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Temporary side entrance in effect

3:19 PM 03/15/2023

Attention BWSC Customers. Beginning Tuesday March 7th renovations will commence on the front entrance of 980 Harrison Ave. Therefore, there will be no accessibility to the building via the double doors until further notice. A temporary side entrance in order to conduct business will be made available. The temporary entrance is in compliance with ADA regulations and our security team will be stationed there to provide assistance as needed. 

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Environment & Education

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Boston's water, sewer, and stormwater systems have a long, interesting history and development. Today, these systems are run by BWSC, which was created to maintain and improve the quality and reliability of water, sewer, and stormwater systems in Boston. 

Boston is home to New England’s oldest and largest water, sewer, and stormwater systems. These systems serve approximately 20,500 acres, 70% of the total land area of Boston. The drinking water distribution system serves over 90,000 accounts, including residents, schools and universities, hospitals, businesses, industries, and private and public institutions.  

Four major factors led to the development of the water, sewer, and stormwater systems to their present-day capacity and configuration:

  1. The expansion of the city limits. Boston grew from a peninsula of 1.2 square miles to its present size of 47.8 square miles through annexation and land reclamation.  
  2. Boston’s steady increase in population and economic growth. When the first public water supply was introduced in 1848, the city had a population of about 127,000 and in 1877, the original sewer system was built in response to growing public health concerns. Presently, the population of Boston is over 650,000. 
  3. Increased water consumption, forcing city planners to identify new sources of water in the western section of the state. 
  4. Provisions for a fire protection system were sorely needed. The downtown business district of early Boston was constructed of wooden framed dwellings and businesses and particularly vulnerable to fires.

Water, Sewer & Stormwater Systems

Water System

Learn about sources of water, water quality, water infrastructure, and the history of the BWSC water system.

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Sewer System

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Learn about the BWSC sewer system, sewer infrastructure, and the history of the BWSC sewer system.

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Stormwater System

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https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/what-you-can-do-soak-rain   BWSC owns and operates a system for the collection and transport of stormwater in the City of Boston. The stormwater system collects stormwater runoff (rain and snowmelt) and discharges it into receiving waters around the city.

Learn more about how the BWSC manages stormwater, stormwater infrastructure, environmental regulations, and Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program.

Learn more about the Stormwater System

Special Structures

BWSC owns and operates various special structures within its sewer and stormwater systems, including regulators, tide gates, and siphons.

Learn more about Special Structures

Combined Sewer Overflows

Learn more about the Commission's combined sewer overflows (CSOs) including their locations, activation status and flow quantities, and how to sign up to receive emailed notices regarding CSO activations.

Learn more about CSOs

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