Drinking Water Week: May 7-13, 2023
Drinking Water Week is celebrated annually across the country during the first week of May. Each day this week, we’ll share a post about ways that the Northampton Department of Public Works (DPW) ensures that residents have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water. Local water utilities are vital to protecting public health, fighting fires, and facilitating everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning. The DPW will be observing Drinking Water Week this year by encouraging consumers to learn about the critical infrastructure that collects, treats and distributes drinking water to City residents and businesses.
Friday, May 12th
Water system infrastructure across the country is aging – particularly in New England where public water supplies have existed since the 1800s. Northampton’s water system was established in the late 1800s and is also showing signs of its age – two of the three reservoir dams were built over 100 years ago and the distribution system includes cast iron pipes that were installed in the 1800s! Ongoing maintenance and upgrades to the system are needed to ensure a reliable supply of high quality drinking water. See Current Projects to learn more about upcoming infrastructure improvement projects and to find out how DPW is planning for the future.
Haydenville Road Water Valve Installation (2022)