Water Sewer

What Water Sewer does

Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (SWSC) is an independent regional public utility established in 1996 under Chapter 40N of the Massachusetts General Laws, serving approximately 250,000 people across 10 communities in the lower Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, including Springfield, Ludlow, Agawam, Southwick, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, West Springfield, Chicopee, and Wilbraham. The Commission operates three water supply reservoirs (Cobble Mountain, Borden Brook, and Ludlow), the West Parish Filters Water Treatment Plant (1909, modernized 1974) producing 30-50 MGD, the Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility at Bondi's Island (40 MGD average, 67 MGD maximum capacity, operated under contract by SUEZ), and a 33 MW Cobble Mountain hydroelectric station. Its distribution and collection footprint comprises 597 miles of water pipe, 471 miles of wastewater mains, 6,224 hydrants, 20,000 valves, 27 pump stations, and 23 combined sewer overflow outfalls.

The Commission's core products are drinking water supply and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, regional wholesale water service to surrounding towns, fire protection service, and a portfolio of add-on services including smart metering, auxiliary meters for irrigation, hydrant meter rentals, leak detection audits, and customer assistance programs (Customer Assistance Program, senior/disabled/veteran discounts). Pricing is usage-based on a per-100-cubic-foot model with tiered rates by customer class (residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, medical, food service) plus monthly service charges, fire service charges, and an infrastructure renewal charge.

Revenue is generated almost entirely from ratepayer fees across the regulated service territory; the Commission receives no annual municipal, state, or federal operating funding. Revenue streams include water service charges, sewer service charges, fire service subscriptions, infrastructure renewal charges, connection and service fees, and late-payment penalties. The Commission also benefits from external capital: a $500 million infrastructure renewal program (2021), WIFIA loan financing from EPA, $4.97 million and $4.47 million grants/loan forgiveness from Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, and $15 million State Revolving Fund loan (2020). The Commission is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor of Springfield.

Name

Water Sewer

Legal name

Springfield Water and Sewer Commission

Website

https://waterandsewer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Springfield Water and Sewer Commission is an independent regional public utility providing drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 250,000 people across 10 communities in Massachusetts' lower Pioneer Valley, operating 597 miles of water main, 471 miles of sewer main, three reservoirs, and treatment facilities funded by ratepayer revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Wastewater Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Utilities (221)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sewer Pump/Lift Stations & Wet Wells (EUANACAC), Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control & Compliance (Storage, Separation, Treatment) (EUANAEAG), Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Wastewater treatment services
• Drinking water distribution
• Sewer collection services
• Public water infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Agawam

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Water Service Charges: Revenue from water service charges based on consumption (per 100 cubic feet) and monthly service charges based on meter size. Water rates: Residential $6.03, Commercial $6.03, Industrial $4.50, Municipal $4.50 per 100 cubic feet. The Commission is funded almost entirely through revenue paid by ratepayers and receives no annual funding from municipal, state, or federal sources.
2. Sewer/Wastewater Service Charges: Revenue from sewer service charges based on consumption and customer category. Sewer rates: Residential $7.85, Institutional $7.85, Municipal $7.85, Commercial $8.64, Medical $8.64, Industry-Dry $9.42, Industry-Wet $9.42, Food Service $10.20 per 100 cubic feet.
3. Fire Service Charges: Monthly service charges for fire line protection based on pipe size (2" to 12" fire service pipes with monthly charges ranging from $10.38 to $879.72).
4. Infrastructure Renewal Charge: Additional monthly charges to fund infrastructure improvements. For FY2027: 5/8" meter $13.08, 3/4" meter $13.08, 1" meter $13.08, 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" meters $26.16.
5. Connection and Service Fees: Fees for new service connections, service repairs, shut-off/turn-on services, meter installations, and other operational services. Minimum service charge for technician response is $75.
6. Penalties and Late Fees: Late fees assessed at 12% APR on overdue balances for delinquent accounts (delinquent 30 days from billing date).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission is an independent regional public utility that supplies drinking water and provides wastewater collection and treatment to approximately 250,000 residents across ten communities in the lower Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. It operates the largest combined water and wastewater system in Western Massachusetts, including a water filtration plant at Westfield, the Provin Mountain reservoir, six storage tanks, an on-site hydro-electric facility, and the 240-million-gallon-per-day Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility on Bondi's Island. The Commission bills customers monthly, offers bilingual service, and reports the lowest combined water and sewer rates in Massachusetts.

Product overview

Springfield Water and Sewer Commission operates as a regional public water utility providing drinking water and essential sewer services. The Commission manages a unified system comprising water supply from three reservoirs (Cobble Mountain, Borden Brook, Ludlow), treatment at West Parish Filters Water Treatment Plant, and wastewater treatment at the Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility on Bondi's Island. Services include drinking water distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, smart metering, customer billing, and various assistance programs (CAP, senior discounts, leak detection). The Commission's approximately 230 employees serve approximately 250,000 people across 10 communities in the lower Pioneer Valley.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drinking Water Supply and Distribution

Quantifiable outcome

• 52,000+ water quality tests analyzed annually with results meeting or exceeding EPA and MassDEP standards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreOthers · 16 September 2021EPA Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox attended announcement of the $500 million Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Renewal Program. Commission works under EPA regulatory oversight and received WIFIA loan financing.
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental ProtectioncoreOthers · 5 May 2020Awarded $15 million low-cost competitive State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan for critical drinking water infrastructure improvements. Commission operates under MassDEP regulatory oversight.
• SUEZcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSUEZ is the contracted wastewater treatment operator for the Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility at Bondi's Island. SUEZ manages day-to-day wastewater treatment operations while the Commission maintains ownership and oversight.
• Walsh Construction Company II, LLCmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAwarded contract for construction of the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant. Walsh Construction received Notice to Proceed for the major capital project.
• Springfield Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Pipeline Program - a summer internship program introducing Springfield Public Schools students to water sector careers.
• Springfield Technical Community College (STCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with STCC and Massachusetts Water Works Association to offer the state's first online water treatment operator course.
• Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for water treatment operator training programs and professional development for Commission staff.
• Dig Safe (811)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommission is a member of Dig Safe, the 811 underground utility mark-out system for Massachusetts, ensuring safe excavation practices.

Scale indicators26 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA): Regional wholesale water and wastewater authority serving greater Boston including61 communities. Directly comparable to SWSC as a Massachusetts-chartered regional water/sewer utility with similar capital program scale, regulatory structure, and customer base.
• Aquarion Water Company: Investor-owned water utility serving parts of New England including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Comparable to SWSC in serving customers in the same general Northeast geography with similar regulatory and climate considerations, though privately held.

Direct peers

• DC Water: Independent regional water and wastewater authority serving the District of Columbia and surrounding jurisdictions. Closely analogous to SWSC in being an independent regional utility, providing integrated water/sewer service, executing large capital programs, and operating treatment and collection infrastructure at city-scale.
• Philadelphia Water Department: Municipal water and wastewater utility serving Philadelphia with combined sewer system, large treatment plants, and extensive distribution network. Comparable to SWSC in operating a combined sewer system, large customer base, and aging infrastructure.
• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Regional water, wastewater, and power utility serving San Francisco and wholesale customers in the Bay Area. Comparable to SWSC in integrating water, sewer, and power generation functions under one public agency structure with regional wholesale customers.

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Large regional wholesale water supplier serving 26 member agencies across Southern California. Comparable to SWSC in operating as a wholesale regional utility under state-chartered authority, with extensive treatment and conveyance infrastructure.
• American Water Works Company: Largest publicly traded US water and wastewater utility serving over 14 million people across 14 states. Comparable to SWSC as a regulated water/wastewater utility, but private and far larger in scale with a multi-state footprint.
• Essential Utilities: Multi-state regulated water and natural gas utility serving roughly 5 million people across 10 states. Comparable to SWSC in providing regulated water/wastewater services with similar rate-based economics, though private and geographically diversified.
• Veolia North America: Operates and manages water and wastewater systems for municipalities across North America. Comparable to SWSC because Veolia's municipal contracts mirror SWSC's model of operating treatment and distribution on behalf of public clients, and Veolia is a competitor/alternative to SUEZ (SWSC's current contract operator).

Others

• SUEZ North America (Suez WTS): Direct incumbent contractor already operating SWSC's Bondi's Island wastewater facility, and a competitor for outsourced municipal water/wastewater O&M contracts. Comparable as a peer operator rather than as a competing utility in SWSC's territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SpfldWaterSewer
• Xx.com/SpfldWaterSewer
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpringfieldWaterandSewer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/springfield-water-and-sewer-commission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Water Sewer