Remote Monitoring of Small Rural Water Systems to Ensure Safe Drinking Water through Disasters and Natural Recovery

Most (97%) water systems in the U.S. are considered “small systems,” serving <10,000 people and face the extraordinary challenges of aging infrastructure, climate change, and limited finances compared to larger water treatment systems, which typically have adequate resources to address challenges. We are a team comprised of researchers and civic partners from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP), who are tackling research that addresses challenges small rural community water systems throughout Massachusetts face when managing risks to water quality during and after extreme weather events or pandemics. Link to abstract on nsf.gov