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Select Board adopts Town rules on public water service lines; effective March 1, 2025
Summary
After discussion, the Select Board voted unanimously to adopt rules clarifying town and property‑owner responsibilities for public water service lines and meters, in line with DEP lead/copper inventory requirements.
The Select Board voted unanimously on Feb. 24 to adopt the Town of Middleborough’s rules and regulations clarifying ownership and maintenance responsibilities for public water service lines, effective March 1, 2025.
Water staff described the action as a required step to comply with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) lead/copper inventory and reporting rules. The adopted language codifies the longstanding operational division: the town owns the water main and the service line up to the property shutoff (the curb‑side or yard shutoff), and homeowners are responsible for the service line from the shutoff into the building. The water meter itself is owned and maintained by the town from spud to spud.
Mike Bumpus (water department) and the town manager said the requirement to identify “unknown” service lines, historical records gaps and the DEP timetable made the bylaw adoption time‑sensitive. Select Board member Brian moved the measure; a second was received and the board approved the regulation by unanimous voice vote.
The town manager said the regulation will be posted to the water department page and linked from the town bylaws for public access. The board did not change the schedule for meter ownership or billing; the meter ownership and responsibilities remain as described in the new rules.
