Our 15th Annual Symposium, Science, Regulation, & Public Opinion: At the Crossroads, examined how research and regulation are presented in the media and how these presentations mold public opinion. Program highlights included:

A Keynote Address by Jay Bernas, PE, General Manager and CEO, Hampton Roads Sanitation District.

A panel focusing on PFAS to explore how science informs environmental policy and regulations. Panelists discussed what we know, and don’t know, about the fate, transport and toxicology of PFAS as it relates to drinking water, wastewater and biosolids.

A panel focusing on the public perception of science and regulation and how that influences state and national policy. Panelists included media and legal representatives, and municipal practitioners challenged with delivering difficult messages to the public.

A presentation highlighting recent research and innovative technologies developed at local universities to address PFAS destruction and how that could assist drinking water and wastewater systems.

Annual legal and regulatory updates offering insight into recent national and state legislation, regulations, policies, legal actions and court decisions that may affect those managing or using water infrastructure systems.

Our 14th Annual Symposium, Providing Service During Hardship, examined how utilities can provide for their rate-payers during economically challenging times. Program highlights included:

A Keynote Address by Ted Henefin, Interim Third-Party Manager of the City of Jackson's drinking water and sewer system.

A panel on water infrastructure disaster-response and infrastructure challenges, including a major water transmission main break, a cyber-attack on a large utility and a sewer pumping station failure. The panel discussion focused on lessons learned and steps taken to prevent or better respond to a recurrence.

A panel on the future of biosolids disposal and issues tied to PFAS. Panelists discussed past and present biosolids disposal options at representative wastewater treatment facilities and offer a path toward a solution through the Biohub initiative, as well as the potential impacts of the proposed legislation and what will be needed to ensure that biosolids disposal options continue to be available.

A case study highlighting the joint efforts of the Springfield Water & Sewer

Commission, Upper Blackstone Clean Water and Narragansett Bay Commission to

investigate the potential for a multi-state, regional solution for wastewater biosolids

disposal.

Annual legal and regulatory updates offering insight into recent national and state legislation, regulations, policies, legal actions and court decisions that may affect those managing or using water infrastructure systems.

Our 13th Annual Symposium Fiscal Sustainability: Balancing Water Stewardship and Affordability offered a comprehensive look at affordability challenges and rate-setting strategies. Case studies on building treatment capacity and communicating the value of service outlined ways to keep stewardship affordable. Program highlights included:

A Keynote Address by Kishia L. Powell, General Manager and CEO, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

A panel focusing on operational challenges impacting rates and affordability and how utilities can maintain day-to-day operations and cover growing costs while trying to keep costs affordable to ratepayers.

A presentation from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Massachusetts Water Resource Outreach Center (WROC) co-director Paul Mathisen.

A panel focusing on rate setting strategies and how utilities can strategically plan rate increases moving forward, and how can they effectively communicate the change and its necessity to customers.

A panel focusing on the importance of advocacy surrounding infrastructure funding and affordability. In light of so many new challenges and state and federal requirements, informing policy and decision makers as well as customers about the importance of water and wastewater utilities has never been more important.

A case study on the Buzzards Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility Project. The project included a new local WWTF to treat wastewater from parts of the existing system, including areas proposed for development.

Annual legal and regulatory updates offering insight into recent national and state legislation, regulations, policies, legal actions and court decisions that may affect those managing or using water infrastructure systems.

In June 2022, MCWRS hosted the 12th Annual Water Resource Strategies Symposium as a virtual, half-day event that featured the following speakers:

Keynote speech by Secretary Bethany A. Card, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

A panel on Workforce Development featuring:

Michele Gillen, MWRA

James Tringale, Weston & Sampson

Maggie Frye, Core Consulting

Patricia Chesebrough, NEIWPCC

Amy Corriveau, Trinnex

A Legal and Regulatory Update by Robert D. Cox Jr., Managing Partner, Bowditch

In June 2021, MCWRS hosted the 11th Annual Water Resource Strategies Symposium via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series replaced our previous, in-person Symposium that had been scheduled for May 2020. Each panel included four water industry experts who spoke to:

PFAS: PFAS have exploded on the national scene with numerous new regulations affecting the drinking and wastewater sectors, many of which are not coordinated or well-conceived. Water sector leaders and affected communities will discuss what can be learned from recent regulations, and what to expect moving forward. What are the upcoming regulatory impacts on biosolids and the broader impacts to suppliers and specific impacts to communities?

NPDES: Local water sector experts discuss their experiences appealing draft NPDES permits. Should you or should you not appeal your permit? What should the approach be for providing comments on your permit or others?

Affordability: Affordability in the post COVID-19 era is expected to change as EPA drafts a new affordability integrated plan and new Environmental Justice criteria. A panel of experts will discuss this, as well as potential federal funding.

Legal and Regulatory: A panel of experts discuss legal and regulatory updates pertaining to Massachusetts and the nation.

The 10th Annual Water Resources Strategies Symposium held on May 13, 2019 attracted over 100 participants and was a success thanks to our speakers, panelists, sponsors and attendees!

The Coalition was honored to start the conversation on advocacy with a speech by Mayor Thomas P. Koch, City of Quincy, who outlined the City’s progress and investment in improving water infrastructure and its struggles with the EPA. MCWRS founding member Bob Moylan and board member Kent Nichols continued the conversation by outlining the history of the Coalition as a leader in municipal advocacy, and how it continues the work for the benefit of municipalities.

Panels featuring local, regional and national water industry leaders expanded on the role of advocacy in tackling relevant and timely topics discussed throughout this year’s symposium, like the Water Management Act, CSO notifications and the emergence of PFAS. Through personal anecdotes and experiences, panelists and speakers emphasized the idea that advocacy is essential to create lasting change.

The 9th Annual Water Resources Strategies Symposium on May 18, 2018 attracted over 125 participants, our largest conference yet!

The Coalition was honored to have both local and national water industry leaders in attendance and involved in the program, including an entertaining and informative keynote address from Alexandra Dunn, Region 1 Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Representatives from Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA), The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), and many other organizations joined us to present new information and updates.

The speakers covered many of the industry’s most relevant and timely topics, including energy and stormwater management; strategies for permitting and compliance; updates on the regional regulatory and legal fronts; updates on the Water Management Act and National Clean Water Policy, and EPA’s upcoming changes to the Lead and Copper Rule.

The 8th Annual Water Resources Strategies Symposium on May 17, 2017 attracted over 120 participants, our largest conference yet! Attendees and speakers from several New England states, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Denver gathered at the Marriott Courtyard Boston Marlborough in Marlborough, MA.

The Coalition was honored to have both local and national water industry leaders in attendance and involved in the program, including an entertaining and informative keynote address from George Hawkins, CEO and General Manager of DC Water. Also, representatives of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), including Director of Watershed Management Becky Weidman and Deputy Commissioner Beth Card, presented and addressed attendees.

The speakers covered many of the industry’s most relevant and timely topics, including designing resilient and sustainable infrastructure; strategies for permitting and compliance; updates on the regional regulatory and legal fronts; lessons learned from Connecticut’s and national nitrogen trading programs, and the possibility of nitrogen trading in Massachusetts; and the successful Alewife Stormwater Wetland project.

The 7th Annual Water Resources Strategies Symposium on May 11, 2016 attracted over 115 participants, our largest conference yet! Attendees and speakers from several New England states, Chicago, and Washington D.C. gathered at the Marriott Courtyard Boston Marlborough in Marlborough, MA.

The Coalition was honored to have leading public officials in attendance and involved in the program, including a keynote address from Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, remarks from City of Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant, and presentations by representatives of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), including Deputy Commissioner Beth Card, Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources Doug Fine, Director of Watershed Management Becky Weidman, and Wastewater Management Section Chief Kevin Brander.

The speakers covered many of the industry’s most relevant and timely issues, including the Governor’s recently filed legislation to allow MassDEP to assume authority for the state’s NPDES permit program; the impacts of the recently issued Final MS4 General Permit; the importance of reporting methodologies for NPDES permits; infiltration/inflow from regulatory, technical, and municipal perspectives; a national outlook on clean water developments; and other updates on the regional regulatory and legal fronts.

The 6th Annual Water Resources Strategies Symposium on May 12, 2015 attracted over 100 participants. Attendees and speakers from several New England states and Washington D.C. gathered at The Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough, MA.

The Coalition was honored to have key, high-level representatives in attendance and involved in the program, including a keynote address from Secretary Matthew A. Beaton from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), remarks from Deputy Commissioner Beth Card from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), EOEEA Undersecretary Ned Bartlett participating on a MS4 Permit Affordability Panel, and Commissioner Martin Suuberg from MassDEP in attendance for questions.

The speakers covered many of the industry’s most relevant and pressing issues, including a successful integrated plan by the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, MS4 Permit affordability from various perspectives, a national outlook from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, and other updates on the regional, regulatory, and legal fronts.

Almost 100 people attended the 5th Annual Water Resources Strategies Symposium on May 16, 2014. Participants from the New England states and Washington D.C. gathered at The Marriott Courtyard Boston Marlborough in Marlborough, MA.

The speakers covered many of the industry’s most relevant and pressing issues including integrated planning, the Great Bay Municipal Coalition’s successful quest for sound science, towns collaborating to save on cost and resources, and updates on the local, national and legal fronts. The Coalition was fortunate to have Cynthia Giles, the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the EPA, as its keynote speaker. Additionally, Scott Jordan, Undersecretary of Administration and Finance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Tim Murray, President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the perspectives of local businesses and state government on regulatory requirements and financing.

Almost 100 people attended the 4th Annual Water Resource Strategies Symposium on May 20, 2013. Participants from the New England states and Illinois gathered at The Marriott Courtyard Boston Marlborough in Marlborough, MA.

The speakers covered many of the industry’s most timely and relevant topics that are affecting our communities, including the meaning of the Sustainable Water Management Initiative; treatment technologies in the Assabet River; updates on new rules, recent court decisions and proposed permits; and community responses to policy and regulatory requirements in the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District, and in the Great Bay Estuary and Manchester and Goffstown in New Hampshire. Senator James Eldridge and Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke joined participants for an open discussion on topics including modifying the Clean Water Act and water infrastructure financing.

Over 70 people from across New England attended the 3rd Annual Clean Water Act Strategies Symposium. The Symposium was held on May 18, 2012 at The Marriott Courtyard Boston Marlborough in Marlborough, MA.

The speakers covered many of the industry’s most timely and relevant topics, including integrated planning, energy and sustainability, Cape Cod’s wastewater issues and updates on the Coalition’s efforts to advocate for EPA delegation of NPDES authority to MassDEP and to make the state’s water quality standards more reasonable and sustainable.

Over 100 people from across New England attended the 2nd Annual Clean Water Act Strategies Symposium. The Symposium was on May 16, 2011 at The Marlborough Courtyard by Marriott in Marlborough, MA.

The Coalition was fortunate to have Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, as the keynote speaker. Secretary Sullivan spoke about policies and initiatives of the Commonwealth and the importance of the Coalition in helping the state address federal regulations and policies.

The attendees also had the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of experts about recent regulatory activities in New England and around the nation that are impacting municipalities. The speakers and panelists discussed the strategies to respond to the recent regulatory activities, including efforts to encourage smarter investment in the nation’s failing water and wastewater infrastructure.

All too often municipal elected officials and DPW managers are the last ones to learn about regulatory issues that affect their communities' National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. These issues entail an added cost to the community with insufficient contributions from federal or state government. No contributions arrive from other stakeholders who benefit but avoid bearing the cost. Tired of complying with one permit, when another one arrives on your desk with a whole new set of requirements? With dwindling time and financial resources, how can you learn about issues affecting your community before it is too late? Why are agencies able to change regulations before the results of ongoing upgrades are known? How can you ensure that the regulatory agencies hear from all stakeholders, including you? Once a permit is issued, what can you do?

The 2026 MCWRS winter webinar focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the water sector. Our speakers discussed AI development in Massachusetts and its potential uses in water infrastructure management. Speakers included:

• Sabrina Mansur, Director, Massachusetts AI Hub

• Katie Deheer, Senior Data Analyst, Trinnex

Extreme weather in all forms has dominated the news in recent years. Ranging from long periods of drought setting the stage for wildfires across the country, to short yet intense wet weather events triggering flash floods, the volatility of weather has become hard to ignore. 

Chronically underfunded stormwater systems are unable to handle the flow of these extreme wet weather events, leading to highly visible community flooding. How can these utilities prioritize projects with the amount of funding and regulation being provided?

Presentations and speakers included:

Adam Reeder, CDM Smith, on ASCE flood resistance and design construction guidance

John Bolduc, Weston & Sampson, on resilience planning 

Eric Kelley, Apex Companies, on flood resilience improvements to Gloucester’s Water Pollution Control Facility

Megan Patton and Lizzy Curley, Kleinfelder, on green infrastructure 

President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) on November 15, 2021. Touted by the White House as "a once-in-a-generation investment" this funding is set to include money for much needed water infrastructure upgrades. However, as time passes uncertainties surrounding this funding grow. Are we ready for infrastructure funding?

Our webinar featured the following panelists:

Abbie Goodman, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)

Jeff Mahoney, Utility Contractors Association of New England (UCANE)

Jen Pedersen, Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA)

Nathaniel Keenan, Massachusetts Clean Water Trust

Mark Alpert, Water Collaborative Delivery Association

On January 11, 2022 MCWRS hosted a webinar on MS4 permitting.

Presentations were given by four MS4 permit experts.

• Virginia Roach of CDM Smith provided examples of how communities around the country are meeting MS4 permit requirements.

• Jeffrey Longsworth of Barnes & Thornburg offered a national perspective on the regulatory and legal context surrounding MS4 permits.

• Laura Schifman gave an update on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

• John Woodsmall, Director of Public Works for the Town of Holden and a participant in the Central MA Regional Stormwater Coalition, rounded out the presentations with a local municipality’s perspective.

On September 23, 2021, MCWRS hosted a panel on the benefits of Integrated Planning. Maintaining a community’s wastewater, stormwater and drinking water systems requires intense planning, and can be a costly and overwhelming process. As a result, Integrated Water Resource Management Plans (IPs) offer a holistic approach to managing these systems, while meeting local priorities and responding to the demands of ever-changing regulations. Water utilities do not operate in isolation, external stakeholders and sectors must work collaboratively with water utilities to solve problems they contribute to.

This webinar featured the following panelists:

Joe Laliberte, P.E., PMP, BCEE, Vice President, CDM Smith, provided an overview of Integrated Planning

Shawn Syde, P.E., City Engineer, New Bedford, MA, spoke to a larger community’s IP

Michelle Hatcher, Director of Water Management, Franklin, TN, spoke to a smaller community’s IP

Adam Krantz, Executive Director, NACWA, spoke to the current funding opportunities and affordability/li>

With a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity for federal funding headed our way, MCWRS held this webinar to educate our members and regulators about how Integrated Plans can help us strategically spend money in the short term to save in the long term, and provide an update on how we stand currently.

On March 18, 2021, MCWRS hosted a webinar to discuss the regulation of Bill H.4921, An Act Promoting Awareness of Sewage Pollution in Public Waters and its effect on municipalities and local wastewater systems.

Signed into law on January 22, 2021, Chapter 322 of the Acts of 2020 requires public advisories within 2 hours of a discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from certain types of wastewater collection system structures into waters of the Commonwealth. This notification must also be sent to the department of public health and municipal board of health in the relevant outfall location, and any municipality directly impacted by the discharge.

We heard from the following panelists:

MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg

Phil Guerin, MCWRS President and Director of Water & Sewer Operations for Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks

Karla Sangrey, Director of Upper Blackstone Clean Water

Jeff Murawski, DPW Deputy Commissioner of Wastewater for the City of Fitchburg

Josh Schimmel, MCWRS Vice President and Executive Director of Springfield Water & Sewer Commission

On September 17, 2020 MCWRS hosted a virtual panel designed to provide an overview of PFAS regulation from MassDEP followed by perspectives from key subject matter experts.