About Us

The Massachusetts Coalition for Water Resources Stewardship (MCWRS) is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting policies and regulations that will manage and conserve water resources effectively. The Coalition was founded on principles of sustainability, environmental responsibility, and science-based research. Founders and members are dedicated to promoting these principles using fiscally responsible methods. Current regulations are not working for the regulators or the regulated.

 

The Coalition believes that public health and economic development depend on constructing and maintaining high quality utility infrastructure. Our environment also benefits when communities use holistic watershed-based approaches and regulators depend on science-based criteria in policy and regulatory decision making that provide for flexibility and cost beneficial improvements to the existing system.

 

In response to these concerns, the founders of the Coalition published a white paper in November 2007, The Case for Environmental Regulatory Reform: Clean Water Act NPDES Permitting. This white paper addressed the serious challenges communities face trying to meet increasingly stringent federal Clean Water Act requirements without federal assistance while balancing the competing needs of their citizens, an unsustainable situation. After discussing this white paper with EPA Region 1 and MassDEP over eight months in 2008, the group published the Report to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation on Regulatory Reform in December 2008 summarizing the meeting discussions, issues and recommendations. The report stressed the need for better communication, considering cost and affordability and the use of holistic watershed-based approaches and science-based criteria in policy and regulatory decision making. The Coalition made several recommendations for policy changes in federal regulations to US EPA Region 1, MassDEP and the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation.

 

Since its incorporation in May 2009, the Coalition has been monitoring the regulatory environment and has advocated on behalf of its members when necessary. This has involved a combination of letters to officials, comment letters to agencies and opinion pieces. In addition, the Coalition has been organizing an annual Clean Water Act Strategies Symposium since 2010. See the event section of the News & Resources page for details on future events.

 

In 2011, the Coalition engaged the services of Hall & Associates of Washington, DC for a comprehensive review of existing Massachusetts water quality criteria. The purpose of the review, led by John Hall, was to understand the shortcomings of the current standards and approaches and identify strategies for advocating for modifications. The goal was to identify ways to work with MassDEP on more flexible and appropriate standards that lead to permit limits that are responsible and reasonable. The review resulted in publication of the white paper – Evaluation of Massachusetts Water Quality Criteria for Nutrients, Bacteria, and Metals.

 

The Coalition is made up of municipalities; public agencies that transport and treat drinking water, wastewater and stormwater; quasi-government agencies and private organizations whose members are committed to the principles of stewardship and sustainability in protecting the environment and public health. We promote using scientifically based, fiscally responsible approaches to realize environmental and community goals.

The Leadership

Robert L. Moylan, Jr., P.E. President and Chair of the Board Commissioner Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks   Alan Cathcart Treasurer Water and Sewer Superintendent Concord Public Works   George Allaire Board Member Director Yarmouth Department of Public Works   Philip Guerin Board Member Director of Environmental Systems Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks   Thomas Walsh Director Emeritus Engineer – Director Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District

Nancy Stevens Executive Vice President and Co-Chair of the Board City of Marlborough   Jane Madden Secretary Vice President CDM   Bill Fuqua Board Member Superintendent Holyoke Department of Public Works   Ron LaFreniere Board Member Commissioner Marlborough Department of Public Works   Tom Tilas Board Member Vice President AECOM

 

The Membership

 

Agencies Charles River Pollution Control District City of Haverhill City of Holyoke City of Marlborough City of New Bedford City of Springfield South Essex Sewerage District Springfield Water and Sewer Commission Town of Concord Town of Dedham Town of Framingham Town of Franklin Town of Jaffrey, NH Town of Milford Town of North Reading Town of Shrewsbury Town of Southbridge Town of Uxbridge Town of Wakefield Town of Yarmouth Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District

Affiliates Cherry Valley Sewer District City of Beverly City of Chicopee City of Peabody City of Salem City of Worcester Town of Bellingham Town of Danvers Town of East Longmeadow Town of Marblehead Town of Medway   Corporate AECOM BETA Group CDM Kleinfelder/SEA Consultants Stantec Consulting Services Tighe & Bond Weston & Sampson   Legal Anderson & Kreiger LLP Bowditch & Dewey Pannone Lopes Devereaux + West LLC