Thank you for reporter Domenic Poli’s excellent article on the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s board of directors meeting at the Quabbin Visitors Center [“https://recorder.com/2026/07/10/local-officials-lawmakers-make-voices-heard-on-quabbin-inequity/,” Recorder, July 10]. Beyond the obvious inequities to the eight watershed towns, the final paragraph jumped out at me and, I feel, bears repeating: “Of the 35 communities that receive Quabbin water as their primary water supply, only one community, Reading, has implemented water conservation. More than 140 public water suppliers outside of the MWRA system, elsewhere in Massachusetts, have implemented mandatory restrictions because of drought conditions.” I believe the latter includes several of the watershed towns.
I walk at Quabbin regularly and find it alarming how low the reservoir has been. Likewise, I can’t remember the last time there was water running through the spillway. Yes, we in the Valley are the stewards of Quabbin and enjoy its peacefulness and beauty. But its consumers should have some responsibility for curbing their profligate use of this valuable resource.
Kudos to state Rep. Aaron Saunders and Sen. Jo Comerford for introducing legislation which would give the watershed towns a voice on the MWRA board and, we hope, provide some long overdue compensation for the towns that protect greater Boston’s water supply.
Marianne Gambaro
Belchertown