Senator Pacheco co-sponsors amendment to promote safe drinking water from private wells

Boston— Dean of the Massachusetts Senate Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) co-sponsored an amendment to the Senate version of the FY25 budget that calls for a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection study into the creation of a statewide program to ensure clean drinking water for residents relying on private wells.

“No matter what source our residents in the Commonwealth are getting their drinking water from, that water needs to be safe,” said Senator Pacheco. “This study allows us to find out how to best support and protect the health of those who rely on private wells for their drinking water.”

As well water soaks through the soil, it can become contaminated with hazardous contaminants from naturally occurring features, along with those from human industrial, commercial, and residential activities, posing a threat to the well's water supply.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, over 500,000 people rely on private wells to provide drinking water because a public water supply is not available to them.

“With so many people in our Commonwealth relying on private wells, it is essential that the water they consume is safe from the myriad of natural and manmade contaminants that can pose tragic health hazards,” said Senator Pacheco. “This study will allow our state environmental leaders to understand what needs to be done to protect people’s right to safe drinking water.”

The amendment provides $100,000 to DEP to conduct the study and requires the agency to submit a report to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means detailing the findings of said study no later than January 1, 2025.

The amendment, which was filed by Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and co-sponsored by Senator Pacheco, was adopted as part of the Senate version of the FY25 state budget.