Public Works
E-Notify
Contact: Geoffrey McAlmond, Director of Public Works
gmcalmond@townofware.com
Address: Director's Office - 4 1/2 Church Street
Highway Division - 18 Mechanic Street
Waste Water Treatment Plant - 30 Robbins Rd
Ware, MA 01082
Phone: 413.967.9620
Fax: 413.967.9622
Highway Phone: 413.967.9623
Waste Water Treatment Plant Phone: 413.437.5852
Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM CLOSED FROM 12:00 PM TO 1:00 PM FOR LUNCH.
Director & Water Dept., 4 1/2 Church Street
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM Highway Supervisor
DPW STAFF
Name Title
Geoffrey McAlmond Director of DPW
Chuck Niedzwiecki Highway Supervisor
Andy Lalashius Water Supervisor
David Comeau Chief Plant Operator WWTP
Janet Popielarczyk DPW Administrative Assistant
Mission Statement
Provide the residents of the Town of Ware with high quality cemetery, highway, water and wastewater services.
Important Notices:
***Water use restrictions are in effect. Due to abnormally dry conditions, the summer water restrictions are in effect as of June 15, 2022. Outdoor watering for lawns/car washing/filling of swimming pools, etc. during the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. are restricted. Please limit ALL water usage to early morning (before 9a.m.) or later in the day (after 5pm). Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.***
As of November 16, 2021 the Water and Sewer Rate increase was approved. Effective February 2022 Water and Sewer Bills will reflect this increase. Below are the increased rates. Please see attachment of Water Rate Increases FY22 - FY30 and Sewer Rate Increases FY22 - FY30
Details of the November 16, 2021 Rate Increase Meeting Water and Sewer Rate Recommendations
Effective February 2022
Water: $36.72 per qtr. base rate included first 500 cubic feet of water. $5.87 per hundred cubic feet unit for all subsequent metered water use
Sewer: $50.60 per qtr. base rate included first 500 cubic feet of water. $6.04 per hundred cubic feet unit for all subsequent metered sewer use
Effective May 1, 2020 Water and Sewer payments will be collected in the Tax Collector's Office. All usage inquires and service questions are still handled by the Water Department.
Meter readings begins on July 1, 2022 for Billing Cycle 3, usage period April 2022-June 2022, to be mailed out August 5, 2022 payable by September 5, 2022. Bills are available to pay online. https://unipaygold.unibank.com/customerinfo.aspx
MassDOT has closed East St Sidewalk for repair. A portable signal is up and the Bridge is down to one Lane. A temporary sidewalk will be accessible in-between the barrels. This is an on-going project. Please be safe.
2021 Water Quality Report is now available. The report is available (link below) click on top left green tab marked "Water Consumer Confidence Report." A paper copy can be made available upon request at the DPW office.
2021 Water Quality Report
HYDRANT FLUSHING for the fall of 2022 is now completed.
The Zone Index Map will show the areas where the hydrant flushing will be conducted. The Flushing Zone Street Index will list which streets are in each zone. For more information about hydrant flushing, follow the link on the left, Flushing Information.
The length of time a hydrant is flushed depends on several factors including the type of material of the pipe, the length of pipe being flushed, the condition of the pipe and the overall color of the water. Hydrants can be flushed between 15 minutes and several hours. Each hydrant is flushed until only clear water comes out. Please be patient. It takes over a month to complete the flushing program.
Effective February 1, 2020
Water: $36.00 per quarter base rate included first 500 cubic feet of water. $5.75 per hundred cubic feet unit for all subsequent metered water use
Sewer: $44.00 per quarter base rate included first 500 cubic feet of water. $5.25 per hundred cubic feet unit for all subsequent metered sewer use
Current Projects
1. Main Street Project - contractor working on water services - ONGOING
2. Old Belchertown Road Bridge Project - repair Old Belchertown Road Bridge - Chapter 90 Project request submitted - PV $250,000.00 - Construction has started - COMPLETION BY END OF THE YEAR.
Final Water/Sewer Bills
If you are closing on your home and need a Final Water/Sewer bill please see the Downloadable Forms Tab to complete the Water and Sewer Closing Form. Please submit form ten business days prior to closing date.
PLEASE DO NOT Flush Non-Toilet Paper Items
Toilet Paper: Due to the shortage of toilet paper at stores, some people may seek alternative to toilet paper. This could include baby wipes, paper towels, rags, or other cotton products. After using said products, the first instinct would be to flush these items down the toilet. THAT IS A BAD IDEA! These alternate products will create blockages within the sewer pipes creating a back-up such that the waste water will return back into your house, or your neighbors'. It will create a very large mess. It takes great effort by the DPW to respond to backed-up sewer blockages, determine where the problem is and who is responsible, then to fix the problem.
If you must use an alternative to toilet paper, set up a dedicated container for the disposal of the used items.
Thank you for your patience and understanding!
CURRENT DROUGHT STATUS IN MASSACHUSETTS
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status
Notice to Ware Residents Regarding Water Use Restrictions
The Town is required through its Water Management Act Permit to enact seasonal limits on non-essential outdoor water use. These requirements are to ensure an adequate supply of water for drinking water, to sustain aquatic life in our water bodies and to protect the environment. The Water Department has a choice of instituting these restrictions on an annual basis beginning May 1st each year or based on streamflow triggers in the Ware River. We have chosen the streamflow triggered approach. We currently need to enact these requirements when the streamflow in the Ware River at the USGS local stream gage at Gibbs Crossing is lower than a predetermined threshold for 3 consecutive days. The restriction can be lifted when the threshold limit has been exceeded for seven consecutive days.
That condition requiring water use restrictions was met on July 17, 2019, thus the Town is required to implement these restrictions. There is to be no nonessential outdoor water use from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm effective immediately. This restriction will remain in place until the Ware River is above the threshold for 7 consecutive days.
Nonessential outdoor water use shall mean those uses that are not required:
- for health or safety reasons;
- by regulation;
- for the production of food and fiber;
- for the maintenance of livestock; or
- to meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees and greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries or agricultural operations as necessary to maintain stock or establish new plantings, wash equipment to prevent damage and/or maintain performance, pest management and plant cooling.
Nonessential outdoor water uses that are subject to mandatory restrictions include:
- irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems;
- washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety or to prevent damage and/or maintain performance of agricultural or construction vehicles or equipment; and
- washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement or cement.
All customers of the Ware water system need to comply with these restrictions during these hours. Water can be used for non-essential purposes outside of these hours. Anyone caught ignoring these requirements will be given a warning for the first offense and subsequent offenses will result in actions including fines and water shut offs as permitted by applicable Town bylaws and regulations.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Ware Water Department at 967-9620.
Wood Distribution List Status: Click Here
WATER FILTRATION PLANT INFORMATION
The Town of Ware is considering the submission of a new funding application with the USDA Rural Development program for the Barnes Street Water Filtration Plant (WFP). This webpage has been created to provide access to information to the residents of Ware that may have questions about this project. Check back soon for more updates. (Link below)
https://cms.revize.com/revize/ware/departments/planning_department/water_facility_plant_information.php
Additional Links:
MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Ware Street map and index
Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Fact Sheet
ALB Look-alikes
ALB - identifying marks & environment
Manganese Information Sheet
Manganese Letter to Residents