Project Inception

The Dedham Water Project began when research conducted for an unrelated initiative uncovered a graph showing steadily rising salt levels in the Whitelodge Well Field — levels that now exceed what is considered healthy and safe over time.

One detail stood out. During the period associated with the “Add-a-Lane” highway project on I-95, the upward trend in salt levels temporarily flattened. That plateau strongly suggested that human actions had a measurable impact on salt levels and, critically, that accumulation could be controlled. If salt levels could be demonstrably influenced, a fundamental question emerged: why has this problem not been addressed?

That question was raised at a public meeting of the Dedham-Westwood Water District (DWWD). At the meeting, it was stated that the accelerated salt accumulation in the wells was caused by the state’s expansion of the adjacent highway, which led to increased use of road salt during winter maintenance.

However, this explanation raised concerns. Four of the five wells in the Whitelodge Well Field sit uphill from the expanded highway. For the highway to be the sole cause, groundwater would have to flow uphill — something that does not align with basic hydrology or the area's known topography.

When this contradiction was raised during the public meeting, the discussion was taken offline. In response, residents began a broader, data-driven effort to compare public statements with publicly available information. That effort became The Dedham Water Project.

For more information on salt accumulation in the Whitelodge Well Field and its implications for the drinking water supplies of Dedham and Westwood, jump to: University Ave.