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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5238 FILED ON: 7/1/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4861
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Alice Hanlon Peisch and Michael J. Barrett
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act providing for improvements to the metropolitan water supply system.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Alice Hanlon Peisch14th Norfolk7/1/2024Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex7/8/2024 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5238 FILED ON: 7/1/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4861
By Representative Peisch of Wellesley and Senator Barrett, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule
12) of Alice Hanlon Peisch and Michael J. Barrett for legislation to further regulate certain
easements granted to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority for the extension of the
Metrowest water supply. Environment and Natural Resources.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act providing for improvements to the metropolitan water supply system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 179 of the acts of 1997 is hereby amended by striking out section 7
2and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
3 Section 7. The land identified in sections 2 and 3 shall be used by the Massachusetts
4Water Resources Authority solely for the construction of: (a) the Norumbega reservoir covered
5water storage tank and associated piping, valves and appurtenances for connecting the water tank
6to the water system; or (b) a solar photovoltaic system, with or without an energy storage system,
7along with such other equipment and appurtenances necessary for interconnecting said system or
8systems to the electric grid in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the event that the
9Massachusetts Water Resources Authority no longer uses the land described in sections 2 and 3
10for the purposes described herein, the land shall revert to its prior status as conservation land. No
11portion of the land shall be used for the construction of a water disinfection facility, so-called. 2 of 3
12Nothing herein shall preclude the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority from using said land
13for wetlands replication.
14 SECTION 2. Within 60 days of the effective date of this act, the Massachusetts Water
15Resources Authority shall record a certificate reflecting the amendment to chapter 179 of the acts
16of 1997 in the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds. The certificate shall supplement the existing
17certificate recorded with the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds at Book 27996 Page 568. The
18certificate shall be signed by said authority's executive director before a notary public,
19confirming that as of the date of enactment hereof, the authority remains the owner of record of
20the parcel of land described in sections 2 and 3 of chapter 179 of the acts of 1997. A copy of this
21act shall be recorded as an attachment to the certificate.
22 SECTION 1. Chapter 179 of the acts of 1997 is hereby amended by striking out section 7
23and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
24 Section 7. The land identified in sections 2 and 3 shall be used by the Massachusetts
25Water Resources Authority solely for the construction of: (a) the Norumbega reservoir covered
26water storage tank and associated piping, valves and appurtenances for connecting the water tank
27to the water system; or (b) a solar photovoltaic system, with or without an energy storage system,
28along with such other equipment and appurtenances necessary for interconnecting said system or
29systems to the electric grid in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the event that the
30Massachusetts Water Resources Authority no longer uses the land described in sections 2 and 3
31for the purposes described herein, the land shall revert to its prior status as conservation land. No
32portion of the land shall be used for the construction of a water disinfection facility, so-called. 3 of 3
33Nothing herein shall preclude the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority from using said land
34for wetlands replication.
35 SECTION 2. Within 60 days of the effective date of this act, the Massachusetts Water
36Resources Authority shall record a certificate reflecting the amendment to chapter 179 of the acts
37of 1997 in the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds. The certificate shall supplement the existing
38certificate recorded with the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds at Book 27996 Page 568. The
39certificate shall be signed by said authority's executive director before a notary public,
40confirming that as of the date of enactment hereof, the authority remains the owner of record of
41the parcel of land described in sections 2 and 3 of chapter 179 of the acts of 1997. A copy of this
42act shall be recorded as an attachment to the certificate.