Community Corner

Regulations of the Reservoir

This week's "You Ask...Patch Answers" topic addresses reservoirs and regulations.

You may know by now that swimming in a public reservoir can land you in hot water with the law, as demonstrated recently with the arrest of a dozen people up in Gloucester, but are you clear on the rules for other water-based activities?

In general, local laws and state regulations set by the Mass. Department of Public Health prohibit swimming, boating or fishing in drinking water supplies, but there are some exceptions made at times.

Over at Putnamville Reservoir, for instance, you can row, canoe or kayak -- but no motor-boating -- and fishing is allowed. Bathing is expressly prohibited.

Although the 454-acre reservoir is located in Danvers, it is owned and operated by the Salem-Beverly Water Supply Board to supply drinking water to those two cities. The Danvers Police Department, however, is tasked with enforcing the rules.

Sgt. Robert Bettencourt said the water board sets the local rules, as mentioned above, and they are posted around the reservoir. He added that officers also try to keep people out of the water at nighttime.

"It really hasn't been a problem for us in recent years," he said, noting there may still be the occasional swimmer or two.

Bettencourt said there was a period several years ago when youths were partying frequently in the reservoir and it became a problem the department had to deal with.

"Unfortunately, you do have to start arresting people sometimes," he said. The partying stopped once youths realized police weren't going to tolerate it, he said.


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