![]() |
DPW shares Think Blue Massachusetts' advice: "Do your doody" |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Friday, June 28, 2024
DPW shares Think Blue Massachusetts' advice: "Do your doody"
Friday, May 31, 2024
Franklin Residents ~ In accordance with the Town’s Water Management Act Permit Water Conservation Measures Go In To Effect, Monday, June 3, 2024.
Franklin Residents ~ In accordance with the Town's Water Management Act Permit Water Conservation Measures Go In To Effect, Monday, June 3, 2024.
One day per week outdoor watering. Outdoor watering using sprinklers or automated irrigation systems is restricted to the water user's trash day. If the user does not have Town trash service, the user should water on the same day as the nearest Town trash customer.
Outdoor watering is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
No Holiday Delays for watering.
No lawn watering is permitted on other days of the week.
Hand watering is permitted anytime.
Please see our website for more information: https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/water-conservation
Thank you for your cooperation!
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/franklin-residents-accordance-town%E2%80%99s-water-management-act-permit-water-conservation
![]() |
Water Conservation Measures Go In To Effect, Monday, June 3, 2024 |
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Have you read the Town of Franklin water quality report?
![]() |
post card announcing the water quality report |
The Consumer Confidence Reports for this year and prior years can be found on the Town's webpage.
- The current report -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/franklinccr2022_updated.pdf
- The archive for all reports -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/consumer-confidence-reports
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
DPW Notice - Water Conservation Measures Now in Effect
DPW Notice - Water Conservation Measures Now in Effect
In accordance with the Town's Water Management Act Permit issued by the State, the following Water Conservation Measures are in effect as of Monday, June 5, 2023.
- LAWN WATERING IS RESTRICTED TO ONE DAY PER WEEK ON TRASH DAY
- No automatic lawn watering between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- There is no Holiday delay for watering.
- Hand watering is permitted anytime.
Conservation measures are needed to limit the daily demand on the water system in order to ensure that adequate water is available to meet the public health and safety needs of the Town. This measure is necessary to maintain the water levels in the tanks for fire protection and normal consumption. During the summer months, the Town experiences excessively high demands for water due to lawn watering. There have been 24- hour periods during which water consumption has been more than twice our average daily water usage for the year. Because of the tremendous increase in the demand for water and State restrictions on the amount of water that can be pumped daily, the Town of Franklin must place mandatory water conservation measures in effect for lawn watering during the summer months. A total of 1-inch of water once per week from rain and watering promotes the healthiest lawns.
Conservation measures will stay in effect until the second Monday in September (September 11, 2023) unless a drought condition is present.
Non-compliance with these regulations could adversely affect public health and safety. Violators are subject to fines up to $200.
For additional information, visit the DPW website at www.franklinma.gov/public-works. Any questions should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 508-520-4910.
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/dpw-notice-water-conservation-measures-now-effect
DPW Notice - Water Conservation Measures Now in Effect |
Thursday, November 24, 2022
DRINKING WATER NOTICE - November 23, 2022
Attention Water Customers - Please see the public notice below:
This is NOT a boil water notice. During routine sampling, the sample from our Well 2 Raw (UNTREATED) water contained E.coli. The treated (disinfected) water from Well 2 and all other samples collected through the distribution system did not have E. Coli. The well has been offline since November 18, 2022 for maintenance and will remain offline.
This is not an emergency, you do NOT need to boil your water or take other corrective actions at this time, but we are required to notify you. Please see the notice below for more information.
----------------------
DRINKING WATER NOTICE To all users of the Franklin Water Department Located in Franklin, Massachusetts. This is an important notice – please translate it for anyone who does not understand English.We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply. On November 21, 2022 our water system was notified that a water sample collected on November 15, 2022 from Well #2 tested positive for E.coli, which is a fecal indicator. Fecal indicators are used to detect ground water sources that may be susceptible to fecal contamination which may contain harmful viruses or bacteria. This well was taken off-line for maintenance on November 18, 2022.
The water delivered to your taps through the distribution system is disinfected with chlorine to kill viruses and bacteria, including E.coli. It is important to note that samples collected on November 15, 2022 in the distribution system did NOT detect any fecal contaminants.
This source is one of thirteen active wells that supplies drinking water to our system. In accordance with the federal Ground Water Rule (GWR) requirements, we are notifying you of the situation and conducting additional sampling to evaluate the extent of potential fecal contamination and will take further actions as necessary.
What should you do? What does this mean?
This is NOT an emergency, you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions at this time.- The USEPA requires us to provide you with this notice and the following information on fecal indicators: "Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems." These symptoms can also be caused by issues unrelated to drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, or, if you have specific health concerns, you may want to discuss such concerns with your doctor. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/safe-drinking-water-hotline
- Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and Businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
The well will remain offline for further evaluation. Our system is undergoing repeat testing and evaluation to determine if the current level of treatment is adequate or if additional corrective actions are necessary to reduce the risk of potential fecal contamination in our drinking water supply. We are in contact with MassDEP during this process who will evaluate the effectiveness of the steps taken and determine if any further action is required. If necessary, you will be notified again if you need to take any corrective actions. This notice does not affect persons using private drinking water wells.
![]() |
where all the wells are located in Franklin |
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Reminder: Order your rain barrel now, pick it up Sept 14
Reduce your water bill by utilizing a rain barrel to collect rainwater. When it rains you SAVE!
The Fall Residential Rain Barrel Program is currently open to residents - residents can order directly from The Great American Rain Barrel Company.
The deadline to order is September 5 and pick up will be at the DPW on September 14 from 4-6 PM.
Learn more about rain barrels here => https://www.franklinma.gov/stormwater-division/pages/rain-barrels
Note: while it has not yet determined how much of a credit, a rain barrel is an example of a credit against the future storm water fee. The storm water fee is expected to be implemented for July 2023.
![]() |
Order your Rain Barrel before September 5, pick it up September 14 |
Friday, August 5, 2022
Attention Franklin: Phase IV of Water Ban Begins August 6, 2022 at 12 AM (audio)
Phase IV of Water Ban Begins
August 6, 2022 at 12 AM
The Town of Franklin has entered Level 3 Critical Drought status which has triggered the phase IV water ban which will go into effect August 6th, 2022 at 12AM.
Water Conservation Measures are needed to limit the daily demand on the water system in order to ensure that adequate water is available to meet the public health and safety needs of the Town. This measure is necessary to maintain the water levels in the tanks for fire protection and normal consumption.
The following is allowed under phase IV of the water ban...
- Watering gardens and ornamental plants by means of a hand held hose.
The following is NOT allowed under phase IV of the water ban...
- Irrigation of lawns and landscaping via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems.
- Washing of vehicles except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety.
- Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks.
Reminder: If you have a private well for irrigation, you must a sign posted that is visible from the street in accordance with Town bylaws 179-23
Learn more about Franklin's Water Conservation measures here: https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/water-conservation?fbclid=IwAR1KokmHXP1NdxuQKcdBFvvd3GR6hWBAi_NrbH2WEjssiDhMDwl6m7_oMdA
Learn more about Massachusetts drought management here: https://www.mass.gov/guides/drought-management-in-massachusetts
Friday, July 29, 2022
Boston Globe: Drought conditions persists
"The rain has been a no-show and the parching persists. The area of Massachusetts experiencing severe drought conditions has expanded south from the northeastern corner of the state, according to the latest report from the US Drought Monitor.The monitor released the data Thursday on its website, which said the readings were valid as of Tuesday morning.Areas experiencing severe drought now include all of Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Norfolk counties as well as parts of Worcester, Bristol, and Plymouth counties. "
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Franklin DPW update & reminder on water conservation measures in effect due to drought conditions
Saturday, July 16, 2022
"State officials are reminding the public to limit outdoor watering"
"The lack of rainfall over the past four months is being felt across Massachusetts, as 90 percent of the state is now experiencing drought conditions, officials said.
On July 12 Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Bethany Card declared that there was a “significant” drought in the Connecticut River Valley, central, northeast and southeast parts of the state, and a mild drought in western Massachusetts, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard.
According to the latest map from the US Drought Monitor, the northeast part of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions. That level of dryness means specialty crops can be impacted in both yield and fruit size; trees become brittle and susceptible to insects; fish kills occur; wildlife move to farms to find food; water quality becomes poor; groundwater declines; and irrigation ponds dry up."
![]() |
"State officials are reminding the public to limit outdoor watering" |
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
The Consumer Confidence Report tells Franklin residents all about our water supply
Important Information About Drinking Water
All sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water), including rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells, contain some naturally occurring contaminants or substances.
Because water is the universal solvent, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animal and human activity.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
Removing all contaminants would be extremely expensive and in nearly all cases would not provide greater protection of health.
To ensure that your water is safe to drink, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the EPA regulate the allowable amount of certain contaminants in the water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. This report provides you with information about the contaminants found naturally in your drinking water, the levels at which they are found, and the likely source of each contaminant.
Contaminants that can be present include:
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources, such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities
![]() |
equipment at the Grove St water treatment plant |
Friday, July 1, 2022
The Hill: "No miracle tech needed: How to switch to renewables now and lower costs doing it"
"The world is experiencing unprecedented fuel price increases, energy blackmail between countries, up to 7 million air pollution deaths per year worldwide and one climate-related disaster after another. Critics contend that a switch to renewable energy to solve these problems will create unstable electricity grids and drive prices up further. However, a new study from my research group at Stanford University concludes that these problems can be solved in each of the 145 countries we examined — without blackouts and at low cost using almost all existing technologies."
"Global warming, air pollution, and energy insecurity are three of the greatest problems facing humanity. Roadmaps are developed and grid analyses are performed here for 145 countries to address these problems. The roadmaps call for a 100% transition of all-purpose business-as-usual (BAU) energy to wind-water-solar (WWS) energy, efficiency, and storage, ideally by 2035, but by no later than 2050, with at least 80% by 2030. Grid stability analyses find that the countries, grouped into 24 regions, can exactly match demand with 100% WWS supply and storage, from 2050–2052. Worldwide, WWS reduces enduse energy by 56.4%, private annual energy costs by 62.7% (from $17.8 to $6.6 trillion per year), and social (private plus health plus climate) annual energy costs by 92.0% (from $83.2 to $6.6 trillion per year) at a present-value cost of B$61.5 trillion. The mean payback times of the capital cost due to energy- and social-cost savings are 5.5 and 0.8 years, respectively. "
Friday, June 17, 2022
Drought Status level increases to 2; water conservation measures remain in effect
Saturday, May 28, 2022
Drought status hasn't changed for the better
The overall drought status has worsened and with little precipitation in the outlook, things are not likely to get better soon. We are not yet moved up a level but it seems to be a matter of time.
US Drought Monitor site -> https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx
![]() |
US Drought Monitor status for Mass |
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Topsoil moisture measure among worst in USA, hence water conservation measures start
In regards to the Drought Level 1 status announced by the Commonwealth last week, which has in turn started our water conservation measures some background info on the reason we are in the early stages of drought. Meteorologist shares this via his @growingwisdom Twitter account:
"Here's a map for those who might think I am making a bigger deal about the soil moisture than need be. Most of southern New England's topsoil is in the lowest percentile compared to the average in the country. "
Most of southern New England's topsoil is in the lowest percentile compared to the average in the country |
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/growingwisdom/status/1526895964182700033
More drought information can be found at https://www.drought.gov/current-conditions
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Drought Status Level 1 declared, water conservation measures to begin today
DPW Notice - Water Conservation Measures Go Into Effect Today, Thursday, May 12, 2022.
Following sporadic rainfall totals during the last several months, which has resulted in below average precipitation numbers in eastern Massachusetts, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Bethany Card declared a Level 1-Mild Drought in the Southeast and Islands Regions of the Commonwealth.
The declaration of a Level 1 drought has triggered the Town to enact Water Conservation restrictions as required per our Water Management Act permit through MassDEP. Therefore, the following Water Conservation Measures are now in effect as of today, May 12th, 2022.
- One day per week outdoor watering.
- Outdoor watering using sprinklers or automated irrigation systems is restricted to the water user's trash day. If the user does not have Town trash service, the user should water on the same day as the nearest Town trash customer.
- Outdoor watering is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Hand watering is permitted anytime.
As a requirement of our Water Management Act Permit the Town is required to enact annual summer Water Conservation Measures. The conservation measures are needed to limit the daily demand on the water system in order to ensure water levels in the Charles River Water Shed basin remain at acceptable levels and that adequate water is available to meet the public health and safety needs of the Town. This measure is necessary to maintain the water levels in the tanks for fire protection and normal consumption. During the summer months, the Town experiences excessively high demands for water due to lawn watering. There have been 24-hour periods during which water consumption has been more than twice our average daily water usage for the year. Because of the tremendous increase in the demand for water and State restrictions on the amount of water that can be pumped daily, the Town of Franklin must place water conservation measures in effect for lawn watering during the summer months.
A total of 1-inch of water once per week from rain and watering promotes the healthiest lawns. Non-compliance with these regulations could adversely affect public health and safety. Violators are subject to fines up to $200. For additional information, visit the DPW website at www.franklinma.gov/public-works. Any questions should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 508-520-4910.
Please see our website for more information: https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/water-conservation
Thank you for your cooperation!
Franklin DPW
Shared from: https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/dpw-notice-water-conservation-measures-go-effect-today-thursday-may-12-2022
-----------------------------------
"May 11, 2022: Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Bethany Card declared a Level 1 – Mild Drought in the Southeast and Islands Regions. The Western, Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, and Cape Cod Regions are at a Level 0 - Normal condition.
Read more on our drought status page."
Per the map included Franklin is part of the Southeast and Islands region.
The water conservation measure will begin with this announcement on Wednesday. At the Finance Committee Budget Hearing Wednesday, it was confirmed during the discussion that instead of making the conservation measure effective after Memorial Day, with the change to Level 1, they will start now.
Additional info will be coming from the DPW as the announcement has triggered the implementation sooner than anticipated.
![]() |
Drought Status Level 1 declared, water conservation measures to begin |
Town of Franklin DPW wins "Water Conservation Award" for 2021 from MA DEP and US EPA
"Yesterday, your Public Works Department received the esteemed 2021 "Water Conservation Award" form the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This award is given out for successes in un-accounted for water (Town is less then 6%), average daily use by capita (we are a 46 gallons per person) and over all environmental stewardship.This is truly a community award!Your Franklin Public Works does run the Water Department on a Daily biases, but with out the investments of the Council in the infrastructure and all your help in water conservation measures this award would not be possible. So we all need to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done!"
Shared from Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/100064487150311/posts/366751995484369/
![]() |
Town of Franklin DPW wins "Water Conservation Award" for 2021 from MA DEP and US EPA |
Saturday, March 12, 2022
Finance Committee gets a deep dive into all things DPW - March 9, 2022 (audio & transcript)
FM #750 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 750 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee meeting held Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Most of the meeting was the presentation and discussion on the overview of the DPW presentation and discussion. While Director Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi did not present this time, his team:
Derek Adams - Environmental Supervisor
Doug Martin - Water/Sewer Supervisor
Kathy Mooradd - Admin & Budget Manager
did more than cover for him. They expertly presented and answered questions providing a level of detail (without notes in many cases) such that was clear they knew what they were doing.
NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/
The meeting opened at 6:30 PM and ran an hour and 10 minutes.
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-750-finance-committee-mtg-03-09-22--------------
Meeting agenda and presentation document ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/3-9-22_fin_com_meeting_agenda_0.pdf
Meeting transcript ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XClkmA0iMWJtFkA6ca5McbuhoFLcK1V4/view?usp=sharing
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Finance Committee Agenda - March 9, 2022 |