Aqueduct Trail Network

Vision and Status

From 1790 – 1940, aqueducts were built to supply water to Greater Boston.

By 2012, the historic aqueducts and reservoirs were out of daily use. But the pristine land was

kept closed off.

Everything changed in 2012: the MWRA voted to open 40 miles of trails through back-up and abandoned aqueducts.

Delivers about 200 million gallons of water a

day

Collects and treats an average of 350 million gallons of

wastewater a day

With a peak capacity of 1.2 billion

gallons

Provides wholesale water and

wastewater services to more than

2.5 million customers in more than

61communities

Quabbin Reservoir,Belchertown, MA

The aqueduct trails build on a long history of public access on certain MWRA properties.

Deer Island,Winthrop, MA

Deer Island,Winthrop, MA

Nut Island, Quincy, MA

Nut Island, Quincy, MA

Blue Hills Covered Storage,Quincy, MA

Blue Hills Covered Storage,Quincy, MA

Alewife Stormwater Wetland,Cambridge, MA

Alewife Stormwater Wetland,Cambridge, MA

Alewife Stormwater Wetland,Cambridge, MA

Towns that have partnered with MWRA for trails as of 2/2014.

MWRA is an

environmental

agency.

Photography by MAPC and MWRA staff and courtesy Marilyn Humphries, 2013. Music courtesy Medea Connection.