LYNN — The Lynn Water and Sewer Commission recently received a $70,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Lynn is one of the five communities within the Ipswich River Basin to receive these grants which are meant to assist with the community’s long-term water supply needs and protect aquatic ecosystems. The grants are also given to support projects that will help maintain and improve access to clean and safe drinking water.
The Commission’s grant is to assist in implementing a comprehensive water distribution system leak detection program that will help to identify and repair hidden leaks and unaccounted for water loss. Using advanced acoustic leak detection and system evaluation, the project will prioritize areas of highest water loss and target repairs that provide immediate water savings. Reducing system leakage will lower overall water demand, thereby decreasing withdrawals from the Ipswich River and supporting basin-wide water conservation goals.
The project will improve system efficiency, enhance long-term water supply reliability, and contribute to sustainable management of the Ipswich River watershed.
“This is a matching grant that is under a strict timeline to spend the funds so we are currently in the process of hiring a contractor that will do the evaluations and repairs,” Assistant Chief Engineer RaeAnna Hughes said.
Executive Director James Arsenault said, “I appreciate the hard work of my engineering team for researching and applying for this grant; they are always on top of finding new and creative ways of funding to assist the Commission in its mission on delivering clean safe drinking water to the residents of Lynn. Furthermore, any outside funding like this only helps us to continue to upgrade our system without burdening the ratepayers.”
