ResourceS

Having discolored water? Send a picture and short note to Great Barrington’s Health Agent to officially file a complaint.

The DEP is the regulatory body that oversees HWW. While the BOH will send your complaints to the DEP, it helps raise our profile if we send complaints in directly.

Housatonic Water Works customers in Great Barrington can apply for a $300 reimbursement for filtration, bottled water, and laundry related expenses.

MORE RESOURCES TO CALL FOR SUPPORT

STATE AGENCIES

Anne Gobi, Director of Rural Affairs 

The Director of Rural Affairs works with local , state, and federal partners to provide resources and aid to rural communities.

(617)850-2855 

Anne.Gobi3@mass.gov 

Mass DEP

Agency responsible for protecting the state’s natural resources, including air, water, and land.

For water quality concerns:

Sean.Gonsalves@mass.gov
Boston headquarters:(617) 292-5500
Western regional office: (781) 400-4272

Mass DEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple

(617) 292-5856 

Mass DPU For rate/billing concerns

Regulatory agency that oversees the state’s investor owned utilities.

Consumer Division: 

DPUConsumer.complaints@mass.gov

(877) 886-5066

GREAT BARRINGTON SELECTBOARD

Steve Bannon, Chair

Leigh Davis, Vice Chair

Ben Elliott

Garfield Reed

Eric Gabriel

Town Manager: Mark Pruhenski

Submit complaints here

(413) 528-1619

MASSACHUSETTS STATE REPRESENTATIVES

GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS

Governor Maura Healey

Constituent Services

Email the governor

Main Office (617) 725-4005 

or Springfield Office (413) 784-1200

MASSACHUSETTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Representative Smitty Pignatelli 

rep.smitty@mahouse.gov 

State House (617) 722-2210 

or District Office (413) 637-0631 

mASSACHUSETTS STATE SENATOR

Senator Paul Mark 

(617) 722-1625 

District Office: (413) 464-5635

Paul.Mark@masenate.gov 

MASSACHUSETTS FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

U.S REPRESENTATIVE

Representative Richard Neal

Pittsfield Office (413) 442-0946

Springfield Office (413) 785-0325

DC Office (202) 225-5601

Email Representative Neal

U.S. sENATORS

Senator Ed Markey 

(413) 785-4610 

Jesse_Lederman@markey.senate.gov 

Senator Elizabeth Warren

(413) 788-2690 

Markantonio_williams@warren.senate.gov 

info to share

Not sure what to say? Here’s a template to start with and you can include appropriate details from there.

Hello (NAME)

I’m (NAME) and I need to report an issue with our drinking water at [ADDRESS]. Our water is [DESCRIPTION; color, how long, how often] and is affecting my daily life in the following ways:

  • [I/my family have no source of clean water]

  • [I/my family need to purchase additional filtration for clean water]

  • [I/my family need to purchase an alternate source of clean water]

  • [I/my family are bathing in dirty water]

  • [I/my family are being exposed to harmful chemicals in our water] *this would require a sample

  • [I/my family have ruined my clothing in the laundry]

Please log this complaint and help us get clean, affordable water from Housatonic Water Works, the private corporation who owns our water infrastructure.

Thank you,

[Name]

WANT TO TEST YOUR WATER?

*Note this service is NOT yet funded. At this point we can help you collect samples and get them to the Microbac lab in Lee.

We’re collecting donations to help community members test their own water to better understand our challenges. If you suspect issues with your water and want it tested by a DEP certified lab, fill out this form. As we obtain funding, we’ll reach out to set up testing.

*