NORTHAMPTON — The city’s water system is tested and monitored daily to ensure that when residents turn on the tap, the water is safe to drink — a behind-the-scenes effort that earned the Northampton Water Division one of the state’s top public water awards this week.
The state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recognized the division with the 2026 Public Water System Award, a citation awarded for outstanding performance and achievement in the medium and large community systems category in 2025.
“We do bacteria sampling to make sure that our water quality is acceptable. We have to prove that the water is the highest quality at every tap in the city,” Department of Public Works Director Donna LaScaleia said in an interview Wednesday. “That’s an ongoing level of effort; it’s not something that we do once a month, or once a week. This is a daily exercise of ensuring optimal quality drinking water.”
The Northampton Water Division, which serves approximately 28,000 customers and maintains more than 150 miles of water main, 1,650 fire hydrants, and more than 5,000
valves, is one of nine community water systems in the medium and large category to receive the state recognition. Other districts honored include Westford, Barnstable, Buzzards Bay, Chatham, Harwich, North Sagamore, Seekonk and Wrentham.
LaScaleia explained that the award is issued to municipal water systems that best comply with MassDEP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, including stringent daily water testing regulations.
Although LaScaleia’s home is hooked up to a private well, she said she would feel comfortable drinking the city’s water without a water filter. She explained that Water Superintendent Keith Snape and Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator Ian Henderson have led a 24-7 effort to ensure high quality water treatment.
The city’s receipt of the award would not be possible without Snape and Henderson’s tireless work, LaScaleia explained.
“We work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and we do it under very difficult circumstances and in all types of weather,” she said. “[Water testing work] can never really shut off. It’s not ‘Oh, it’s Christmas, so we’ll just not pay attention to this today.’ This is something that is absolutely critical to the health and well being of every single person in this city.”
The Northampton Water Division’s receipt of the award came only a few months after the EPA recognized the DPW’s Wastewater Treatment Plant in January with the Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program of the Year Award for excellence in operating the city’s pre-treatment program.
MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple celebrated National Drinking Water Week by distributing more than 200 public water systems and operators Tuesday, MassDEP’s 40th Drinking Water Awards Day at the Bull Run restaurant in Shirley.
The state department honored 42 systems, four operators, two towns and two childcare advocates for “demonstrating excellent service, leading conservation efforts, and showing a strong commitment to water quality” in 2025.
“Water is our most valuable resource,” Heiple said in a written statement. “MassDEP is proud to recognize our systems and operators who provide superior service, keep Massachusetts residents safe, and improve our resilience.”
