MATTAPOISETT — Stretching from Snipatuit Pond in Rochester down to the Mattapoisett Harbor is a gravel aquifer, which holds the drinking water used by residents of the Tri-Town, Fairhaven and Acushnet.

But according to Buzzards Bay Coalition Vice President of Watershed Protection Brendan Annett, the quality and quantity of this water depends on the land above it.

Land development can divert water flow away from the aquifer and fuel from vehicles and other substances can affect the quality of the water contained underground, he said.

“When it rains, the water literally infiltrates the ground. [It goes] into the aquifer and that is the water supply,” said Annett.

Now, following the purchase and conservation of 240 acres of non-contiguous land located partially in Mattapoisett, Rochester and Acushnet, the Buzzards Bay Coalition hopes to further protect the Mattapoisett River Valley’s groundwater for years to come.

“Fairhaven and Mattapoisett get essentially all their public drinking water supply from this resource,” said Annett, while standing in a field at 197 Acushnet Road in Mattapoisett on Monday, Nov. 20.

This 38-acre property on Acushnet Road, now owned by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, is held under a conservation restriction by Mattapoisett, Fairhaven and Marion. This prevents anyone from changing how the land is used.

Farmer Mark Winterbottom, who works the 38-acre parcel, will continue to do so under certain conditions, said Annett.

“We have a pretty remarkable farmer,” said Annett. “He’s not irrigating this, he’s using very little chemical and very little fertilizer … Our concern is that the conversion of this landscape to a residential [development] is significantly more of a threat than a small operation like this.”

According to Annett, the Buzzards Bay Coalition paid for a farm planner, someone who works to layout and maintain farms, to work with Winterbottom and “look at his operation.”

“Here we have an active farmer who is not only successful in providing the community with food … but I’m pretty impressed with the way he has been taking care of the property from a stewardship perspective,” said Annett.

The remaining 202 acres protected in this project — known as the Red Brick Farm property — sits on the east and west sides of Long Plain Road and sits partially in Rochester, Mattapoisett and Acushnet.

The 102 acres east of Long Plain Road, which includes sections of Mattapoisett and Rochester, is owned by the Mattapoisett Water Department. The 100 acres west of Long Plain Road, which includes sections of Mattapoisett and Acushnet, is owned by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

The conservation restrictions also allow for the drilling of new drinking water wells should the need arise, said Annett.

According to Annett, it cost “just under” $6 million to purchase all 240 acres from the landowner.

“We have a landowner who agreed to sell [the land],” he said. “But we have the challenge of how we raise that kind of money.”

A combination of private fundraising on the part of the Buzzards Bay Coalition, state and federal grants, and money allocated by Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Acushnet and Fairhaven covered the cost, said Annett.

In addition to protecting area drinking water, this conservation project benefits fish and wildlife and provides an opportunity to link these 240 acres with walking trails that already exist, said Annett.

“There’s actually already a fairly elaborate connecting system of trails that can be expanded with some of these added properties,” he said.

“We’re proud to be able to help secure this multi-town water resource for future generations,” wrote Annett in a press release.