UMass Hydrologist Briefs Belchertown on Drought, Groundwater Supply
Conservation · Meeting of September 2, 2026
Belchertown Conservation Department hosts UMass hydrologist on drought and well water risk. Professor Konstantinos Andriadas told residents that Massachusetts has been in a Level 2 drought since 2024 despite 4.5 to 9.5 inches of July rain, because "rain in July is not a deposit" for groundwater, which recharges only from winter precipitation. Of Belchertown's roughly 15,400 residents, about 3,300 are served by the town water district while more than 12,000 rely on private wells, 99 percent of them drilled into bedrock, with a median depth of 290 feet.
Quabbin Reservoir storage stood at 80 percent as of August 1, well above the 45 percent low of the 1962-1966 drought. Andriadas urged residents to locate their well completion report and test their water on a regular schedule.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,480 words
Source: the Conservation meeting of September 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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