Hadley Board of Health Pushes to Bring Town Water to Landfill-Adjacent Road

HADLEY -- April 9, 2026, Hadley Board of Health moves toward town water extension near landfill on North Branch Road. The board heard Thursday that Health Director Ben is preparing to appear before the Select Board on April 15 to seek funding to bring municipal water to North Branch Road, where at least one newly built home and potentially two additional residential properties sit within 500 feet of the town landfill. No contamination has been detected, but the health director noted that Massachusetts has no statewide private well regulations and that Hadley has not adopted its own, leaving the town with no authority to require testing, and possible liability if problems emerge. A funding request would need Select Board endorsement before reaching the May 7 Town Meeting warrant; failure to act by then pushes the project to fall. The board also learned that the town nurse position, vacated by the departure of Marcy, has been unfrozen by the Select Board and Finance Committee and will be posted soon at 14 hours per month.