Wednesday, Nov 15th at 6 pm
END UNTREATED ALEWIFE SEWAGE POLLUTION
The Alewife Brook has the largest volumes of untreated combined sewage pollution discharges in the Greater Boston area. It is flood-prone and runs through densely populated neighborhoods, with 5,000 people in its 100-year flood plain, in multiple Environmental Justice communities. EPA’s EJ Screener rates the Alewife in the 90th percentile for wastewater impacts nationwide.
Our Secret 3-Point Meeting Strategy
1. DEMAND THAT SOMERVILLE COMPLIES WITH THE CLEAN WATER ACT!
Somerville is not in compliance with the Clean Water Act and its permit for sewage discharges into Alewife Brook. The city must end the harm it is doing to Environmental Justice communities that are affected by contaminated sewage pollution from Davis Square.
Somerville violates the Clean Water Act in three ways:
- The city failed to meet the level of CSO control required by the Federal court;
- the “Typical Year” discharge is in excess of the volume and frequency authorized by the variance;
- Somerville’s Engineering Department failed to keep monthly maintenance reports for the Tannery Brook SOM001A CSO (sewage from Davis Square). This is a permit violation.
2. MWRA MUST UPGRADE ITS SEWER SYSTEM AND PROVIDE A TREATMENT FACILITY FOR ALEWIFE BROOK!
During many storms, the MWRA’s sewer system is too small to handle the flow to the wastewater treatment plant at Deer Island. As a result, raw sewage is being discharged to Alewife Brook. The MWRA must invest in upgrading sewer infrastructure to protect Environmental Justice communities from harmful untreated sewage bacteria which is making people around the Alewife sick.
3. CAMBRIDGE MUST COMPLETE SEWER SEPARATION IN THE ALEWIFE WATERSHED!
Cambridge must finish the job they started 30 years ago! Separated sewer pipes join combined sewers just before the flow hits the Alewife CSOs, meaning millions of gallons of sewage from massive new development is getting dumped in the brook. Cambridge is one of the wealthiest cities in America, yet the city sends untreated sewage pollution to flood the parks, yards, and homes of their Environmental Justice Community neighbors.
Alewife Sewage Pollution Control Public Meeting #3
Wednesday, November 15th at 6 pm
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