President’s Message

from June 2021 Construction Outlook

Under the Hard Hat with UCANE’s Officers and

Back to a “Normal” Summer, UCANE’s Work Continues

A recent run of 90-degree weather has let us know that summer is here. With most Covid-related restrictions being lifted, the summer of 2021 looks to be much different than the summer of 2020. And by different, I mean normal. People will be flocking to Massachusetts beaches, lakes, ponds, and rivers to enjoy all the outdoor activities we have to offer. Massachusetts will once again be a desired vacation destination. Tourists and residents have many locations to choose from and this is all because of the work UCANE members have done to dramatically improve water quality in our state and region.

The most obvious example is in Boston. The city’s area beaches have some of the cleanest water in the nation, not just the state. This was unthinkable twenty years ago. If you are over the age of 30, you can remember when people were afraid to go near Boston Harbor or the Charles River, much less swim or participate in recreational activities. But the work of UCANE members on behalf of the MWRA and area municipalities changed all that. The construction of Deer Island, the completion of combined sewer overflow (CSO) projects, and other water infrastructure improvements have brought residents back to area beaches and have also been the single biggest reason for the Seaport District and Boston’s development boom.

The same holds true for Cape Cod, where water quality is obviously vital to its economic health. According to news reports, Cape rentals are at nearly 100% for the season, which means there will be the traditional backups on the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, but it is good news for the Cape’s economy. The better news is that after years of inaction, municipalities on the Cape continue to make significant progress on upgrading their water infrastructure to abate the nitrogen pollution that puts the water quality of the entire region at risk. This progress is the result of the collaboration and advocacy of many groups, including UCANE. You can read more about the progress made on the Cape in an op-ed from UCANE, Andy Gottlieb, Executive Director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and Wendy Northcross, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce on page 17.

All of these positive achievements do not mean in any way that the work is done. It serves as a sober reminder that unless we continue to invest in our water infrastructure, we could easily be back in the dark and dirty days. We are still facing a $21 billion gap in funding over the next 20 years, and this figure does not include the several billion dollars needed for PFAS, lead, stormwater, and climate resiliency efforts.

The Merrimack River still has millions of gallons of raw or partially treated sewage spilling from aging pipes and plants, so much so that a bill was recently passed that requires residents to be notified when the river is unsafe. In addition, places like the Berkshires need to update and expand their underground infrastructure for future economic development and housing needs.

In that respect, we should never go back to the “normal” of neglecting our drinking water, wastewater, and underground utility infrastructure and keeping it “out of sight and out of mind.” We need additional funding and incentives for our cities and towns, so that this important work can get done.