Click here to use an interactive map that displays CSO locations, FEMA’s 100 year flood model from 2020, and Environmental Justice Population blocks. This interactive map displays Combined Sewer Outfall locations as clickable red dots. Clicking on the red dots will reveal additional information about each individual CSO, including links to the NPDES pollution permitContinue reading “FEMA’s 100-year Flood Model with CSO and Environmental Justice Populations Data”
Author Archives: SavetheAlewifeBrook
Despite upgrades, 50 million gallons of sewage were released into the Alewife Brook over 2021
By Kristin Anderson and David WhiteThis article was originally published Sunday, January 16, 2022 at Cambridge Day Fifty million gallons of sewage-contaminated stormwater were discharged into the Alewife Brook from the cities of Cambridge and Somerville in 2021, according to websites for those two cities and the Metropolitan Water Resources Authority. There was as much sewage-contaminated water discharged into the AlewifeContinue reading “Despite upgrades, 50 million gallons of sewage were released into the Alewife Brook over 2021”
Fifty Million Gallons of Sewage-water Released
This article was originally edited by Jeff North and published at the Belmont Citizens Forum: Fifty Million Gallons of Sewage Released Discharges to Alewife Brook Have Persisted for Two Decades By Kristin Anderson and David White Fifty million gallons of sewage-contaminated stormwater have been discharged into the Alewife Brook from the cities of Cambridge andContinue reading “Fifty Million Gallons of Sewage-water Released”
MWRA CSO Report Provides No Solution to Alewife’s Problems
On December 30, 2021, the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) published its anticipated Final CSO Performance Assessment, as part of a series of regulatory reports that have been submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. These reports are a requirement of the landmark Boston Harbor Cleanup Case.Continue reading “MWRA CSO Report Provides No Solution to Alewife’s Problems”
CSOs 101: What is a “CSO”?
Combined Sewer Outfalls (CSO) are where sewage overflows occur when the combined sewer system is overwhelmed by stormwater during rainy weather and sewage mixes with stormwater and overflows or discharges into a waterbody like the Alewife Brook. CSOs are a relic of outdated Combined Sewer Systems (also known as “one pipe systems”) from the 1800s, when flushContinue reading “CSOs 101: What is a “CSO”?”
StAB’s 12/13/21 Community Meeting
We held our second community meeting on Monday night, this time online. 50 area residents joined us from Arlington, Cambridge, and Somerville. Elected officials were there, including Senator Will Brownsberger, Arlington Selectboard Member Diane Mahon, an aide from Representative Dave Rogers’ office, and a number of Arlington Town Meeting members. MyRWA Director Patrick Herron presentedContinue reading “StAB’s 12/13/21 Community Meeting”
REGULATORY TIMELINE FOR ALEWIFE CSOs
with links to source documents 2021 DECEMBER 31, 2021Metropolitan Water Resource Authority (MWRA) Combined Sewer Outfall (CSO) “Final Performance Assessment and Water Quality Assessment” Report is out. 2022 JANUARY 2022Public comment meeting date will be announced for MWRA’s CSO Report, thirty days in advance of a February meeting. Source: DEP 2019 Alewife Variance Permit, SectionContinue reading “REGULATORY TIMELINE FOR ALEWIFE CSOs”
Cambridge’s ARPA Finance Committee Meeting
On December 1st, 2021, Save the Alewife Brook (StAB) attended Cambridge’s Finance Committee Meeting, which was dedicated to the discussion of the allocation of $80 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. The Finance Committee includes Cambridge’s mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon, Councillor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Marc C. McGovern, Councillor Patricia Nolan,Continue reading “Cambridge’s ARPA Finance Committee Meeting”
Alewife Brook Sewage Pollution Today Vs. 1997, Pre-Boston Harbor Cleanup
The 2021 CSO discharge numbers are significant because they show ZERO reduction in the volume of discharges, as compared to the original 1997 assessment. That predates any improvements that were made as part of the Boston Harbor Cleanup case to close the CSOs.
Representatives Sean Garballey and Dave Rogers Vote for Federal ARPA Funding for CSOs, Sewer Infrastructure, and Climate Change Resilience
In a recent YourArlington.com article about the new ARPA funding, Representative Sean Garballey was quoted as saying, “As the chair of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, I was proud to work on and help secure $100 million toward infrastructure for communities to adapt and become climate resilient, $100 million for water-and-sewerContinue reading “Representatives Sean Garballey and Dave Rogers Vote for Federal ARPA Funding for CSOs, Sewer Infrastructure, and Climate Change Resilience”
The Save the Alewife Brook Field Recording Library Project
You can see and smell the Alewife Brook when you walk along the Alewife Greenway, the path that runs along the eastern edge of Arlington, parallel to the Alewife Brook, from the Minuteman Bike Trail to the Mystic River. Seeing it and smelling it is how most people experience the Alewife Brook. Silas Price, however,Continue reading “The Save the Alewife Brook Field Recording Library Project”
MassDEP’s Interactive CSO Map
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s GIS map is a resource that displays information about all Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) throughout the Commonwealth. Each CSO is marked with a link to a pop-up window that displays a wealth information, including: the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit ID, the system that it belongs toContinue reading “MassDEP’s Interactive CSO Map”
Stormwater Threatens Our Waterways
By Michelle Liebtreu and Daria Clark The Mystic River is cleaner today than it has ever been. The Clean Water Act has been a major environmental success story. But the work is not yet done. As the … Source: Stormwater Threatens Our Waterways
The Alewife Brook After CSO Discharges
After receiving notification of multiple Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) activations in the Alewife Brook, filmmaker Clare Nosowitz grabbed her video camera and her rain coat and headed out the door. The date was October 26, 2021 and the Alewife was experiencing rain at the start of a gusty autumn Nor’easter. On this day, less thanContinue reading “The Alewife Brook After CSO Discharges”
Arlington’s Wetlands Map
Here is a link to Arlington’s Interactive Wetland Regulations GIS map. If you click on “layers” and select the FEMA Hazard Zones, you will see which of our neighborhoods are expected to get flooding in 100 year storm events. https://tinyurl.com/arlingtonfloodmap You can also download PDFs of the flood maps:
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS (CSOs) SPOOKY WALKING TOUR
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16th 2021
The Save the Alewife Brook group hosted a “Spooky” Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) tour of the Alewife Brook in East Arlington on the lovely morning of Saturday, October 16. Twenty Arlington residents, including some Town Meeting Members came out for the event. The goals of the group are summarized in a petition that was distributed:Continue reading “COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS (CSOs) SPOOKY WALKING TOUR
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16th 2021“
Petition to Stop Sewage Discharges & Flooding in the Alewife Brook
During major flood events, the Alewife Brook washes onto the yards and into the homes of Arlington residents. Most of those flood events also include sewage contaminated discharges from the active Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) from Cambridge and Somerville. Climate change, with its wetter rainy seasons, more intense storms, and sea level rise, is expectedContinue reading “Petition to Stop Sewage Discharges & Flooding in the Alewife Brook”