Boston Water and Sewer Commission

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The Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) serves retail customers with water services in Boston, Massachusetts. It purchases water wholesale from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA).

The largest retail water and wastewater utility in New England, BWSC owns and operates the drinking water distribution, wastewater collection and stormwater drainage systems; which utilise 1,015 miles of water main and 1,435 miles of sewer pipe and storm drain.

The basic Boston water distribution system opened in 1848, and the wastewater collection system in 1883. In a response to the dangers posed to Boston by severely deteriorated water distribution and wastewater collection systems, BWSC was created in 1977 by an act of the Massachusetts legislature as a public instrument, a corporate separate and apart from the City of Boston. The Enabling Act empowered the BWSC to independently set rates and charges for the water distribution and wastewater collection services it provides and entrusted BWSC to improve and maintain the integrity of its systems.

BWSC purchases water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), a wholesale supplier of water and wastewater services. MWRA collect water in the Quabbin Reservoir, connected by a 65 miles tunnel to Boston, and enters BWSC distribution system at 27 metered sites. When full, the Quabbin Reservoir holds 412 billion gallons, making it one of the largest man-made public water supplies in the country.

In the 30 years since its creation, BWSC has relay or relined over 300 miles of aging, and claims to have reduced the amount of water being lost through system leaks by 50 million gallons per day. It has also, in conjunction with the MWRA, eliminated 81 miles of combined sewer overflows to Boston Harbor. In 2003, BWSC installed an automated reading device on every meter, that allows it to track daily consumption.

[edit] 2008 Water and Sewer Rates

Consumption (Cu. Ft./Day)	Water Rate Per 1000 Cubic Feet	Water Rate Per 1000 Gallons	Sewer Rate Per 1000 Cubic Feet	Sewer Rate Per 1000 Gallons
First 19	36.41	4.868	47.15	6.304
Next 20	38.12	5.096	48.60	6.497
Next 50	39.70	5.307	49.58	6.628
Next 260	42.21	5.643	52.31	6.994
Next 950	44.05	5.888	55.20	7.379
Over 1,299	45.60	6.096	57.11	7.635

Table of rates effective January 1, 2008[1]

The typical customer pays just over a penny per gallon: 'The average one family customer using 180 gallons per day ("GPD”) in 2008 will be charged $62.66 per 31-day month or $737.68 annually. A multi-unit residence using 600 GPD will be charged $216.45 per 31-day month or approximately $2,548.50 annually. A small commercial property using 4,000 GPD will be charged $1,575.44 per 31-day month or approximately $18,549.49 annually.'[2]