Working with municipalities and residents, NepRWA helps to protect our critical and precious water resources.

Over 120,000 residents of the Neponset Watershed rely on local groundwater for some or all of their drinking water.  Much of the groundwater in our watershed is being pumped out by public water suppliers before it can reach surface waters.  Drought also has a big impact on the amount of water that flows through the Watershed.

Since 2008, we’ve worked with 10 towns in the Neponset Watershed to implement town-wide Water Conservation Programs. Our programs include:

• rebate programs for water-efficient toilets and clothes washers
• giveaway programs for water-efficient showerheads, faucet aerators, and irrigation shutoff sensors
• annual education programs for over 2,500 students in public and private schools
• advocacy at the local and state levels
• public outreach via bill inserts, mailings, web posts, and events

For additional information about our Water Conservation Program, contact NepRWA’s Water Resource Professional, Patrick Hogan, at hogan@neponset.org

Here’s what you can do now to help conserve water

• 

  Upgrade to water-efficient appliances

  • Click here for a list of WaterSense labeled toilets
  • Click here for a list of Energy Star clothes washers
  • Contact your local water department to see if they offer rebates
• Fix leaks around your home
  • Leaks affect our drinking water supply. Many towns in the Neponset Watershed get some or all of their drinking water from groundwater aquifers. Leaking faucets and toilets waste thousands of gallons of water a year and could be easily fixed to help save local water resources.
  • Click here for helpful videos on how to fix leaks
• Change your behavior, for example, take a shorter shower and don’t let the faucet run while washing dishes or brushing teeth

• Plan a water-efficient landscape
  • Learn about drought-tolerant gardening.
  • Learn about “smart lawn irrigation” techniques.

In the classroom

NepRWA staff visit over 2,500 students a year to talk about the importance of water conservation. Students learn about their local water distribution systems, reasons and methods for conservation, and ways to prevent pollution and protect their water supply.

To schedule a school visit, contact NepRWA Outreach Director, Nancy Fyler, at fyler@neponset.org

Learn more about our Water Conservation School Program

Advocacy

We continue to expend a high level of effort in ensuring that water suppliers mitigate their impacts on streamflow. We’ve been advocating for water conservation for over 20 years, working with state policymakers to:

• reduce permitted water withdrawal levels, which can leave too little water in our rivers to sustain populations of fish and aquatic life,
• address the related problems of water that leaks into aging sewers or runs off of paved surfaces.