Sept. 26, 2023 DPU/HWW Hearing Petition Signatures

entry 240
Date: 9/25/23
Name: Dan Thomas
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 30 High Street, West Stockbridge, MA
entry 239
Date: 9/25/23
Name: Leigh Doherty
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 294 N Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
Comment: We need a solution. 
entry 238
Date: 9/25/23
Name: Catharine Grey 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 111 Leona Drive, Pittsfield 
entry 237
Date: 9/25/23
Name: Jessica Burlingame
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 213 Highland St., Housatonic, MA
entry 236
Date: 9/25/23
Name: James Schumacher
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 372 North Plain Rd., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Common sense says there should be no profit motive for supplying a basic need to people.
entry 235
Date: 9/25/23
Name: Scott Shortt
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 10 Fairview Rd., Housatonic, MA
entry 234
Date: 9/25/23
​Name: Carmen Brown
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 210 South Street, Housatonic
entry 233
Date: 9/25/23
Name: Will Schillinger
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 2 Kirk Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Really - Do we need to have a petition to have clean water from a private entity that cannot keep up with basic maintenance and overcharges for our basic implicit water services? 
entry 232
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Cardinale Jackson
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: P.B. Box 99, Housatonic, MA
entry 231
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Rosemary Smith
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 7 Wyantenuck Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: The mismanagement by the Mercers of Housatonic Water Works has been going on since they bought it. New pipes were put in on Wyantenuck Street in 2017 and the water got worse. People cannot afford this huge increase especially when you still have to buy water, go to the laundromat, put in filtering systems and change filters frequently. Very little has been done to improve the infrastructure and now the latest situation regarding the fire hydrants has come to light. They have neglected this water system and now want us to pay for their incompetence. Over the past 6 years, according to the Berkshire Edge, the Mercers' salaries have increased by $18,551. All the residents in Housatonic, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge that are affected by HWW deserve better.
entry 230
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Soma Dinicola
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 51 Robert Street, Pittsfield, MA 
Comment: I’m appalled this is still happening in 2023. Get a class action lawsuit attorney! They still have BROWN WATER.
entry 229
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Jeremy Berlin
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 33 kirk street Housatonic MA 01236
entry 228
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Alison Berlin
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 33 Kirk St., Housatonic, MA
entry 227
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Patrick Barrett
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 223 Oak Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 226
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Mayu Hori
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1079 Main Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: HWW is not regulated enough by DPU and DEP. The quality of water and how they operate the business are not acceptable. Great Barrington needs to take over this from HWW immediately. Give us safe clean reasonably priced water! 
entry 225
Date: 9/24/23
Name: K A
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: Route 8, Otis
Comment: Just fix the water. And be fair.
entry 224
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Richard Montano
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 37 Kirk Street, Housatonic MA 01236
entry 223
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Amanda Giracca
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1020 Main St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: HWW needs to find another way to fund the green sand filtration project rather than increasing the rates of very unhappy and very worried citizens. Increasing our rates not only lacks imagination, empathy, and reasonable business standards—it’s downright offensive. The letters we have received in recent years from HWW letting us know after the fact that’s our water had heightened levels of known carcinogens, and those letters then telling customer citizens there is no need to worry or panic, are insensitive and unconscionable. What are the repercussions of such noncompliance? 
entry 222
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Beth Rose
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 211 Cottage Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 221
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Christina Koldys
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 218 Pleasant St., Housatonic, MA
entry 220
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Perry Hall
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1063 Main Street, APT 1 Box 102, Housatonic, MA
Comment: THANK YOU for organizing! We need HEALTHY WATER
entry 219
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Rachel Kelly
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 9 High St., West Stockbridge
Comment: I live a block up from the Housatonic library, but my town is technically West Stockbridge. We have experienced HORRIBLE brown water and water shocked with chlorine that smells of bleach. I am opposed to the Housatonic Water Works’ rate increase and cannot believe their audacity in asking the residents to fund any further infrastructure improvements. What they are delivering currently is criminal. We are paying for it at the expense of our health. 
entry 218
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Julianna Spallholz 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 225 Oak St., Housatonic, MA
entry 217
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Myron Sosnow
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: POB 196 202 Oak St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: It’s time for the HWW to go. It has demonstrated it’s lack of competence in managing the water distribution system here. - Myron and Nancy Sosnow
entry 216
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Rachel Louchen
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 204 Oak Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 215
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Sylwia Orczykowska
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 4 Meadow St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Clean and affordable water is a human right. 
entry 214
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Ole Andersen 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 19 Meadow St., Housatonic, MA
entry 213
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Cory Ziobro 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 115 Lenox Road, Richmond, MA 01254
entry 212
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Theresa Tatro
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 210 Oak Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: This increase is outrageous and we can’t even drink the water. 
entry 211
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Helen Hinkley-Grady
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1019 Main Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 210
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Mary Walters
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 5 Housatonic Ct., Stockbridge, MA
Comment: It’s ridiculous that we have basically undrinkable water and yet are being forced to pay more for it!
entry 209
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Jody E Brandt
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 89 Division Street, Great Barrington, MA
entry 208
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Stephanie Carlson
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 29 Kirk St., Housatonic, MA
entry 207
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Barbara Wells
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
1011 Main St., Housatonic, MA
entry 206
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Gina Salvato Shultis
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 12 Mountain St, Housatonic, MA
Comment: I’m a homeowner & landlord in Housatonic doing my best to keep the rent reasonable for a house purchased 3 yrs ago that has been in my family for 4 generations. We installed filters on the drinking water faucets (replacement cartridges are not cheap!) and will soon be putting house filters on both houses. In anticipation of this massive increase, we have no choice but to raise our rent. 
entry 205
Date: 9/24/23
Name: Jamie Hutchinson
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: P.O. Box 445, 1048 Main St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Not much to add to what family members and others have said already. In short, total agreement. For HWW to ask for this kind of increase when they're unable to supply the town with clean, safe water represents the worst kind of corporate insensitivity and arrogance. It shouldn't be up to us at this late date to bear the burden of paying to fix a system that should have been better maintained all along. I trust the DPU will have the good sense to recognize this request as being totally out of line given HWW's failed history. 

entry 204
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Maureen Davis 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 415 N Plain Rd #5, Housatonic, MA
entry 203
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Sharon Gregory
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 32 Hollenbeck Ave., Great Barrington, MA
entry 202
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Betsy & George Salvato
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 21 Maple St., Great Barrington, MA
Comment: We are retired and never go above the basic amount of water and to double our bill when our use of water is very minimal is a hardship and is unfair. We put water filters on our house and have not complained about our water. We have improved our house piping also. To penalize us is not in good faith. 
entry 201
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Amelia Moro
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
29 Linda Lane, Housatonic, Massachusetts 01236
entry 200
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Elizabeth Caldwell 
Email: [email protected] 
Full Address: 16 Wright Lane, Housatonic, MA
entry 199
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Zon Lai
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 3 Cooper Ln, West Stockbridge, MA
entry 198
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Rudy Peirce
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 467, 37 Hart St., Housatonic, MA
entry 197
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Sue Aiken
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 6 Averic Rd., Stockbridge, MA
Comment: It’s crazy that this private water company is allowed to provide inferior quality water for people and get paid for it . . . plus request such a huge increase in services without improving their infrastructure and water product.
entry 196
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Arne Waldstein 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 478, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Totally unacceptable situation that cannot be forced on to the customers in Housatonic who can least afford the outrageous rate increase for a situation that the town needs to address. 
entry 195
Date: 9/23/23
Name: Marie Lavinio
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 478, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Clean water is a right. Housatonic is a village of families, artists, retirees, working class residents who are part of the town of Great Barrington. Why are we being forced to pay outrageous rates for water when we are the least able to afford it and it is not OUR responsibility to fix what the HWW has failed to do and the Town has not addressed?
entry 194
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Suky Werman
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 431 Under Mountain Road, Lenox, MA
entry 193
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Elizabeth Salay-Wejnar
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 259 Park Street, Great Barrington, MA
entry 192
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Kenneth Markel
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 259 Park Street, Great Barrington, MA
entry 191
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Heidi Berman-Rose 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 6 Forrest St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: This is ridiculous. 
entry 190
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Leah House
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 203 North St., Housatonic, MA
entry 189
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Vanessa Lew 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1 Lone Pine Drive #220
Comment: I love staying in the area and find it saddening that in this day and age people in the USA don’t have clean drinking water.
entry 188
Date: 9/22/23
Name: William Barth 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 209 North St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Mercer is unable to remedy the carcinogenic water problem after numerous warnings from DPU. Housatonic Water Works earns significant monies rather than investment in systems. 
entry 187
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Jayne Benjulian
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
P.O. Box 115, West Stockbridge, MA 01266-0115
entry 186
Date: 9/22/23
Name:
Anni Crofut
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 210 Cottage St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: To Whom it May Concern at the MA DPU; 

In MA, the average water rate per household is $33/month. This means that at the current rate of almost $45/month, HWW is already above state average. This, in a town whose median household income is $49k. The requested rate increase would raise our monthly rate to an average of $136.79/month, over 4X (414%) higher than the rest of the state, and higher than the highest rate in the country ($105 / month in West Virginia). How can the DPU even entertain this outrageous request?

Furthermore, at the time of the last rate increase of 34% in Jan 2016,, Mercer said "... his company is taking a “proactive approach” so that “catastrophic things — like in Flint [Michigan] and Troy [New York] — that wind up costing rate payers a lot more money” don’t happen here." (https://theberkshireedge.com/bits-bob-and-the-trees-available-online-ramsdell-library-winter-sundays-pittsfield-coalition-listening-sessions-creative-conversations-across-diff) In fact, HWW customers are now contending with HAA5's in our water - a cancer causing agent - which points to the fact that our system now is in fact not so different from the Flint and Troy examples. And we have no evidence that the state mandated upgrades promised with that last rate increase were even met. The filtration system is outdated by decades, and the proposed Green Sands Filtration system is considered 'experrimental.'

Meanwhile, Mercer and his father continue to pull in salaries roughly 4 times that of the average Housatonic resident (31K).

Citizens of Housatonic have lost all faith in the DPU to do its job. If you approve this rate hike, or even one much smaller, the DPU will have lost all credibility amongst the constituents you are supposed to be serving. Where is the enforcement of DPU's requirements? Best, Anni Crofut 
entry 185
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Nancy Wilcox
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 94, Stockbridge, MA
entry 185
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Jon Strauser 
Email: [email protected] 
Full Address: 393 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
entry 184
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Kate Hold
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1099 main St., Housatonic, MA
entry 183
Date: 9/22/23
entry 182
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Doug Roberts
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
206 Pleasant St, PO Box 263, Housatonic, MA
entry 181
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Vita Kay
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
54 Egremont Plain Rd., Great Barrington, MA
entry 180
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Eric Steuernagle 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 205 Long Pond Road, Great Barrington, MA 
entry 179
Date: 9/22/23
Name: April Chambers
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 15 Kirk St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Very concerned resident. I have been buying water for at least a year and find it very unfortunate that they will be having such an incredible rate hike for my monthly water use, esp when I am buying water in addition.
entry 178
Date: 9/22/23
Name: H. Otis Pond III
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 360 Park St #1, Housatonic, MA
Comment: No more rate increases for unacceptable water supply. Current management does not seem up for the task of restoring safe reasonably priced water. Would like to see Great Barrington take this up as a priority.
entry 177
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Brian Bitner
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 263 Park Street, Great Barrington, MA
entry 176
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Richard Tovell
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 276, 214 Pleasant Street, Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 175
Date: 9/22/23
Name: Maja Stodte
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 203 Highland Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: I am a single mother with two young children. If HWW will cover the cost of my clean drinking water, as I have been informed by both them and DEP that their water is unsafe for 2/3 of my household to drink and not compliant with the Clean Water Act, and will cover the cost of an in-house filter, then I would consider a rate increase to an amount equal to what the average tax payer pays in Massachusetts for non-potable water. Best Wishes, Maja
entry 174
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Kevin Regan
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 235 Grove Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: We should not have to pay for or have to consume water from a monopoly that is unsuitable for human consumption. It contains unacceptable levels of HAA5 a known carcinogen. We already pay considerably more than the state average and certainly should not pay one penny more to a disreputable company that spends more money on salaries and constant legal issues (this should give someone a clue) than it does on taking proper care of its infrastructure. Will the DPU finally listen to the residents and do the right thing? Housatonic Water Works must be removed. The state or town should take over the water system which will allow for proper funding. 
entry 173
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Tess Diamond 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 25 Hart St., Housatonic, MA 
Comment: It is the responsibility of a private utility to maintain their systems. HWW, has not done this. They need to fix what they have done and provide their customers with clean, safe water. I have been bathing my children in brown water for the eight years I’ve lived in Housatonic. I am concerned for their health and mine.
entry 172
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Doris Ptak
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 3 Forrest St., Housatonic, MA
entry 171
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Deb Ptak
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 3 Forrest St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: This unsafe water went years w/o notice. Mr. Mercer should have keep the pipes clean and water 100% safe. There is a percentage number he should take note. What did he do with all that money we all paid for contaminated (unsafe) water. My mother paid her bills on time. Doris Ptak lived in Housatonic for over 65 yrs. Myself since 1954.
entry 170
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Ken Steiner
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 8 Chestnut Ridge, Box 75, Housatonic, MA
Comment: There is no guarantee that the improvements by Housatonic Water Works will actually fix all the problems so until the water is shown to be consistently clear and free of carcinogens and other contamination a rate increase should not even be considered.
entry 169
Date: 9/21/23
​Name: Susan Magazine
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 332 N. Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
entry 168
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Ellen Lahr
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 208 Pine St., Housatonic, MA
entry 167
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Margaret McLallen
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 327, Housatonic, MA
Comment: This privately owned water company is not delivering safe water, and we have been purchasing drinking water for many years. The town is paying for many fire hydrants that can't be used in a fire. Previous rate increases for maintenance and improvements to the system have not been used for their intended purpose, and very little maintenance has been done. Work that has been done is minimal at best and mostly a result of an emergency/failure. There is zero reason to believe this enormous increase will have any benefit to the system, and it is completely unaffordable to us and the community.
entry 166
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Cindy Kwiatkowski
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 27 Pixley Hill Rd., West Stockbridge, MA
Comment: We have our own well and do not use HWW, but many nearby neighbors do. This should be illegal. I cannot believe the audacity of this company to attempt to charge more for dirty and carcinogenic water. People have a right to clean, safe water. Bring on the lawsuits.
entry 165
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Jason Shron
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 159 Division Street, Great Barrington, MA
entry 164
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Marc Pollack
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 9 Hart Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: This problem is caused by Fred and Jim Mercer’s greed. 
entry 163
Date: 9/21/23
Name: Maria Murillo
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 146 Christian Hill, Great Barrington, MA 
entry 162
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Jess Jordan
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 44 Townhouse Hill Rd, Great Barrington, MA
Comment: Everyone deserves free and nontoxic drinking water. 
entry 161
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Amy Hagerty
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 9 Hart St., Housatonic, MA
entry 160
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Susan Fine
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 135 Hurlburt Road, Great Barrington, MA
Comment: This water situation is unacceptable. Please provide clean, healthy water to everyone who needs! 
entry 159
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Maura Perry 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 399 N Plain Rd., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Please help us! I have lived here for 13 yrs. The water issue has only worsened of the years. I am buying my water from BJ's but still must wash in it.

Why does the State not mandate private water companies to hold restricted funds for capital improvements & repairs? How can the owners continue to strip the company of retained earnings & still be a "public" utility?

HHW should never been allowed to to get to where we are today. Just saying.
entry 158
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Dave Edson
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 246 Park St., Housatonic, MA
entry 157
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Janice Shields
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 53 Division St., Great Barrington, MA
entry 156
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Ryan Emprimo 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 224 Prospect St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Water's filthy Brown how many of our household animals have passed due to cancer way before they should have?
entry 155
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Wendy Scott 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 353 Gore Rd., Oxford, Me. 04270
Comment: I moved out of Housatonic because of the water. Paying for H water but yet having to buy water for drinking, cooking, having our cloths ruined. 
entry 154
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Rebecca Bleau
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 71 VanDeusenville Road, Great Barrington, MA
entry 153
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Gino Mary Errichetto 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 39 Glendale Road, Stockbridge, MA
Comment: Our water is not brown but, I don’t trust it at all. I use Britta filters. 
entry 152
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Gwyneth Connell
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1068 Main St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: I am a school administrator living in Connecticut, but I bought my house when I was living in Berkshire County and hope someday to return there. In the meantime, I am renting the house to two young couples with deep roots in the community.

My house is smaller than many single family homes in the community, but because it contains two units, I am paying about $90 a month to HWW for my tenants to have access to water they cannot safely drink. I take pride in being a landlord who charges affordable rent, well below market rate, in order to help lifelong Berkshires residents stay in their community. If this rate hike goes through, I will either have to pay out of my own pocket (which is by no means deep) or raise their rent, further contributing to the acute problem of housing affordability in Berkshire County.

The Mercers cannot manage their business, and because it is a monopoly, the people of Housatonic are literally paying for their poor decisions. I implore you to prevent the rate hike and force the Mercers to cede their business to the Town of Great Barrington, which we can at least hope will keep the citizens' need for clean, safe water as their primary goal -- not lining the pockets of irresponsible monopolists.

Thank you for your consideration.
entry 151
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Tanya Essig
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 410 Charles St
Comment: Clean water for all world wide!
entry 150
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Linda Fields
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 209 Cottage St, Housatonic, MA
entry 149
Date: 9/20/23
Name: William Fields (ICE)
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 209 Cottage St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Before any rate increase a public - private ownership should be worked out. This new ownership model can then access other revenue sources thus alleviating the need for such an exorbitant rate increase.
entry 148
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Galen Grove
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1091 Main St, Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 147
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Christopher Beacco
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 29 Vandeusenville Rd, Great Barrington, MA
entry 146
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Barbara Bonner 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: P. O. Box 584, Housatonic, MA
entry 145
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Jeff Caminiti
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 118 Hurlburt Road, Great Barrington
Comment: We have had a continuing issue at 19 Kirk Street, a 3 unit rental property. Brown water has persisted, and we have one infant with a tenant unit . . . they have concerns. We added a filter to help, at our cost and the cost of changing the filter on average every 6 to 8 weeks. If a remedy is found, great . . . however, as I understand it, the water company has not stepped up to correct this problem yet. Lets hope we, as a community can help resolve this important safety concern.
entry 144
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Rebecca Tamol-Kay
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 221 Prospect Street, Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 143
Date: 9/20/23
Name: Elizabeth Buttler
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 220 Grove Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: I don't know how the people at HWW can sleep at night. 
entry 142
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Lea Richardson 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 4 Kirk St., Housatonic, MA
entry 141
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Janice Gildawie 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 185 Christian Hill Rd, Great Barrington, MA
Comment: I am opposed to this latest rate increase by the Housatonic Water Works. In particular due to the dramatic increase in monthly rates (at least 112% increase), prior rate increases have not resulted in improved quality and availability of water (including at fire hydrants needed for fighting fires), will pose a hardship to community members that are already reluctant to use tainted water (due to both poor quality as well as disinfecting byproducts like HAA5) and are paying for water separately out of pocket for drinking, cleaning, etc. The additional HWW requests in addition to the large price increase further harm the customers. It is unrealistic to operate an organization supposedly charged with providing a necessary and basic need as a small family owned operation. I urge not only refusal of this rate increase but also for all parties including the attorney general, the town, DPU etc. continue efforts to remove the provision of water from this poorly managed organization to one overseen as some kind of public municipality similar to how the rest of Great Barrington obtains its water. 
entry 140
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Jeff Wheeler
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 6 Averic Rd, Stockbridge, MA
entry 139
Date: 9/19/23
Name: James Schumacher
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
372 North Plain Rd., Housatonic, MA
entry 138
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Leigh Doherty 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 294 N Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
entry 137
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Reece Augcomfar 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 218 Oak St, Housatonic, MA
Comment: HWW is used to hiding behind grimy attorney legalese. Those days are over, no more apathy on the part of Housatonic Residents. They want to gain entrance to and some ew gadget to put water main, but we don't trust them, even if it's the right thing to do. From fake hydrants to them denying shutting off our water at the curb so we could repair our water main when we first moved here. They must go.
entry 136
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Lynn Walker
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 112 East Alford Rd., West Stockbridge, MA
entry 135
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Loriann Moro
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 29 Linda Lane, Housatonic, MA
entry 134
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Lesli Lang
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 394 Undermountain Road, Lenox, MA
entry 133
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Holly Hardman
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 29 Sumner Street, Great Barrington, MA
entry 132
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Tina Sweet
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 372 N Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
Comment: This issue has existed without effective resolution for too long. Delivering unhealthy, carcinogenic (essentially non-potable) water for human consumption is a criminal act. The households served by Housatonic Water Works should be reimbursed for (1) purchased spring water and any installed filtration systems, and (2) a portion of their HWW bill, since we've been unable to use the water for many of it's intended purposes (drinking, cooking, bathing, laundry, etc.). We've been paying for unsafe, unclean water with our hard-earned dollars and, most likely, our health.
entry 131
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Mickey Friedman
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: P.O. BOX 807, Housatonic, MA
Comment: There is no valid justification for a rate hike - rather there are many reasons for a decrease in rates.
entry 130
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Al Blake
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 352 Werden Rd., Becket, MA
entry 129
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Jennifer Browdy
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 11 Forrest St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Allowing HWW to impose a rate increase for unsafe water and poor service is preposterous. The state needs to facilitate the takeover of the water service by the town of Great Barrington, so that municipal loans can be obtained to make the water of Housatonic safe.
entry 128
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Tracey Paradise 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 212 Highland St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: As grateful as I am that my water is clear it doesn't excuse the fact that my community members don't have the same but are billed as if they do. 
entry 127
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Krista Brazie
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 621 South Sandisfield Rd., New Marlborough, MA
Comment: Clean water should be a right in this country. 
entry 126
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Christine Despres-Hutchinson
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
1048 Main Street, PO Box 445, Housatonic, MA
Comment: We suffered through months of terrible water that stained everything it touched. Showers, laundry, drinking water (!) cooking etc etc all affected terribly. We finally gave up and got an expensive water filter - which isn't a complete solution - all the while paying for water, as if it was water we could actually use . . . 

Enough is enough. Personally, I think Great Barrington and the state should be involved because here we have a whole town that is seriously adversely impacted and it's costing us in fees, costs (so many having to buy bottled water), and property values. All in what is otherwise a pretty high-end area. We have paid and paid and are bearing the brunt of really bad management and lack of concern. Kids and the elderly are so especially hurt by this!

​It's time to get some action on a situation that has been going on now for YEARS. Are we not a more proactive and reasonable state and county? 
entry 125
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Ruby Aver
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
PO Box 726, Housatonic, MA
entry 124
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Chris Tucci
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 366 Park St., Housatonic, MA
entry 123
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Wanda DiOrio
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 654 East St., Great Barrington, MA
entry 122
Date: 9/19/23
Name: Susan Schorn
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1446 West St, Pittsfield, Ma
Comment: Disgraceful. Help these people.
entry 121
Date: 9/18/23
Name: Hershel Strosin
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 260 Anderson Parks, Great Barrington, MA
entry 120
Date: 9/18/23
Name: Mellonie Noble
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 14 Wyantenuck St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: We shouldn’t have to pay the amount we already pay for dirty unsafe water. A 100% increase is insanity. 
entry 119
Date: 9/18/23
Name: Karen Lyness
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 
5 cone ave, left / PO Box 119, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Clean water is a right, not a privilege.
entry 118
Date: 9/18/23
Name: David Long
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 304 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
Comment: While our household is no longer a HWW customer (we now have a well that serves our house and farm), the failing water system affects everyone who lives in this and the surrounding communities.

To ask for such an extraordinary rate increase while providing increasingly poor service and water quality adds insult to severe injury. There is no reason (based on the company’s long running history) that any resident would believe that the situation would improve if the rate increases were granted. Given how much effort, money, patience, and health risks HWW’s customers have endured, it is only reasonable that rate payers consider “showing them the money” AFTER HHW shows customers clean water, universal water pressure, and working fire hydrants.
entry 117
Date: 9/18/23
Name: James Andersen 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 15 Wyantenuck Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 116
Date: 9/18/23
Name: Lorimer Burns
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 212 Cottage St, Housatonic, MA
entry 115
Date: 9/18/23
Name: Dylan Bower
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 221 South Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: I can't drink it and scared to shower in it. I don't even feed the pets the water. This needs to change. 
entry 114
Date: 9/18/23
Name: Erin Naylor 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 221 south st Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 113
Date: 9/18/23
Name: NAACP Berkshire Branch
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 605, Pittsfield, MA 01202
Comment: There is a strong correlation between low-income communities/communities of color and poor drinking water quality. The NAACP has led efforts with local branches regarding the need for clean and safe drinking water in many communities which have faced decades of disinvestment.
entry 112
Date: 9/18/23
Name: Kate Tucci
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 366 Park St, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Ratepayers should not have to pay for years of neglect and denial. 
entry 111
Date: 9/18/23
Name: Hannah Hull
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 203 High Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 110
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Elizabeth Buttler 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 220 Grove Street P.O. Box 683, Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 109
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Kristabel Vargas
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 31 Vandeusenville Rd, Great Barrington, Ma 01230
entry 108
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Bonnie Cunningham
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 70 Brush Hill Rd., Great Barrington, MA
entry 107
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Maria Spratt 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 15A Cone Ave., Housatonic, MA
entry 106
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Aldonna Girouard
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 211 Highland St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: I am opposed to all rate hikes until all water quality issues are solved.
entry 105
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Michael Spratt
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 825, Housatonic, MA
entry 104
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Megan Murray Woods
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1071 Main Street, Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 103
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Sofia Bernal
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 15A Cone Ave., Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 102
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Matt and Michele Barnard 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 287 Great Barrington Road, Housatonic, MA 
entry 101
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Madeline Despres-Chen
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1048 Main St. PO Box 445, Housatonic, MA
Comment: This is absolutely ridiculous. Housatonic residents should not have to live like this. We are part of Great Barrington, and yet we are overlooked and neglected. No one in this country should be without clean and safe drinking water. No one in this small community should be without clean and safe drinking water. This is a fundamental human need and right. This is affecting our livelihood, our health, our housing and property values. This is unacceptable.
entry 100
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Jane Wright
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 380 Park Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: I spend over $100 a month for water. $60 for nasty Housatonic Water Works water and $45 for drinking water from Berkshire Springs. The Mercer family is not and never has been capable of running a water company. Our water should be owned and operated by the Great Barrington Fire District. The Mercer’s are a huge liability for the town. We must move ownership as soon as possible to avoid further strife for families in the HWW district and to avoid future litigation.
entry 99
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Eric Schibi
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 3 Meadow St., Housatonic
entry 98
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Richard Lis
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 12 Meadow St., Housatonic, MA
entry 97
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Danielle Lis
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 5 Meadow St., Housatonic, MA
entry 96
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Erica Mielke
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 360 Park Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 95
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Marthe M Bourdon
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 10 Mountain Street, Great Barrington, MA
Comment: I will not pay more for brown water. You should be paying us for the spring water we have to purchase elsewhere!
entry 94
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Jim Frangione
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 26 Kirk Street, #551, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Please do your job and act to protect the residents of Housatonic, the customers of Housatonic Water Works our only water supplier, from the unsafe, discolored and unsavory water we are required (and condemned) to accept. It is unacceptable. 
entry 93
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Eric Steuernagle
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 205 Long Pond Road, Great Barrington, MA
Comment: I am one of the first customers on the line for Housatonic Water and it is atrocious what we deal with. 
entry 92
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Lori Hawkfield 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1 Monument Mountain Rd., Stockbridge, MA
entry 91
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Cara Carroll
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 12 Beacon Hill, Housatonic, MA
entry 90
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Michael Carroll
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 12 Beacon Hill Road, Housatonic, MA
entry 89
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Hillary Howard
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 318 Park St North Unit, Great Barrington, MA
entry 88
Date: 9/17/23
Name: Juanita Casey 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 24 Kirk Street PO Box 736, Housatonic, MA
Comment: We already pay well above the average monthly water cost here in Massachusetts. The need for HWW increase is due to their failure to take care of infrastructure, maintenance, and necessary improvements over decades. Their bottom line profit took priority over integrity of business and quality of product (water). If they had taken care of the business appropriately over the decades they wouldn't be facing the cost to bring HWW back to acceptable standards. The cost of their failures are now being forced on to the consumer/customers of HWW. We as customers should have some recourse from being victimized and hostages of this outrageous HWW Monopoly game. 
entry 87
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Jess Bennett
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1045 Main Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 86
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Irene Bara
Email: Irene.bara@ Verizon.net
Full Address: 11 Comstock lane, Housatonic, MA 
entry 85
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Irene Bara
Email: Irene.bara@ Verizon.net
Full Address: 11 Comstock lane, Housatonic, MA 
entry 84
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Joseph Method
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 9 Mountain View Avenue, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Housatonic Water Works should not be rewarded for its decades of neglect.
entry 83
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Lucinda Hastings 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 12 Wright Lane, Housatonic, MA 
Comment: We have long been paying for a product that we can’t use in the way that it is generally intended for use. We have been paying for carcinogenic, distasteful, sometimes brown water that permanently stains laundry, inadequate fire hydrants. The Mercers have proven themselves, incompetent and deceitful. They do not seem to understand their role in providing water. I cannot afford a rate increase and like others have to get in my car and travel to get clean water for drinking, but can’t even get clean water for showering and laundry, watering my garden. I am already having to spend time and money outside of paying the monthly bills to Housatonic Water Works because unbelievably we have had to pay for a product that we can’t use for the most part. NO RATE INCREASE! 
entry 82
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Margaret Hassett
Email: [email protected] 
Full Address: 204 Pleasant St, Housatonic, MA
Comment: I am concerned about 3 items concerning HWW.
1. Is the existing water source Long Pond still an adequate water as source? Is it no longer enough to meet the HWW needs to provide the product (clean usable water) and the company is adding unrealistic or unsustainable means to continue the company.
2. Do the owners have the engineering and business skill set to support a valid business and product.
3. Has the owner provided and managed adequate upkeep and system support through their years of ownership or are we now paying for their oversight and lack of planning and upkeep.
entry 81
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Thaddeus Biernacki 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 45 Hart st. POB 249, Housatonic, MA
Comment: The increase asked for is beyond ridiculous. The requested privileges also ridiculous. They just gave themselves a 10K raise. Now they are giving themselves 114K a year! Could be part of the problem. They are a private company how do you control them, can you control them?
entry 80
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Jean Louis
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 265, Housatonic, MA
Comment: The water smells bad even after filtration. I have ruined things in the wash and taken brown showers. Have lived in many states and never had this problem elsewhere.
entry 79
Date: 9/16/23
Name: Jean Vaughn 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 91 Vandeusenville Road, Housatonic, MA
Comment: HWW needs to be looked at for its mismanagement of funds and failure to set aside and keep up with capital improvements. They are using their customers like their own bank as a never ending source of funds. Our water rates shoujd not be 5 x that of neighboring villages. And it should be clean. Brown water is unacceptable. Water that fails in quality when tested is unacceptable. This rate increase is not acceptable. - Jean Vaughn
entry 78
Date: 9/15/23
Name: Livia Duque-Driscoll 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 224 Oak St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: We resist to pay more than we have been paying right now. Mr. Mercer increased our water bill 5 years ago, promising that money would go to fixed the water infrastructure and he didn’t do anything about it. We have been buying bottled drinking water for years. We resist to pay more than we’re paying now.
entry 77
Date: 9/15/23
​Name: Kurt Barbieri 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 259 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
entry 76
Date: 9/15/23
Name: Deborah Bauch
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 303 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Past rate increases by HWW did not improve the water quality or the infrastructure. Despite a number of rate increases in the past, the company has not spent more money on fixing the infrastructure, but instead, lined their pockets.
entry 75
Date: 9/15/23
Name: Patricia Frik
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 39 Kirk Street, MA, Housatonic
Comment: It is unconscionable that HHW is a private company with no accountability. Water should be a public utility. Clean, affordable water is a basic right. This inequitable situation should not be allowed to continue. Some residents of Housatonic can not even bathe, do laundry let alone drink their water. Testing has shown we are all exposed to carcinogens in our water at unsafe levels, even those of us 'fortunate' enough to have clear water. Neglect of infrastructure for very many years has resulted in this situation. Why should residents be forced to pay over double current rates for the owners' criminal neglect?
entry 74
Date: 9/15/23
Name: Meghan Montano
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 37 Kirk Street, Housatonic MA 01236
entry 73
Date: 9/15/22
Name: Kate Hocker
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 358 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Ratepayers are being denied legally safe water! Research shows a strong correlation between low-income communities and communities of color and poor drinking water quality. We must come together as a community (Great Barrington included) to fix this problem.
entry 72
Date: 9/15/23
Name: Chanda Roberts (formerly Shepardson)
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 206 Pleasant Street North, Housatonic, MA
entry 71
Date: 9/15/23
Name: Hillary Rush 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1060 Main St, Housatonic, MA
entry 70
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Marisa Burntitus
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 318 Park St., Great Barrington, MA
Comment: F**k HWW! ​
entry 69
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Collin Woods
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1071 Main St, Housatonic, MA 01236
Comment: I will not pay for this absurd increase while I am not able to use the water in my house in a safe way for me and my family. We pay to have Culligan water delivery as is. There has yet to be a clear plan as to what these increases in payments will be used for in regards to improving the water quality. Also- a timeline of when that will happen. There seems to be very little oversight on the Mercers other than required testing of the water, which they have shown has failed standards over and over again. We need help around this desperately. 
entry 68
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Barbara Reiser
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 41 Hart Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 67
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Donna Heintzem
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 301 Cunningham Hill Rd, Canaan NY
Comment: I own 8 Hart St, Housatonic, and manage my mother’s rental properties at 210 and 212 Pleasant. We keep rents at all properties very reasonable (all are under market). If HWW has its way, we will be paying nearly 100 a month for water for 1 single woman! The other houses will experience similar increases. We cannot keep rents low under these circumstances. What’s more important — affordable housing or enriching a privately-owned utility??
entry 66
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Karen Brehm
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 253 North Plain Rd, Housatonic, MA
entry 65
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Brian Bitner
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 263 Park Street, Great Barrington, MA
entry 64
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Gisele Landry
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 360 Park St #1, Housatonic, MA
Comment: The rate hike is not justified or conscionable given the current state of affairs. We are already paying lots extra for alternate sources of clean drinking/cooking water. Some cannot even do this minimum. Would like to see better proposals and co-operation with the greater Great Barrington. This is an ongoing hardship which must be seen and addressed as such. And some concrete steps done soon.

entry 63
Date: 9/14/23
Name: AlaynaJane Formel
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 25 Van Deusenville Rd., Housatonic, MA 
entry 62
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Mokh Maliki
Email: [email protected]
Full Address 
210 cottage St., Housatonic, MA 
entry 61
Date: 9/14/23
Name: Brianna I. Regan
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 210 cottage St., Housatonic, MA
​Comment: Housatonic Water Works, a monopoly, does not deserve the privilege of improving their assets (they are already overpaid) while taking even more money from our pockets for horrible water and service. They have not followed through with past promises and should not be approved for any additional rate increase. 
entry 60
Date: 9/13/22
Name: Joyce Peirce
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 467, 37 Hart St, Housatonic, MA
Comment: The Housatonic water issue needs to be an ongoing high priority until it’s fully addressed and we consistently have clean safe affordable water. 

entry 59
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Matthew Blodgett
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 6 Walnut St., Great Barrington, MA 
entry 58
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Liza Gennari
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1096 Main St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Please do not allow this rate increase. We already pay a ton for this failing system and poison product.
entry 57
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Doug and Paula Stephenson
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 351 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
Comment: For, at least the past three Rate Cases, HWW has justified their proposed increase with “aging infrastructure,“ their request was, at least in part, granted. And what did HWW do with that increased revenue? They performed MINIMAL updates to the infrastructure, deciding instead to increase the salaries to their shareholders. It is entirely unreasonable to expect the ratepayers to shoulder the burden of another rate hike before the infrastructure has been updated to ensure that clean, drinkable water is always available.
entry 56
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Cathy Brandt 
Email: [email protected] 
Full Address: 393 North Plain Rd. PO box 601, Housatonic, MA
entry 55
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Coreen Larkin
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 229 Grove St, Housatonic, MA
entry 54
Date: 9/13/23
Name: James Clark
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: P.O. Box 35 3 Williams Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 53
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Margaret Heilbrun
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: Front Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Brown water, potential carcinogens, insufficient fire (not service) hydrant pressure, company owners with six-figure salaries, and a small claims magistrate who continually rules in their favor, years of deferred maintenance. A rate increase will punish HWW customers again and the problems will not be solved under current ownership. 
entry 52
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Christopher Rowland
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 227 Prospect Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: My wife and I strongly oppose any rate increase for water in Housatonic, and also oppose any new rights being given to the water company, including to come on private land without permission. The company has taken profits from the community for decades, and has not invested sufficiently in maintenance and upgrades, leading to the current crisis. We believe the company itself should pay for upgrades, not the rate payers who have been subject to poor quality and potentially dangerous water for years.
entry 51
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Kathy Regan
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 235-A Grove Street, Housatonic, MA
​Comment: According to 2022 statistics, the average water rate across Massachusetts is $34 per month. Housatonic is already paying considerably more than the state average. The state with the most expensive average water rate is West Virginia at $91 per month. If Housatonic Water Works (HWW) is allowed to more than double residents' rates, we will be paying on average more than ANY other state in the entire USA for water that often does not meet legal safety standards.

The DEP clearly said that the new procedures that HWW wishes to implement are experimental and may not work, so it could be a complete waste of funds except to enhance the Housatonic Water Works Company (a for-profit monopoly with a very poor track record, extremely poor service, highly questionable business and billing procedures, and many violations including selling polluted water for years that does not meet legal safety standards).

Past rate hikes by HWW did not improve the water quality or the infrastructure. We need to stop throwing good, hard-earned money after bad. The residents should not have to take the burden of another rate increase (not even a partial one) that will bring residents any further above the $34 water rate average for Massachusetts. It has been shown that literally millions of dollars will be needed to upgrade HWWs system to solve all water issues in Housatonic. If the residents, businesses, and tourists of Great Barrington (of which Housatonic is a part) were being exposed to carcinogenic, brown, smelly, gritty water this problem would have been fixed immediately, not allowed to go on year, after year, after year as it has in Housatonic. We must find a better way to provide safe water to the affected residents in Housatonic, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge. We deserve better.
entry 50
Date: 9/13/23
Name: Suzanne Colpitts
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 14 Fairview Road, PO BOX 91, Housatonic, MA
entry 49
Date: 9/11/23
Name: Lorimer Burns
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 212 Cottage St,, POB 413, POB 413, Housatonic, MA
Comment: HWW MUST Fix the problem!!!!! Not raise the rates.
entry 48
Date: 9/11/23
​Name: Susan Weinberg
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 7 Water Street, Housatonic, MA
entry 47
Date: 9/11/23
​Name: Beth Ring
Email: [email protected]
Full Address 
360 Park St., Unit 6, Housatonic, MA
entry 46
Date: 9/11/23
​Name: Mary Walters
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 5 Housatonic CT., Stockbridge
Comment: We have a Stockbridge address but live off Furnace — so Housatonic water . . . it’s shameful that we have water that is undrinkable and yet you want us to pay more for it!
entry 45
Date: 9/11/23
Name: Eliza Hewat
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 7 Water Street, Housatonic, MA 
entry 44
Date: 9/11/23
​Name: Rob Walsh 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 5 crimson Lane, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Shocking we have to do this. After decades of the same thing DPU fight for us or we have no choice but to fight you too.
entry 43
Date: 9/11/23
​Name: Tara Kimberley
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 360 Park St. #7, Housatonic, MA
entry 42
Date: 9/11/23
​Name: Bee Dietemann
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 5 Housatonic Court, Housatonic, MA
Comment: We are paying too much already for filthy, carcinogenic water. Please do not allow HWW to double the rates and still not take care of the problems. Previous rate increases failed to address filtration and pipe repair/replacement. Also Mercer should not have access to meters at his whim. Nor tax customers that want to duscontinue service by driling their own wells. He needs to provide clean, safe water at a reasonable rate!!!
entry 41
Date: 9/11/23
​Name: Christopher Dietemann
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 331 Park Street N., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Although there should be no rate increase until water quality improves, please makes sure that there are financial controls in place for any rate increase you do ultimately approve such that the money raised is: 1. Being used ONLY for the purpose of the necessary capital improvements, and; 2. That the rate increase is cancelled once those improvements have been implemented. Long hard experience has demonstrated that Mr. Dresser is not to be trusted to do the right thing. 
entry 40
Date: 9/10/23
Name: Sarah Culmer
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 298 Great Barrington Road, Housatonic, MA
entry 39
​Date: 9/10/23
Name: Dennis Clark
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 40 Hart Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Time for a change.
entry 38
​Date: 9/10/23
Name: Amanda Clark
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 42 Hart St, Housatonic, MA
entry 37
​Date: 9/10/23
Name: Brett Clark
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 42 Hart Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Unacceptable!
entry 36
​Date: 9/10/23
Name: Roberta Clark
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 42 Hart Street, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Insanity that the our water is not drinkable. But yet we still have to pay and he wants an increase. I 110% do not agree with the increase that is proposed.
entry 35
​Date: 9/10/23
Name: Kelly Cade
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 274 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
entry 34
​Date: 9/9/23
Name: Kristin Piasecki
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 276 Great Barrington Rd
entry 33
Date: 9/9/23
Name: Tracee Augcomfar 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 218 Oak Street, Box 722
Comment: That our state rep is not all over this is absurd. That great Barrington doesn't obligate and regulate HWW is another absurdity. HWW has allowed our system to deteriorate, they've endangered our health, if there was a fire or homes would burn as there is little to no water pressure. And they have the Audacity to ask DPU to make US pay for HWW's incompetence. Not today! We won't stand for it any more!
entry 32
Date: 9/9/23
Name: Jackie Sinico
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 2 bernard gibbons drive
entry 31
Date: 9/9/23
Name: Jean Louis
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: PO Box 265, Housatonic, MA
Comment: The water is not safe and it is unlawful that we should have to pay more for it. The company is mismanaged and needs to be taken over by those who can run it better.
entry 30
Date: 9/9/23
Name: Beverly Nourse 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 4 Linda Lane, Housatonic, MA
entry 29
Date: 9/9/23
​Name: Iin P Cox
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 289 Great Barrington Rd
Comment: HWW has been irresponsible in providing good service and the water quality has been endangering our health. Asking for increase rate is unacceptable and upsetting, that HWW can keep operating with disregard of their responsibility to their costumers. And as private company, they should be responsible for all as private company, not putting it to its costumers. This monopoly of service has been putting residents of Housatonic and half of WS under Housatonic mailing address in very challenging situation and it is unacceptable that the town and even the State can put this matter to resolve. I am sure, If we have other option of water providers, we would have chosen them. Please do not approved the increase! Have HWW held accountable for its lack of responsibility to its costumers. Thank you 
entry 28
Date: 9/9/23
Name: Phyllis Vine
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 6 Samantha Lane, West Stockbridge, Ma 0266
entry 27
Date: 9/9/23
Name: Patricia O’Neill
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 290 Great Barrington Rd, Housatonic, MA
Comment: How and why would you propose to increase rates when you can not provide a safe product?
entry 26
Date: 9/9/23
​Name: Gioacchino Taliercio
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 213 Oak Street, Housatonic, MA 01236
Comment: A monopolistic private corporation completely mismanaging a public water utility for decades in the village of Housatonic, town of Great Barrington, MA should be ashamed of this attempt to more than double its customers’ basic water utility bill and more than double its rate for water usage above a base rate. DPU and Great Barrington must reign in this outrageous attempt to extort residents while this private company continues to ignore its responsibility to provide a safe and clear water service to its customers. Everyone knows that a rate increase is not the best way to address the urgently needed upgrades and investments that are necessary for a properly functioning water utility in our town. Any rate increase will only serve to enable business as usual and should be categorized as insufficient and improper. Current Housatonic residents should not be footing the bill for decades of negligence and mismanagement. 
entry 25
Date: 9/9/23
​Name: B Carter White
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 8 Water Street West Stockbridge MA 01236
entry 24
Date 9/9/23
​Name: Mary Rivers
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 278 Great Barrington Rd, Housatonic, Ma. 01236
Comment: I only use less than 2000 gallons of water per month on average, doubling the water bill to $89 per month is absurd for the quality of water I am getting.
entry 23
Date: 9/8/23
Name: Christine Koval
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 337 N Plain Rd, Housatonic, MA
Comment: Ratepayers are denied legally safe water from HWW, and are already paying additionally to obtain safe water from other sources when possible.
entry 22
Date: 9/8/23
Name: Ashley Blodgett
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 6 Walnut St, Great Barrington, MA 01230
entry 21
Date: 9/8/23
Name: Amanda Cross
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 2 Housatonic Court, Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 20
Date: 9/8/23
Name: Debra Herman
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 373 N Plain Road
Comment: Housatonic Water Works is not a customer focused company. It is a monopoly which exists to enrich its owners. It cannot be counted upon to keep promises to customers or regulatory agencies. It does not always tell the truth. It bullies those who attempt to seek justice in small claims court. What exactly are the private roads whose mains it claims not to own? Do they have documentation to prove this claim? Why do they need additional rights to collect monies from customers when they have a 100% success rate in small claims court and are willing to threaten to stop service. Please DPU, stand up for HWW customers who are long suffering and who have no power to protect themselves from a greedy and uncaring corporation.
entry 19
Date: 9/8/23
Name: Andrew Berens
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1079 Main St., Housatonic, MA
Comment: Despite a number of rate increases in the past, the company has not spent more money on fixing the infrastructure, but lining their pockets. Looking at the 2022 income statement, 77% of the $712k revenue is used to pay the owners salaries, lawyers, insurance and miscellaneous items. How can they run businesses like this. Why would anyone give them a rate increase?
​
The company has failed to adequately maintain the infrastructure, maximize their revenues (because the meters were not updated for 5G cellular), abide by DEP and DPU regulations, and spends more time in small claims court than addressing the source of the issues. A rate increase should not be an option. The waterworks needs a major change in ownership because the town has lost complete faith in the owners to operate this critical resource in the best interests of the Housatonic citizens. 
entry 18
Date: 9/8/23
Name: Rachel Duvall
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 246 Park Street, Great Barrington (Housatonic), MA 01230 
Comment: It’s absurd and cruel that HWW is considering raising our rates and placing even more financial burden on its customers after years of unsafe drinking water. We are already forced to pay more for separate services in order to ensure that our families have healthy, clean water to drink. How will these increased funds be used? And how many more years will we be forced to pay for water we cannot drink? 
entry 17
Date: 9/8/23
Name: Amy Taylor 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 9 Mountain View Ave 
entry 16
Date: 9/8/23
Name: Kate Van Olst
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 24 Hart Street, Housatonic, MA 01236
Comment: No rate increase!
entry 15
​Date: 9/8/23
Name: Jennifer Windram
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 214 Highland St, Housatonic, MA 01236
Comment: I oppose the rate increase. 
entry 14
Date: 9/7/23
Name: Ken Steiner
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 8 chestnut ridge
entry 13
Date: 9/7/23
Name: Sherry Steiner
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 8 Chestnut Ridge
entry 12
Date: 9/7/23
Name: Nathan Turner
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 41 High St, West Stockbridge, MA 01266
Comment: This is criminal, I have been a resident for the last 15 years and the last two rate increases were supposed to be for major repairs and upgrades that were never completed. This company will not spend any money on repairs until it makes at least twice what those repairs cost. This has to stop, we pay outrageous prices for water that is not even safe to use!
entry 11
Date: 9/7/23
Name: Jean Vaughn
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 91 van deusenville road great Barrington 01230. 
Comment: Untrustworthy-fire hydrant issue, water samples only being taken only on his property (I thought I heard this). We are part of great Barrington and deserve the same level of service in terms of public utilities. 
entry 10
Date: 9/7/23
Name: Bruce Loubert
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 70 Division Street, Great Barrington, MA
entry 9
Date: 9/7/23
Name: Michelle Loubert
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 70 Division Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
entry 8
​Date: 9/7/23
​Name: Elizabeth Buttler 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 220 Grove Street. PO Box 683 Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 7
Date: 9/7/23
Name: Robert Lis
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 1027 Main St. PO Box 791- Housatonic, MA 01236
entry 6
Date: 9/7/23
Name: Irene Lis
Email: [email protected]
Full Address:1027 Main St. PO Box791-Housatonic, MA 01236
Comment: I think raising the rates by over 120% is outrageous. We are on a limited income and cannot afford these proposed rates by HWW. 
entry 5
​Date: 9/7/23
Name: Carol McGlinchey 
Email: [email protected]
Full Address:10 Beacon Hill, Housatonic, MA
Comment: I have never used HWW water for cooking or drinking due to safety issues and the high chlorine levels. I cannot afford to buy drinking water. For many years I have had to drive a distance to access free spring water. As a low income senior this is getting harder to do. A rate increase would be extremely difficult for me. I never even use the minimum allotment of 2500 gallons.
entry 4
​Date: 9/7/23
Name: Thomas Lovett
Email: [email protected]
Full Address, 383 N Plain Rd
Comment: I not only worry about the chemicals/minerals in the water but the supply for fire protection. I used to be a "chauffer" (driver/pump operater) on the fire department and when we used a hydrant in Housatonic we had to watch the pressure gauge closely as to not collapse the systems water pipes by drawing a vacuum since we were lucky to get 600gpm on a good hydrant. There weren't very many of those either!
entry 3
​Date: 9/7/23
Name: Marlene Koloski
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 2 Bernard Gibbons Drive
entry 2
​Date: 9/6/23
Name: Janet Greenlee
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 256 Park Street
entry 1
​Date: 9/5/23
Name: Donna Jacobs
Email: [email protected]
Full Address: 260 Park Street Great Barrington, MA 01230
Comment: The provision of safe public water delivery is the responsibility of local, state, and federal government. HWW has not applied for low interest rate funding that is available through the state to upgrade its infrastructure, purification, and filtering systems. These resources should be accessed before placing the financial burden on ratepayers.