Nut Island
The island was likely used seasonally by Native Americans. Colonists used the island for grazing their cattle. It has a long history of use for sewage treatment. It is nw part of the Boston Project with the new facility at Deer Island.
The new pump facility at Nut Island is part of one of the largest, most elaborate constructed water features in the country. The Nut Island Headworks, (a sewage screening facility), went into service in summer, 1998. At the headworks, sewage passes through screens and grit chambers that remove large objects, sand and gravel. After screening, the sewage is conveyed through the Inter-Island Tunnel to Deer Island, where it undergoes primary and secondary treatment. This facility serves 21 southern sewer system communities.
The old Nut Island primary plant, which had been in service since 1952, has been demolished, ending more than 100 years of wastewater discharges to the shallow waters of Quincy Bay.
A 4.8-mile tunnel from Nut Island pumps sewage from 21 South Shore communities to Deer Island for primary treatment.
Views and Vistas
Nut Island is visible from the islands in Quincy Bay. Islands most visible from Nut Island include Peddocks, Hangman, Rainsford, Moon and Long Islands. Following are known names for Nut Island: Houghs Tomb, Hoff’s Thumb.
Sources: MWRA (photo & text), NPS (text)
Video below from the Patriot Ledger, and Sue Scheible's 'A Good Age' column for June 26, 2007