Posted on: Wednesday, December 5, 2018
The following letter to the editor was sent after the Villager went to press.
Dear Editor:
I am writing to urge Lynnfield Center Water District (LCWD) members to vote “No” on Article 2 to construct a new water treatment plant and to vote “Yes” on the alternative article to not build the plant and conduct additional study. The Ipswich River Watershed Association advocates for the Ipswich River and the people who depend on it including the LCWD members who obtain their water from the watershed.
We feel that the analysis that resulted in the recommendation to build the new plant did not consider critical information and as a result is incomplete for the following reasons:
First, the 2014 state regulations regulating public water withdrawals from the Ipswich River will likely prohibit LCWD from withdrawing any additional water in the future. Second, recent watershed-wide studies concluded that alternative sources to the Ipswich River will be needed to meet the needs of society and for future growth and development. Third, there are lower-cost options for Lynnfield to obtain additional water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority that should be further studied and considered.
We feel that once all the data and alternatives are comprehensively studied, there is potential for LCWD to provide a permanent solution to its water supply challenges, reduce the current and future regulatory burdens, accommodate future growth and development, and increase the resiliency of its system — all while better protecting the Ipswich River and LCWD for future generations. We hope we will be invited into the district’s planning process on this issue in the future.
Thank you for considering this information and voting “No” on Article 2 and “yes” on the alternative article not to build the plant and conduct more study.
Sincerely,
Wayne Castonguay,
Ipswich River Watershed Association executive director
