1980 Amherst, Massachusetts water shortage

Water tower on the campus of UMass Amherst

The 1980 Amherst, Massachusetts, water shortage was a significant water crisis that affected the town of Amherst, Massachusetts and led to the unprecedented closure of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) from September 4 to September 8, 1980. This crisis was part of a broader pattern of water shortages that had impacted communities across Massachusetts since 1965, during one of the region's most severe droughts.

Background

The summer of 1980 was marked by arid conditions throughout Massachusetts, exacerbating drought. By the end of August, the reservoirs that supplied Amherst with water had significantly fallen below their normal levels. The Atkins Reservoir, located near Shutesbury, was six feet below its usual level. At the same time, the Hills Reservoir near Pelham had dropped by thirteen feet, reducing its output by half. A third reservoir in Pelham also saw its levels drop by two and a half feet below average.

These conditions were compounded by a combination of lower-than-average rainfall, higher-than-normal temperatures, and increased water consumption during the Labor Day weekend. This surge in demand pushed Amherst’s water system to its breaking point. On August 31, 1980, as UMass Amherst opened for the fall semester, water demand soared to 4.5 million gallons, which was 700,000 gallons more than the previous record. Typically, UMass Amherst consumed about half of the 3.4 million gallons the town produced on average, but the sudden surge in demand severely strained the already depleted water supply.

Water crisis escalation

Amherst Town Manager Louis Hayward faced difficult decisions as the water shortage worsened. A new well in South Amherst's Lawrence Swamp, which was intended to alleviate the town’s water problems, was still at least a month from completion. This left the city with limited options to address the growing crisis. On September 1, the Amherst Board of Selectmen declared a water emergency. This declaration included a ban on all outside water use and the authorization to purchase water from the neighboring town of Hadley. Despite these efforts, the town's water storage levels continued to decline.

The first signs of a severe water shortage at UMass Amherst appeared on September 2, when William M. Cashin House residents reported low water levels. The situation quickly escalated, impacting dormitories at higher elevations, including those in the Sylvan, Orchard Hill, and Central Residential Areas. By the evening of September 2, more than 3,000 students were without water, and the situation continued to deteriorate rapidly.

Campus shutdown and evacuation

On the morning of September 4, UMass Amherst Chancellor Henry Koffler announced the closure of the campus due to the worsening water crisis. The campus was effectively shut down, with students instructed to leave Amherst as quickly as possible. By the end of the day, seventy percent of the taps in forty-one dormitories were dry.

The town of Amherst responded to the crisis by activating an emergency well and tapping into Hadley's water system. The Massachusetts National Guard also provided supplementary water resources. Despite these efforts, the crisis remained severe, necessitating a large-scale evacuation of students. Buses were organized to transport students to various locations across the state, including Worcester, Natick, and Boston.

Official response

In response to the crisis, Governor Edward J. King ordered the Massachusetts State Police to patrol the now-empty UMass Amherst campus to deter potential looters. The National Guard also delivered additional water supplies to the area. As the crisis subsided, town officials worked to refill water tanks and restore normal operations. UMass Amherst reopened on September 8, with classes resuming the following day.

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the crisis, UMass Amherst students were reimbursed for room and dining expenses, and the campus gradually returned to normal operations. The crisis remains a significant event in the history of the town and the university, highlighting the vulnerabilities of water systems during periods of drought. The crisis also prompted an investigation into its causes, leading to long-term improvements in water management practices in Amherst. The incident underscored the challenges of managing water resources in a rapidly growing community with limited infrastructure.