Staff Spotlight: Mike Townsley, Resident Manager – Provin Mountain December 2025

Recently we shared a story about an inoperable century-old valve that was critical to diverting flow around the site of the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant. It was Mike Townsley who managed to machine a new gear assembly to open the valve and keep the project on track. 

Mike Townsley has been part of the Commission since 2008, starting at West Parish Filters before transferring in 2011 as Assistant Resident Manager of Provin Mountain, which is located in Agawam.

Provin Mountain is the site of the Commission’s three underground drinking water storage tanks, which act as reserves for emergency withdrawals (such as large fires) and maintain pressure for the system. Three large transmission mains leave Provin to carry treated drinking water to customers.  

Since his promotion to Resident Manager in 2023, Mike has been overseeing the operation, maintenance, and compliance of treated drinking water storage and transmission systems.

His work ensures that the treated water passing through Provin Mountain remains safe and of the highest quality for public consumption.  

A Day in the Life

As Resident Manager at Provin Mountain, Mike’s role includes: 

• Overseeing the operation, maintenance, and regulatory compliance of Provin Mountain’s facilities. 

• Supporting the WPF team by managing valve operations to control flows for connections and preparation for the new treatment plant. Mike also monitors flow and alerts operators at West Parish of any unusual trends (such as spikes in flow caused by water main breaks). 

• Mentoring his crew, teaching hands-on maintenance skills, and ensuring equipment stays operational during critical tasks. 

  
  

Mike is a problem-solver by nature. From fixing stripped valves to teaching his team to handle mid-job equipment issues, his practical “fix-it” approach stems from a lifetime of hands-on experience— starting with lessons from his father and brother, plus previous work as a factory machinery mechanic, helicopter maintenance tech, Harley Davidson mechanic, and home remodeler. 

Provin and the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant 

While Provin Mountain isn’t directly involved in the construction of the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant, Mike’s role is integral to its future success. Current modernization efforts at Provin Mountain, such as separate flow and water quality monitoring readings for each transmission main, will help West Parish operators better understand water behavior in the system. On the flip side, the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant will remove more dissolved organics from the water, resulting in easier tank cleaning and maintenance at Provin. 

A Career Built on Pride and Hands-On Work 

For Mike, working in water treatment isn’t just a job, it’s a source of pride. “I’m part of an industry that isn’t about profits but about providing a better, safer service for a quarter-million people,” he says.  

The new plant represents an opportunity to witness and contribute to evolving technology and processes; nevertheless, there will still always be a need for his hands-on expertise. Learning how to adapt and fix things on the fly is one of the skills he is working to transfer to his crew. “We have a great crew here at Provin Mountain that wants to learn,” he says. 

Mike’s dedication ensures that every system under his watch operates at its peak, while the crew he mentors learns from his focus on skill, safety, and reliability.

With the ongoing construction of the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant, his leadership and expertise will help bridge the current systems with the state-of-the-art facility, guiding both staff and operations into the next chapter of the Commission’s history.