Explore the source of your drinking water at Borden Brook and Cobble Mountain Reservoirs located in Blandford and Granville, MA. The pristine Little River Watershed forest that surrounds the reservoirs serves as an outdoor classroom for environmental science and ecology activities.

Tours can be customized based on current classroom units or topics of interest, and may include:

• History and overview of the reservoirs
• Watershed Management and Forest Ecology
• Cobble Critter Scavenger Hunt
• STEM/Engineering – design your own water filter; design your own water transmission system
• Stream exploration/ponding
• Hiking/walking
• Watershed/Water Operations Career Exploration

Visit Details:

Location: Blandford and Granville, MA

Facilities:  This tour takes place entirely outdoors and requires walking on a variety of surfaces. Restroom facilities are limited (port-a-potty only).

Recommended age groups: 5^th grade and up; Modified tours are available for younger groups. College student groups, industry groups, or other adult groups may also be interested in a watershed tour.

What to wear: Closed-toe study shoes required; appropriate clothing for outdoor activities and layers recommended as it can be cooler in the watershed.

Estimated duration: Approximately 2 hours depending on group size and planned activities.

Group size: To get the most out of the experience and for safety, groups should be no more than 30-40 people.

Driving Directions: Wildcat Road, Granville, MA (approximately 25 miles/45 minutes from downtown Springfield); route includes unpaved watershed roads

Due to construction of the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant on the campus, availability of tours is limited. We look forward to welcoming groups of all ages at the new plant in 2028!

See how water from Cobble Mountain Reservoir is filtered and treated at West Parish Filters Drinking Water Treatment Plant in Westfield, MA.

Tours can be customized based on current classroom topics but may include:

• History and overview of the water system
• Flow of water through the plant/treatment steps at the Rapid Sand Filtration Plant
• Water Operations Control room
• Laboratory
• History of Springfield’s water treatment/slow sand filters
• Future of Springfield water treatment/construction of new water treatment plant
• Water Operations Career Exploration

Visit Details:

Location: Westfield, MA

Facilities: This tour takes place indoors and outdoors and requires walking on a variety of surfaces. The existing treatment plant was constructed in 1974 and is not equipped with an elevator.

Recommended age groups: 5^th grade and up. College student groups, industry groups, or other adult groups may also be interested in a water treatment plant tour.

What to wear: Closed-toe study shoes required; appropriate clothing and layers recommended as the tour is inside and outside.  Protective equipment including hard hats are required during the tour and will be provided.

Duration: Approximately 1.5 -2 hours.

Group size: To get the most out of the experience and for safety, groups should be no more than 25 people. For larger groups please contact the Commission regarding options for splitting the group up.

Driving Directions: 1515 Granville Road, Westfield, MA (approximately 20 miles/35 minutes from downtown Springfield)

A tour at the Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (SRWTF) on Bondi’s Island in Agawam answers the question – Where Does My Flush Go?

Treating approximately 40 million gallons of water per day from around the Lower Pioneer Valley, the SRWTF is the second largest wastewater treatment facility in New England. As part of the tour students will see first hand how wastewater is treated through primary and secondary treatment, which utilizes a biological process, and clean water is returned to the environment via the Connecticut River.

Beyond the science and engineering there is a little history too! Learn more about the history of Springfield’s sewer system dating back to the 1800s, the evolution of wastewater treatment on the island since the 1930s, and find out how Bondi’s Island got its name (or so legend says!)

The tour also highlights the many rewarding careers in the 24/7/365 operation and is hosted in collaboration with the Commission’s contracted wastewater operator, Veolia North America.

From basic community lessons to complex engineering the SRWTF is a great educational tour for students from elementary school through college from the region, including vocational plumbing or related trades, college level engineering or environmental science, industry organizations, community groups and more.

Visit Details:

Location: Bondi’s Island, Agawam, MA (off Route 5)

Facilities: This tour takes place indoors and outdoors and requires walking on a variety of surfaces.

Recommended age groups: 5^th grade and up; Modified tours are available for younger groups. College student groups, industry groups, or other adult groups may also be interested in a water treatment plant tour.

What to wear: Closed-toe study shoes required; appropriate clothing and layers recommended as the tour is inside and outside.  Protective equipment including hard hats are required during the tour and will be provided.

Estimated duration: approximately 1.5 -2 hours

Group size: To get the most out of the experience and for safety, groups should be no more than 25 people. For larger groups please contact the Commission regarding options for splitting the group up.

Driving Directions: 250 M Street Extension, Agawam, MA (approximately 1.5 miles/7minutes from downtown Springfield)

Please note, due to ongoing construction at the wastewater treatment plant, tours may be limited or certain areas of facilities may not be accessible to tour groups.

A day of learning and exploring in our outdoor classroom at Ludlow Reservoir including an overview of the water system and system history, hands-on activities, and passive recreation.

Ludlow Reservoir, originally constructed in 1875 as the primary water supply for Springfield, is now operated as an emergency water supply and open to the public for passive recreation.

Group visit activities are based out of a pavilion at the reservoir which is located within the SWSC operations area and public access is restricted.

Visits can be customized based on current classroom topics but may include:

• History and overview of the water system/history of Ludlow Reservoir
• Watershed Management and Forest Ecology
• Water Careers
• Invasive species management
• Forest Scavenger Hunt and/or birding
• STEM/Engineering – design your own water filter; design your own water transmission system
• Stream exploration/ponding
• Hiking/walking
• Watershed/Water Operations Career Exploration

Visit Details: 

Location: Ludlow MA

Facilities: This tour takes place entirely outdoors and requires walking on a variety of surfaces. Restroom facilities are limited (port-a-potty only). Some group activities take place under our pavilion, or outside in the watershed.

What to wear: Closed-toe study shoes required; appropriate clothing for outdoor activities and layers recommended as it can be cooler in the watershed.

Estimated duration: Approximately 1.5 -2 hours (or longer depending on group size and activities)

Group size: Can accommodate approximately 25-50 students depending on planned activities.

Driving Directions: Ludlow Reservoir, 1149 Center Street, (Route 21), Ludlow MA (approximately 15 miles/30 minutes from downtown Springfield

To request a tour of a Commission facility please email info@waterandsewer.org.

The Commission typically requires at least two weeks advance notice for tours, however dates fill up quickly so please reach out as soon as possible to request your tour.

Tours are typically held during normal business hours, Monday – Friday 8AM -3PM. Due to weather conditions, the Commission recommends watershed tours be held in the spring, summer, or fall. Treatment plant tours can take place in winter, but note, a portion of the tours are held outside.

The Commission is happy to host groups at our facilities to learn more about the drinking water and wastewater systems.

We understand the costs associated with bus transportation for school groups may be a limitation and we have a small budget available to help offset these costs. To learn more please email info@waterandsewer.org.

Learn more about who we are, what we do, and what you can expect to see and learn during a visit to the Commission’s facilities in our video SWSC: Who We Are and What We Do.