The Central Plymouth County Water District Commission (CPCWDC) announces the public release of the Silver Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program Technical Memorandum: Halifax, Plympton, Pembroke, and Kingston, Massachusetts (2021-2022 Monitoring Results). The report was prepared by TRC Companies (TRC), on behalf of the CPCWDC, to address concerns regarding potential aquatic life and recreational water quality impacts to Silver Lake from watershed sources and water diversions to the Brockton Public Water Supply (PWS). The primary objectives of this Technical Memorandum are to provide a baseline understanding of current water quality to support aquatic life, identify key water quality drivers in Silver Lake, as well as potential management solutions and the next steps needed to address the observed conditions.
The Silver Lake Technical Memorandum findings raise concerns for public water supply consumers and the residents who live in the vicinity of these waterbodies. Silver Lake is the primary source of water for Brockton Public Water Supply System, and the supplemental sources of Monponsett and Furnace Ponds experience similarly compromised water quality. If source waters are left unmanaged, there is potential for blooms to increase the cost of finished water treatment and the associated cost of water. “We encourage the City of Brockton to collaborate with surrounding towns and other stakeholders to address water quality in the lake and the associated waterbodies as well as immediately pursue back-up alternatives, such as a connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)” stated Jack O’Leary, Chairman of the CPCWDC. “The reduction in water withdraws from Silver Lake would also help mitigate the stress on aquatic systems identified in the report.“ The Silver Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program Technical Memorandum: Halifax, Plympton, Pembroke, and Kingston, Massachusetts (2021-2022 Monitoring Results) can be accessed at: Technical Memorandum.
The full water quality data set can be accessed here: Data Set Public flyer can be accessed here: Trifold More information on Cyanobacteria can be accessed here: EPA Fact Sheet for Public Water Supply MassDEP Cyanobacteria Resources MassDEP Guidance Cyanobacteria and Public Water Systems Questions and written comments on the report or the monitoring program should be directed to:
Francis G. Basler Jr.
Administrator, County of Plymouth
44 Obery Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360
o: 508.830.9104 m: 781.718.9967 f: 508.830.9106
fbasler@plymouthcountyma.gov