MWRA withdraws request to take 20M more gallons a day from Quabbin

BELCHERTOWN — The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority on Thursday dropped its proposal to withdraw an additional 20 million gallons a day from the Quabbin Reservoir in response to loud opposition from communities surrounding the watershed. Opposition boiled over in September, when more than 130 people packed Belchertown Town Hall to speak against the request. Commenters said MWRA had not justified the size of the withdrawal or disclose the destination. The outcry continued throughout the monthlong public comment period, culminating in more than 1,000 submissions from residents, municipal officials and legislators. These concerns ultimately led the agency to rescind its request, MWRA Interim Executive Director Stephen Estes-Smargiassi wrote in a Thursday letter to the Water Resources Commission.

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