Managing Your Water Resources
If you live, work or own a business in Worcester, you depend on the essential services related to water resources provided by the Department of Public Works (DPW). The DPW manages a complex network of water resource systems. These include storing, treating, and delivering safe drinking water and collecting and transporting wastewater and stormwater. Approximately one-third of our systems were built before 1900. The cost of wastewater treatment has claimed a growing percentage of our sewer budget - from 18% in 2000 to 44% in 2023. This means there is less money available to upgrade aging infrastructure, maintain reliable services for our ratepayers, and protect our environment.
The Latest: Updating the Long-Term Control Plan
DPW is currently updating its Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan. The original plan was completed in 2004 and outlined recommendations for system improvements aimed at reducing the frequency and magnitude of treated discharges from the facility. To date, all system improvements have been implemented except for the requirement to reduce the number of annual treated discharges. Upon further review, it was unclear if the original proposal would improve water quality, so the team decided to continue studying this.
The City is now updating the Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan to further reduce CSOs and protect local waterways.
Long-Term Control Plan Community Workshop Presentation - October 30, 2025
How Can You Get Involved?
Public participation is a critical part of developing this updated plan. Throughout the process, there will be opportunities for the public to learn about the impacts of CSOs, share how they use local waterways, and the impact improvements will have on the community.
Participation will include:
- Weighing in on which tools should be used to reduce CSOs.
- Helping determine how to weigh potential trade-offs, such as the pace and expense of CSO reduction strategies and the impacts those have on sewer rates.
You Can Help Reduce CSOs - Learn How!
Previous Planning Efforts - Integrated Plan
Our goal is to provide clean water for everyone and to do so in a responsible and affordable way. To achieve this goal, we developed a long-term plan that will help prioritize investments in our water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure over a 50-year period. This approach is called an Integrated Water Resources Management Plan (or Integrated Plan).
The Integrated Plan shapes our approach to providing improved services to protect public health and safety. The plan balances necessary and ongoing maintenance, capital improvements, and regulatory obligations in an affordable and effective way. It fosters continued economic growth and lasting investments in our community for decades to come.
Clean Worcester Waters - Integrated Plan Video
In the coming decades, the City's water and sewer systems will face increasingly demanding state and federal regulations. Since much of the City's infrastructure is beyond its useful life, the Integrated Plan will help provide cost-effective solutions for maintenance and upgrades.
Visit the Integrated Plan page for more information.
Project Documents
Miss a community meeting?
View handouts, presentations and other materials below.
Integrated Plan
The Integrated Plan shapes our approach to providing improved services to protect public health and safety.
Handouts
See the list of handouts provided to participants at Integrated Plan Community Meetings.
Presentations
Find presentations about the Integrated Plan that have been shown at previous meetings.
Materials
View a list of other documents and info related to the Integrated Plan.