Infrastructure & Waste

The critical services and infrastructure that keep Watertown running, including water, wastewater, energy, and waste services, are essential to our community well-being. Climate change impacts are already disrupting these essential services and infrastructure. How we choose to develop and operate these services, and whether we do so efficiently and sustainably, is key to minimizing consumption and waste and reducing climate impacts. The City is implementing solutions that put us on a path toward net-zero waste and increase the reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of our infrastructure.

• Advocacy for removal of Watertown Dam: An aging, 180-ft long, 8-ft high aging concrete weir structure located in the Charles River in Watertown currently owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Watertown Dam was originally constructed to power industry, yet now holds no purpose for power or flood control. In 2016, an inspection report deemed Watertown Dam to be in a "poor" condition. As a result, the Charles River Watershed Association applied for support from the Department of Ecological Restoration to conduct a feasibility study to investigate the removal of Watertown Dam. Dam removal is increasingly becoming a popular approach in Massachusetts as our aging dams obstruct the passage of migratory fish, deteriorate river ecosystems, and are susceptible to failure due to the effects of climate change, including more frequent extreme weather events. The City continues to support CRWA’s campaign to safely remove the Dam and restore the natural function of the Charles River in Watertown.
• Waste reduction 2030 strategic plan:Watertown’s Recycling Department has created a strategic plan that goes through 2030. This plan includes ideas for how to focus on reuse and reduction, while also increasing recycling. Recent and future efforts include:
  • The Watertown recycle center now features a cardboard compactor, which will reduce the number of trips the drivers need to take per month.
  • The compactor will also free up space in the center that can be used for a permanent Swap Shop, another Watertown waste reduction endeavor. Swap shop models are all around Massachusetts, and they help to keep useful and working items out of the trash and even give them a second or third life before we recycle them.
• Composting in Watertown schools: WPS and the DPW have launched robust cafeteria composting programs in all of our schools. Composting has become a foundational part of our elementary school curriculum, with 5th graders taking on leadership roles and teaching their fellow students about its importance and how to do it correctly.