Wachusett Reservoir

In 1897, the Nashua River above the town of Clinton, Mass  was impounded by the Wachusett Dam; 4,380 acres were flooded in the towns of Boylston, West Boylston, Clinton, and Sterling. Work was completed in 1905 and the reservoir first filled in May 1908  Historical photographs show the creation of the Wachusett Reservoir – the first time the state would flood an inhabited area to create a drinking water supply. At the time of construction, the Wachusett Reservoir was the largest public water supply reservoir in the world and today is the second largest body of water in Massachusetts. Hear the history of this massive project and how Wachusett Reservoir fits into supplying 3.1 million people with pure unfiltered drinking water.

Presented by Kathryn Parent, Program Coordinator, DCR Division of Water Supply Protection.
Kathryn has worked for the Department of Conservation for over 15 years, working at fascinating places such as Purgatory Chasm and Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park. Kathryn became dedicated to water education while telling the river recovery story of the Blackstone River, the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. She now continues water education outreach for DCR’s Division of Water Supply Protection at Wachusett Reservoir. Her focus is celebrating clean unfiltered drinking water from the reservoirs and protecting water for the next generations.