As many in the water community have been anticipating, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has released its proposed regulatory changes to the Water Management Act to allow the agency to require water conservation for some registered water users during droughts (MassDEP's current regulations only allow it to condition permitted water use).
This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to increase water conservation - water registrations for the entire state renew at the end of 2021 and remain in effect for ten years.
While we are pleased to see MassDEP take this important, long overdue step toward streamflow protection and water sustainability, there is of course more the agency can, and should do. Learn more about the proposed changes below:
DEP will hold online hearings July 7 and July 16 at 10 AM, and comments are due July 26 by 5 PM. We urge organizations and members of the public to plan to submit comments and to attend the hearing. Contact Policy Specialist Katharine Lange (katharinelange@massriversalliance.org) with questions or comments.
Thank you very much for your advocacy!