Your Water

All of the water supply for Salem and Beverly comes from the Ipswich River Watershed even though neither town lies within the watershed. Both towns purchase their water from the Beverly and Salem Water Supply Board, whose withdrawal is the largest amount taken from the Ipswich River watershed. About half of the water is pumped from the Ipswich River during the higher flows of winter and spring, from December 1st - May 31st. It is stored in Putnamville Reservoir and/or Wenham Lake for summer use. The rest of the water comes from the Miles River sub-basin, where Longham Reservoir and Wenham Lake are located.