Planning for Resilient Water Supply

The Regional Water Plan is a long-term strategy to help communities in the Old Colony region protect and manage their water resources. It outlines actions to improve water supply, protect water quality, prepare for climate uncertainties, and support future growth.

Communities across the region are facing challenges like aging infrastructure, PFAS contamination, drought, and increasing demand. The plan was created to coordinate solutions across town lines and ensure safe, reliable water for everyone in the region.

Work is being funded through a $470,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant. This grant is matched locally with another $470,000 from the following partners: Central Plymouth County Water District Commission; a state appropriation included in the FY22 Economic Development Bond Bill, led by Senator Michael Brady with support from both branches and the leadership of both; and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce / South Shore Economic Development Corporation. A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program supports grant-writing and enhanced stakeholder engagement and public participation.

OCPC worked with local governments, public water suppliers, environmental groups, businesses, residents, and other stakeholders over the course of a year. Through surveys, interviews, focus groups, workshops, and public meetings, community voices helped shape the plan’s goals and recommendations.

The project Steering Committee met monthly to collaboratively develop the Regional Water Plan with OCPC and our consultants, CDM Smith. All 17 cities and towns in the Old Colony Region participated, as well as other stakeholders, including regulators, elected officials, chambers of commerce, the agricultural sector, watershed associations, environmental organizations, and community members.

Committee Terms of Reference and Membership are linked on this page.

Consultants for this project were selected through a competitive procurement process. OCPC, in consultation with municipalities and other stakeholders, developed a Request for Proposals (RFP). This RFP was released on August 30, 2023, and widely advertised. OCPC scored received proposals based on criteria detailed in the RFP, and a Selection Committee of OCPC staff and funding partner representatives interviewed top-scoring respondents.

CDM Smith was awarded a $800,000 contract in October 2023. Their proposal includes Regina Villa Associates, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the Alliance for Water Efficiency as partners. Work commenced in December 2023 and is expected to conclude by May 2025.

The plan won’t immediately change how your water is delivered. It does recommend local- and state-level actions like upgrading infrastructure, treating PFAS, and improving drought preparedness—all of which aim to protect the quality and availability of your drinking water over time.

PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often called “forever chemicals,” are a growing concern in many communities. The plan supports treatment upgrades, testing, and outreach for both public systems and private well owners to ensure safe drinking water across the region.

The plan includes recommendations to better support private well owners, including education, voluntary testing, and potential connections to public water systems in areas with known contamination.

The plan encourages water efficiency, native landscaping, and better coordination of water withdrawals to protect streamflow and aquatic life. It also supports efforts to restore fish passages and monitor ecological health.

Due to improvements in water efficiency for fixtures and appliances, such as showerheads and washing machines, econometric projections for the Regional Water Plan indicate that water use in the region will decrease over the coming years, even with anticipated increases in housing development. However, some municipalities are already approaching the limit of their allowable water withdrawals from the environment. Please refer to the Annotated Bibliography in the plan’s appendix for information about your city or town.

Communities can plan ahead to ensure a steady supply. The Regional Water Plan examines current and future water needs across the region and recommends strategies such as expanding well capacity, improving water efficiency, reducing system leaks, and considering regional solutions such as MWRA connections or desalinated water.

The plan also promotes collaboration between local planning and water departments to ensure that water supply is taken into account early in the development process. With effective planning, conservation measures, and strategic infrastructure investments, communities can expand without jeopardizing water systems and the environment.

No, the Regional Water Plan does not recommend removing, transferring, or restricting any community’s water rights. It is a planning tool—not a regulatory document—designed to support local decision-making, not override it.

The plan was developed in close partnership with municipal leaders, public water suppliers, and other stakeholders to identify shared challenges and explore voluntary, collaborative strategies. Any decisions about water use or infrastructure remain under local control.

This plan promotes coordination and collaboration, not control. Its goal is to help communities work together to secure safe, reliable water for the future—especially in the face of increasing demand, drought, and contamination issues.

Please attend one of the public meetings or submit your comments to jzygmunt@ocpcrpa.org by May 18, 2025.

OCPC and its partners will work to implement the plan’s recommendations over time. The hope is that a regional water resources committee will be established to help track progress, coordinate funding, and support local efforts. This webpage will be updated with the latest information available. To stay up-to-date, please sign up for OCPC’s newsletter.