Boston Water and Sewer Commission

The Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) is a quasi-public municipal agency established in 1977 to oversee, modernize and deliver water and sewer services to the City of Boston. It operates the largest and oldest water and sewer system in New England, distributing drinking water to more than one million people a day and collecting wastewater across the city. Treated water and wastewater treatment are purchased from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), whose wholesale services cover 61 communities in the metropolitan Boston area; BWSC is its largest single customer for both water and sewer services.

The agency's technical work spans water distribution, wastewater collection, stormwater management, and civil and environmental infrastructure engineering. Current priorities include a lead pipe replacement programme and major capital projects such as sewer separation in South Boston and East Boston and the rehabilitation of the New Boston Main Interceptor. Work is organised across five divisions: Administration, Engineering, Executive, Finance and Operations.

BWSC is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor of Boston with City Council approval. Its stated commitments cover fiscal integrity, reliable service delivery, infrastructure modernisation, and the protection of public health and the environment, alongside environmental education initiatives. The agency has operated for more than 45 years and serves Boston, Massachusetts and the wider metropolitan Boston area.