Reference
Massachusetts
Your source for information about water rights from coast to coast
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Reference Massachusetts Your source for information about water rights from coast to coast |
| Type of state | Riparian/Prior appropriation. |
| Water supply |
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| Water use |
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| Controlling law |
MWRA's source reservoirs, the Quabbin and Wachusett, can be counted on to safely provide 300 million gallons per day (mgd) of water. This is called the "safe yield." For a 20-year period from 1969 to 1988, the customers of MWRA (and its predecessor MDC) routinely drew more than the safe yield. Fortunately, precipitation was great enough throughout these years to avoid a major water supply crisis. To address this problem, MWRA launched an aggressive water conservation program in 1986. By 1989, withdrawals had been brought below the safe yield, where they have remained ever since. |
| Water rights |
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| Interstate relations |
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| Litigation |
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| Analysis |