established a division of water pollution control. Water quality hearings held by this division in 1967 resulted in a system of river and coastal water classifications plus a plan to meet the standards. The League has supported federal and state aid for the construction of municipal water treatment plants while local Leagues have sought local appropriations to cover the municipal share of construction costs. The value of the Commonwealth's wetlands to wildlife, fisheries, water resources and recreation has led to a number of laws designed to protect these natural resources. The 1963 Jones Act and the 1965 Coastal Wetlands Act deal with salt-water marshes. The 1965 Hatch Act and the 1968 Inland Wetlands Protection Act protect fresh water wetlands. These laws restrict the development of certain wetlands and regulate the filling and dredging of others. Action begun in 1971 to strengthen the Jones and Hatch acts was completed in 1972 by the passage of Ch. 784. This act combines the two regulatory statutes and places regulatory authority with local conservation commissions. It also directs the Department of Environmental Management to map the Commonwealth "so as to make available to municipalities the delineation of wetlands within their boundaries." The League followed the study of the Special Legislative Commission on Water Supply and commented on its content. Subsequently the League has worked for passage of legislation proposed by the commission including measures to:
In 1983, the Interbasin Transfer Bill became law. The League supported the measure requiring that any water supply system must utilize all reasonable means available within its existing situation and geographic boundaries to meet its water needs before it may divert water to supply its needs. A complete revision of the administrative structure of the metropolitan Boston water supply and sewer system took place in 1984. Spearheaded by court suits over the degraded condition of Boston Harbor and its waters, the legislature established the Mass. Water Resources Authority to run the water and sewer divisions formerly administered by the Metropolitan District Commission. The authority had the freedom to sell bonds and establish cost-based pricing. With a legislative mandate to clean up Boston Harbor and with federal courts' oversight, the authority took control in 1985. Plans are underway for improved and upgraded sewage treatment facilities. The Water Management Act became law in 1985. This piece of legislation recognized surface and ground waters as interrelated parts of one system; it established a permitting system for withdrawals over 100,000 gallons per day as a means of knowing who uses water from which source and for what purpose; it authorized the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) to oversee permitting of new or increased usage so as to safeguard the integrity of the source; and it authorized DEQE to exercise emergency judgements and make allocations when necessary. A 1985-86 League Focus on Action related to water quality issues. Since 1989, the League has supported state legislation to protect the MWRA watershed. Previous Page: Waste |
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