STORMWATER
Stormwater in New England
FINDING SOLUTIONS
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U.S. EPA | STORMWATER OUTREACH AT EPA NEW ENGLAND
STORMWATER is a leading cause of poor water quality. Rain or
melted snow runs down driveways, sidewalks and streets carrying oil, dirt
and other pollutants into nearby waterways. Polluted runoff, which can
cause erosion and flooding, runs into waterways and degrades plants, fish,
shellfish and other wildlife. In water used for recreation, the runoff can
lead to illness, and people who eat contaminated fish can also become sick.
Untreated stormwater can also contaminate drinking water sources.
INTRO:
During the last 20 years, EPA has focused on cleaning and controlling pollution in the Charles River watershed, an
important recreational waterway for Boston and surrounding communities. Significant progress has been made to
restore the Charles so it is safe for swimming and fishing, primarily by removing overflows from an antiquated sewer
system and by eliminating illegal connections between sewers and stormwater pipes. These investments have stemmed
the flow of bacteria and other health threats to the river. A key remaining challenge for the watershed is reducing the
excessive phosphorus coming into the river, much of it through stormwater.
FOCUSING ON PHOSPHORUS:
Excessive phosphorus triggers the growth of plants and
algae throughout the Charles. This plant growth limits
recreation in the river and can damage fish habitat, even
killing fish in severe circumstances. Besides being an ugly
nuisance, the blue-green algae blooms can turn toxic,
raising health threats to humans
and animals, including dogs.
Stormwater is a primary source
of phosphorus pollution. Phos-
phorus also enters the river from
wastewater treatment plants,
combined sewer overflows and
illicit sewage connections. While
these sources have faced stricter
controls in recent years, storm-
water running off private proper-
ties remained uncontrolled.
Treating stormwater running
into the Charles River will be
critical to reaching the goal
of cleaning the river.
leaves and other debris that contains phosphorus.
In late 2008, after evaluating all of the sources of
phosphorus to the Charles, EPA determined that
the discharge of stormwater from certain industrial,
commercial and high-density resi-
dential facilities on the Charles
River in Milford, Franklin and
Bellingham should be controlled
by federal permits. The permits
will require these facilities to
reduce phosphorus in stormwa-
ter discharges by 65 percent.
Similar permits will likely be
required in other communities
in the Charles River watershed
in coming years.
Phosphorus in stormwater can be
reduced by building rain gardens,
artificial wetlands, tree boxes and other systems that
filter the water and replenish groundwater; by replac-
ing conventional pavement with porous pavement, and
by using high efficiency street sweepers to pick up soil,
These permits will complement
other permits being written
by EPA and the state Depart-
ment of Environmental Protection, including municipal
stormwater permits which require all 35 Charles River
communities to reduce phosphorus discharges from
their stormwater systems.
KEY CONTACTS:
BILL WALSH-ROGALSKI
EPA New England
Office of Regional Counsel
(617) 918-1035
walshrogalski.william@epa.gov
ERIK BECK
EPA New England
Watershed & Nonpoint
Source Unit
(617) 918-1606
beck.erik@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Square
Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
(617) 918-1111
www.epa.gov/region1/
EPA TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-888-EPA-7341
LEARN MORE AT:
www.epa.gov/region1/
topics/water/stormwater.html
L United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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EPA-901-F-10-012
November 2010
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