A sewage treatment facility. Cape Cod's limited sewage treatment capability and groundwater contamination driven by broken or substandard septic systems has hobbled housing production in the region. iStock photo
The barriers to creating new affordable housing can be numerous, from zoning and density restrictions to limited funding and NIMBYism. With the help of state funding, two communities south of Boston hope to address a housing obstacle that might be less obvious: Water.
The Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works was awarded $2.24 million from the MassWorks program to upgrade its water treatment plant, the Baker-Polito administration announced this week, paving the way for new housing projects in the area.
“The Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works’ Myers Avenue Water Treatment Plant Capacity Upgrade will increase Rockland and Abington’s potable water supply enabling key development projects to move forward supporting critical economic development in the region,” Rockland Selectmen Chairman Michael O’Loughlin said in a news release.
The funds will go toward a new clearwell storage tank and pumping equipment for the facility, which will provide capacity for an additional drinking water well. The increased water output is estimated at an additional 160,000 gallons per day. The upgrades will be enough to support 12 proposed private development projects in the towns, according to the release, which include workforce housing, multi-family housing and low-income senior housing, as well as retail, commercial, and mixed-use developments.
“This MassWorks award will create much needed housing in the community and an increase in both jobs and economic activity,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in the release. “Congratulations to Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works for receiving this award and their collaborative efforts to play a role in addressing our housing crisis.”
The grant is one of 56 awarded to 50 communities this year, totaling $66.5 million. This is the largest number of awards in six years, the release notes, as well as the first year that the state has used Community One Stop for Growth, a streamlined portal for grant applications.
