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13-679: The Wachusett Aqueduct is a secondary aqueduct that carries water from the Wachusett Reservoir to the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant at Walnut Hill in Marlborough, Massachusetts . It is part of the public water supply system for the communities of Greater Boston that are served by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), which manages the aqueduct. The aqueduct serves as

26-695: A brick-lined invert. It is not constructed entirely underground and there are several elevated sections. The final portion of the aqueduct, taken out of service in 2005 with the opening of the treatment plant, is an open channel running from near the treatment facility to Sudbury Reservoir . Until the 1960s, the Wachusett Aqueduct was the main conduit used to deliver water from the Wachusett Reservoir. At that time, it carried 300 million US gallons (1,100,000 m) of water each day (13 m/s). The Cosgrove Tunnel replaced it in 1965 as

39-787: A large amount of runoff such as during snow melting, the flow from the Quabbin is shut off and water from the Ware River flows backwards down the Quabbin Aqueduct into the Quabbin Reservoir for storage. In 1897, the Nashua River above the town of Clinton was impounded by the Wachusett Dam ; 4,380 acres (17.7 km ) were flooded in the towns of Boylston , West Boylston , Clinton, and Sterling . Work

52-601: A standby backup to the Cosgrove Tunnel . The Wachusett Aqueduct extends from the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton , through Berlin and Northborough , to the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant at Walnut Hill in Marlborough, Massachusetts . This 9-mile (14 km) long water system consists of 2 miles (3 km) of hard rock tunnel and 7 miles (11 km) of 11-foot (3.4 m) high horseshoe-shaped underground aqueduct constructed of non-reinforced concrete with

65-654: Is fed by the Quinapoxet and Stillwater rivers, along with the Quabbin Aqueduct , which carries water from the Quabbin Reservoir. It is part of the Nashua River watershed, forming the headwaters of the river. Because it is an intermediate storage reservoir, its water levels are kept relatively constant while the Quabbin Reservoir fluctuates based on precipitation and demand. At times when the Wachusett Reservoir becomes high due to its own watershed producing

78-631: Is one of only two locations in Massachusetts to support lake trout , a North American native trout species which has been known to reach 20 plus pounds in Reservoir. In addition stocked rainbow trout are known to "holdover" (live through multiple summers) in Wachusett. Rainbow smelt are also present although their numbers are greatly reduced when compared to many years ago. Lake trout are a major draw to fishermen and women. Approximately 80% of

91-578: The Wachusett Aqueduct was the primary method of transmission of about 240 million US gallons (910,000 m) of water per day. The section of the Wachusett Aqueduct between the Wachusett Reservoir and the treatment plant remains a standby backup transmission path in the event the Cosgrove Tunnel is unavailable, while the open channel between the treatment plant and the Sudbury Reservoir remains an emergency backup transmission path in

104-592: The event of a major problem with the treatment plant or the primary transmission pathways between the treatment plant and the water system. The aqueduct's route and supporting structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. Wachusett Reservoir The reservoir serves as both an intermediate storage reservoir for water from the Quabbin Reservoir , and a water source itself, fed by its own watershed. The reservoir

117-590: The late 20th and early 21st century by the construction of the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel and covered storage facilities. West Boylston's prominent landmark—the Old Stone Church —was left remaining as a reminder of those who lost their homes and jobs to the building of the reservoir. It is one of the most photographed sites in the area. When it was built, the Wachusett Reservoir was the largest public water supply reservoir in

130-550: The primary water transmission aqueduct. Because of the construction of the Walnut Hill Water Treatment Plant in Marlborough , the Cosgrove Tunnel was shut down in 2003 in order to make the large piping connection between the new treatment plant and the MWRA's new MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel . The MetroWest Tunnel extends east 18.6 miles (29.9 km) from Walnut Hill to Weston . During that shutdown,

143-536: The reservoir and abutting property. These regulations are controversial to recreation and fishing proponents, who argue the rules are not needed to protect water quality. A network of fire roads provides easy access for hikers and cross-country skiers. In 1999, the reservoir contained twelve native and twelve introduced species of fish . The limited access, combined with abundant, high-quality habitat, produced state records for brown trout , land-locked salmon , smallmouth bass , and white perch . The Wachusett Reservoir

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156-550: The world and the largest body of water in Massachusetts. It has since been surpassed by the Quabbin Reservoir (see that article for a history of reservoir building in Massachusetts). Because the reservoir is the water supply for Boston, not all areas around it are open to the public. Regulations designed to ensure pure water include the prohibition of boats, ice fishing, wading, swimming, overnight camping, alcoholic beverages, littering, animals, bikes, and motor vehicles from

169-786: Was completed in 1905 and the reservoir first filled in May ;1908 (116 years ago)  ( 1908-05 ) . Its water was originally delivered to the Sudbury Reservoir via the Wachusett Aqueduct , with the Cosgrove Tunnel (completed in 1965) providing redundancy. Interconnections at the Sudbury Reservoir eventually delivered the water to the Weston Reservoir via the Weston Aqueduct ; these downstream facilities were relegated to backup roles in

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