To the editor:
When it comes to utilities like electricity, drinking water, or wastewater, it’s usually a good thing when they operate unnoticed. However, with recent attention on water quality at Kings Beach, we want to take this opportunity to reintroduce the Lynn Water & Sewer Commission and provide an update on our efforts.
The Commission supplies drinking water and wastewater services to Lynn, as well as wastewater services to Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant. This is made possible through significant infrastructure and a team of dedicated personnel.
Our drinking water comes from the Ipswich and Saugus rivers, supported by a system of five reservoirs, a treatment plant, two storage tanks, five pump stations, and 80 miles of water mains. Beyond meeting all state and federal standards, our water quality has won numerous awards. In May 2024, our chief operator, Rick Dawe, received a state award for excellence.
Wastewater is collected through 140 miles of pipes before arriving at our treatment plant on Lynn Harbor. Once treated, the liquid is discharged, while solids are incinerated and buried on-site.
We are fortunate that much of our infrastructure, developed over 100 years ago, allows residents to turn on faucets and flush toilets without a second thought. However, not all past decisions have aged well. Years ago, the philosophy of “dilution is the solution to pollution” led to combined wastewater systems that handle both rainwater and sewage. Today, standards have changed significantly. Since the mid-1990s, the Commission has invested $173 million to separate these systems.
This work is critical for two reasons:
- Rainwater disrupts the complex treatment process at the wastewater plant, causing equipment strain, odors, and degraded water quality.
- Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) occur when combined rain and wastewater overflow into waterways to prevent plant failures and sewage backups in homes.
Currently, there are four CSO discharge locations:
- The Saugus River across from the GE Athletic Association Field.
- The inner Lynn Harbor near Lynn Heritage State Park.
- Two sites near Kings Beach.
Thanks to our separation efforts, the frequency of CSO events has decreased, but they still occasionally occur. These projects have incurred $137 million in debt, with future CSO work expected to more than double this figure. As a result, ratepayers should anticipate annual rate increases of at least 4% for the foreseeable future to fund these improvements and ongoing operations.
Additionally, we remain committed to identifying illicit sewer connections discharging into Kings Beach. Since 2020, we have spent $500,000 on methods such as camera inspections, smoke tests, and human DNA testing. To date, we have identified six problem areas. This work is methodical, resource-intensive, and often requires being in the right place at the right time.
We invite residents to visit our website to sign up for CSO notifications and learn more about the Commission’s work. We take pride in delivering award-winning drinking water to 100,000 people and managing wastewater for 150,000 people—at rates significantly lower than the MWRA.
We remain committed to eliminating CSOs, addressing water quality issues at Kings Beach, improving communication, and implementing projects that enhance services for our ratepayers and the community.
Lynn Water & Sewer Commission
Executive Board
Michael Celona, Chair
Richard Colucci, Vice Chair
Coco Alinsug, Ward 3 Councilor
Robin Grace
Vincent Lozzi
