Chelsea Water Department (MWRA)

Chelsea Water Department (MWRA) Municipal Water Report Info

Chelsea, Massachusetts is located in Suffolk County directly across the Mystic River from Boston. Established in 1624, Chelsea became a town in 1739 and was incorporated as a city in 1857.

With an estimated population of 35,080 residents, Chelsea occupies just 1.8 square miles, making it Massachusetts' smallest city by land area and the 26th most densely populated municipality in the United States.

About Chelsea City Hall
The City provides comprehensive municipal services including police and fire protection, waste management, public education (pre-K through grade 12), water and sewer services, parks and recreation, health and social services, libraries, and street maintenance.

Suffolk County provides court facilities, jail services, correctional facilities, and deed registry. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority offers commuter rail and bus service throughout Chelsea with connections to metropolitan Boston. The Metropolitan District Commission maintains select parks and highways, while the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority provides water and sewage disposal services.

The New City Charter
In August 1995, Chelsea implemented a new City Charter that established legislative authority in an eleven-member City Council and consolidated executive powers under an appointed City Manager. This charter replaced the previous system, which had been under a State-appointed Receiver with broad administrative, financial, and political authority for four years.