AWWA ACE70863

This powerpoint presentation begins by providing a brief overview of the Massachusetts (MA) water basins and how they are under a 79% medium-high flow stress. A map of commercial bottled water extraction sites in MA is presented, along with MA water withdrawal rules - public suppliers vs. commercial bottlers: Public Drinking Water Suppliers (~200); Commercial Water Bottling Extractors (12+); and, de facto "rules" in force. Topics concerning the threat to public water supplies of commercial waterbottling extractions include: few if any practical local or state limits exist on consumptive withdrawals; unlimited consumptive withdrawals can create and worsen river basin deficits; and, long-term future additional and alternative public water supply options are at risk. Mass. H.B. 778, proposing a 2-year moratorium on new and expanded extractions, is presented, along with suggestions for protecting local water from excessive commercial extractions.