July 30, 2025 By Carol Britton Meyer
Assistant Town Administrator for Operations Art Robert gave a presentation to the select board this week explaining that the Town of Hingham is part of a regional study in collaboration with several other communities to explore the possibility of accessing Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) water. The other communities are Cohasset, Abington, Hanover, Norwell, Rockland, and Scituate.
“Hingham needs more water, in particular to support [further] development in South Hingham,” Robert said. “All the towns involved are wrestling with similar water challenges and are working together.”
If this effort becomes a reality, the total cost to be connected to the system for all the communities involved would be $130 to $240 million.
Weir River Water System’s share would be between $20 to $28 million. Financing/funding may be available through state agencies and other programs.
Robert pointed to the large number of acres in South Hingham that could potentially be developed, including property owned by A.W. Perry and the Bristol Brothers Development Corp.
Questions related to Hingham that need to be answered in the process include whether the Weir River Water System treatment plant has the capacity to be expanded and whether there are regulatory barriers that prevent this expansion.
“This study is in the early stages. It’s a long-term project with a long-term-payoff,” Robert said. “We plan to engage closely with property owners as to how they can support an outcome that will be beneficial to them as well.”
In other business at the meeting
The board was presented with a $221,718 “check” from a portion of unused American Rescue Plan Act funds from other communities to support Hingham’s Route 3A sewer project.
The program was created earlier to provide direct funding to communities to help address the continued impact of COVID-19 on the local economy, public health, and state and local governments.
Plymouth County Commissioner Jared Valanzola presented the check, with Congressman Stephen Lynch, Rep. Joan Meschino, and Sen. Patrick O’Connor present to offer their congratulations and share a few words.