Governor Healey Calls for an End to Sewage Pollution

A new report was published by the Commonwealth last week, on 08/21/2025. It calls for an End to Sewage Pollution, through elimination of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). The new report calls for sewer separation, treatment plant upgrades, and green stormwater infrastructure.

Governor Healey signed Executive Order No. 618, which called for nation-leading biodiversity goals. To meet this charge, the Commonwealth published a 25-year plan this week. The report calls for elimination of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).

Goal #1: Protect

Protect people and wildlife from pollution. Eliminate CSOs, SSOs, and stormwater runoff to protect public health through:

* sewer separation
* treatment plant upgrades
* sewer expansion
* green infrastructure

Increase investment.
Ensure waters are swimmable and fishable.
Ensure adequate streamflow for fish and wildlife.
Encourage greywater recycling in new construction.

Goal #2: Restore

Restore fish passage habitats to good health by 2050. Nature-based solutions including Green Stormwater Infrastructure have immediate benefits to climate resilience. Reestablish river herring (Alewives) and other migratory fish to their historic ranges. Environmental health is community health.

Goal #3: Sustain

Restore habitats and water quality through innovative and dedicated funding mechanisms. Increase access to nature on public land with a focus on Environmental Justice communities.

Goal #4: Connect

Nature in the Neighborhoods: support community-led efforts and ensure that all people have a connection to nature. Ensure equitable access to nature.

Governor Healey is calling on Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Cambridge and Somerville to end Combined Sewer Overflows.

Graphic from the State’s Biodiversity Report, page 20.

Six untreated CSO outfalls are at Alewife Brook, in the Commonwealth’s most densely populated urban area with persistent sewage flooding. The sewage flooding causes severe digestive illness in Environmental Justice communities.