Document Category: CSOs
| Title | Summary | Categories | Link | hf:doc_categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Stipulation from Harbor Court Case | Court Document from 03/15/2006. Includes chart of allowable discharges at each CSO outfall in Alewife … | CSOs, EPA, Legal, MWRA | csos epa legal mwra | |
| MassDEP’s 11-17-2025 letter to MWRA Board | Based on the information presented at the October 29 meeting, MassDEP is concerned that Recommended … | Cambridge, CSOs, MassDEP, MWRA, Somerville | cambridge csos dep mwra somerville | |
| Harbor Court Case Second Stipulation, from 2006 | This is the Boston the Harbor Court Case’s 2006 “Second Stipulation,” which not only updates … | CSOs, EPA, Historical, Legal, MassDEP, MWRA | csos epa historical legal dep mwra | |
| Letter to MWRA Board of Directors, November 2025 | Save the Alewife Brook’s November 2025 comments on the updated sewage elimination plan. Includes a … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| Better Know a CSO | A Tour of the Alewife Brook Combined Sewer Outfalls From our CSOs 101 Course … | Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Climate Change, CSOs, EPA, Flooding | arlington belmont cambridge climate-change csos epa flooding | |
| kayaking Broadway Bridge 09-07-2024 | On Alewife Brook, behind Dilboy Park, under the Broadway Bridge, kayaking through a mass of … | Arlington, Cambridge, CSOs, Somerville | arlington cambridge csos somerville | |
| Alewife Sewage Pollution Flooding | During heavy rainstorms, the Alewife Brook floods into the parks, yards, and houses of area residents in Environmental Justice Communities. The flood water contains hazardous sewage that is dumped into the Brook from the active Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) owned by Cambridge, Somerville, and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Climate change, with its wetter rainy seasons, more intense storms, and sea level rise, is expected to increase the severity and frequency of these events. MWRA’s sewer infrastructure is failing to meet capacity during many rains, causing hazardous sewage pollution discharges. In 2023, Alewife Brook flooded repeatedly, overtopping its banks and inundating the Greenway of Alewife Brook Reservation State Park with untreated Combined Sewer Overflow discharges of human and industrial waste. Area residents from Somerville, Cambridge, and Arlington unknowingly bicycled, jogged, and pushed baby strollers through untreated sewage flood water in their state park. The Alewife Greenway Path is a heavily used transportation and recreation corridor that runs through multiple Environmental Justice neighborhoods. The Alewife Greenway Path is on DCR land and it links Medford, Somerville, and Arlington pedestrians and cyclists to the Alewife Red Line T stop. | Arlington, Cambridge, Climate Change, CSOs, EPA, Flooding, MassDEP, MDC and DCR, MWRA, Somerville | arlington cambridge climate-change csos epa flooding dep mdc-and-dcr mwra somerville | |
| EPA Combined vs Separated Sewer System | In a combined sewer system, both wastewater and stormwater flow through the same pipes. In dry weather, all wastewater flows to a wastewater treatment plant where it is treated before being discharged to a waterbody. But during wet weather, stormwater also enters the system. The combined flow of wastewater and stormwater can overwhelm the system. Permitted outfalls are located throughout the system to act as relief points during wet weather. These outfalls discharge untreated or partially treated stormwater and wastewater into nearby waterbodies. These discharges are called CSOs. CSOs are a major water pollution and public health concern for approximately 700 communities in the United States. CSOs can contain bacteria, debris, and other hazardous substances that can be harmful to people, pets, and wildlife. CSOs can also cause beach closures, shellfish bed closures, algae growth, reduced oxygen levels in waterways, and aesthetic impacts from floating debris or oil slicks. The Clean Water Act requires communities with CSOs to put controls in place to address these concerns. | CSOs, EPA | csos epa | |
| MassDEP 2024 Draft Water Quality Variance to Allow for CSO discharges to Alewife Brook | This is MassDEP’s 2024 draft of the Water Quality Variance for Alewife Brook, which would … | Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, CSOs, EPA, MassDEP, MWRA, Somerville | arlington belmont cambridge csos epa dep mwra somerville | |
| 2024 Comments on DEPWater Quality Variance – Charles River Watershed Association | “… we are deeply concerned that the proposed variance is failing to protect a valuable natural resource and is not delivering continued, meaningful progress. As drafted, the Tentative Variance is inadequate as it allows for continued pollution without requiring substantive corrective actions during the variance period… We do not support the Tentative Variance as written… the ultimate goal should be nothing less than complete or functional elimination of the CSO discharges… The current financial analysis is inadequate for determining the economic feasibility of CSO elimination… Combined Sewer Overflow is an Environmental Justice issue. Environmental Justice (EJ) is a stated priority for the federal government and the Healey-Driscoll administration.” | Cambridge, Climate Change, CSOs, MassDEP | cambridge climate-change csos dep | |
| MWRA Joint Press Release April 2023 | Dated April 14th, 2023 Joint Press Release APRIL 2023 Alewife Brook/Upper Mystic Combined Sewer Overflow … | Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, CSOs, MWRA, Somerville | arlington belmont cambridge csos mwra somerville | |
| H.886 Fact Sheet: An Act Relative to Combined Sewer Overflows | Please Support H.886: An Act Relative to Combined Sewer Overflows Filed by Representatives Adrian Madaro … | Climate Change, CSOs, MWRA | climate-change csos mwra | |
| HD3316: An Act relative to combined sewer overflows. | An Act relative to combined sewer overflows. Be it enacted by the Senate and House … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| MWRA CSO MAP | This is the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority map from 2016, which we believe has not … | Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, CSOs, MWRA, Somerville | arlington belmont cambridge csos mwra somerville | |
| Alewife Brook 2004 Through 2021 Calendar Year and Typical Year Hydraulic Model Results vs LTCP | The “Alewife Brook 2004 Through 2021 Calendar Year and Typical Year Hydraulic Model Results vs … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| Typical Year Rainfall Analysis for Cambridge-Somerville-MWRA Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Plans | Development of Future Typical Year of Rainfall Technical Information in Support of the December 15th … | Cambridge, Climate Change, CSOs, MWRA, Somerville | cambridge climate-change csos mwra somerville | |
| Alewife CSO Permittees Request Extension | The 2019 Alewife Brook CSO Variances (permits to pollute through sewage pollution discharges) expire on … | Cambridge, Climate Change, CSOs, MassDEP, MWRA, Somerville | cambridge climate-change csos dep mwra somerville | |
| EPA response to Draft Scope, sent to MWRA | This is the EPA’s May 11, 2022, guidance for MWRA, regarding their new CSO control … | CSOs, EPA, Flooding, Green Infrastructure, MDC and DCR, MWRA, Stormwater | csos epa flooding green-infrastructure mdc-and-dcr mwra stormwater | |
| EPA response to Draft Scope, sent to Cambridge | This is the EPA’s guidance for Cambridge, regarding their new CSO control plan “draft … | Cambridge, Climate Change, CSOs, EPA, Flooding, Green Infrastructure, MDC and DCR, Stormwater | cambridge climate-change csos epa flooding green-infrastructure mdc-and-dcr stormwater | |
| EPA response to Draft Scope, sent to Somerville | This is the EPA’s response to Somerville’s new CSO control plan “draft … | Climate Change, CSOs, EPA, Green Infrastructure, MDC and DCR, Somerville, Stormwater | climate-change csos epa green-infrastructure mdc-and-dcr somerville stormwater | |
| MWRA 2018 Wastewater Master Plan | … | CSOs, MWRA, Stormwater | csos mwra stormwater | |
| City of Cambridge CSO Control Plan Scope | … | Cambridge, CSOs | cambridge csos | |
| Somerville Updated CSO Control Plan Scope of Work and Schedule 04/01/2022 | … | CSOs, Somerville | csos somerville | |
| MWRA Updated CSO Control Plan – Draft Scope of Work and Schedule 04/01/2022 | … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| 1978 MAPC Boston Area Waste Treatment Management Plan | … | Arlington, Cambridge, CSOs, Flooding, Historical, Somerville, Stormwater | arlington cambridge csos flooding historical somerville stormwater | |
| MWRA 1997 CSO Facilities Plan and EIR Table of Contents | … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| MWRA 1997 Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities Plan and Environmental Impact Report VOL. 3 | … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| MWRA 1997 Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities Plan and Environmental Impact Report VOL. 5 | … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| MWRA 1997 Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities Plan and Environmental Impact Report VOL. 4 | … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| MWRA 1997 Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities Plan and Environmental Impact Report VOL. 2 | … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| MWRA 1997 Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities Plan and Environmental Impact Report VOL. 1 | … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| MWRA 2001 CSO Control Plan Notice of Project Change | … | CSOs, MWRA | csos mwra | |
| March 2022 Letter to Regulators from StAB & Watershed Associations | March 11, 2022 Via email Regional Administrator David Cash Environmental Protection Agency, Region … | Climate Change, CSOs, EPA, Flooding, Green Infrastructure, MassDEP, MWRA | climate-change csos epa flooding green-infrastructure dep mwra | |
| SOM001A Tannery Brook 1873 Atlas Detail | This is a cool image of the Tannery Brook, taken from the 1873 … | Cambridge, CSOs, Somerville | cambridge csos somerville | |
| Somerville Stormwater Map | Dated June 15, 2020. Awesome map of Somerville stormwater, combined system, and sanitary system. Includes: … | CSOs, Somerville, Stormwater | csos somerville stormwater | |
| Cambridge Catchment and Combined Sewer Map | This is a very cool and easy-to-read map of Cambridge’s stormwater catchments. It is well … | Cambridge, CSOs, MWRA, Stormwater | cambridge csos mwra stormwater | |
| MWRA Final CSO Performance Assessment Hearing Notification | Massachusetts Water Resources Authority PRESS RELEASE Date: January 6, 2022 Contact: Ria Convery (617) 788-1105, ria.convery@mwra.com … | Arlington, Cambridge, CSOs, EPA, Legal, MassDEP, MWRA, Somerville | arlington cambridge csos epa legal dep mwra somerville | |
| The Boston Harbor Cleanup by Paul F. Levy & Michael S. Connor, published in 1992 | New England Journal of Public Policy Volume 8 | Issue 2 Article 7 9-23-1992 The … | CSOs, EPA, Historical, MassDEP, MDC and DCR, MWRA | csos epa historical dep mdc-and-dcr mwra | |
| MWRA 2021 Final CSO Performance Assessment | MWRA CSO Report is Unfair to Alewife’s Environmental Justice Populations On December 30, 2021, the … | Arlington, Cambridge, CSOs, MWRA, Somerville, Stormwater | arlington cambridge csos mwra somerville stormwater | |
| Somerville Stormwater Management Map, June 2020 | Stormwater Management Map. Includes: Storm Discharge Points, CSO Outfalls, Stormwater Manholes, Sanitary and Combined Manholes, … | CSOs, Somerville, Stormwater | csos somerville stormwater | |
| MWRA BIANNUAL COMPLIANCE AND PROGRESS REPORT AS OF JUNE 25, 2021 | CIVIL ACTION No. 85-0489-RGS UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT for the DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS UNITED STATES … | Cambridge, CSOs, EPA, Legal, MassDEP, MDC and DCR, MWRA, Somerville, Stormwater | cambridge csos epa legal dep mdc-and-dcr mwra somerville stormwater | |
| United States v. Metropolitan District Commission July 2021 | Civil Action 83-1614-RGS United States District Court, District of Massachusetts United States v. Metropolitan District … | Arlington, Cambridge, CSOs, EPA, Legal, MWRA, Somerville | arlington cambridge csos epa legal mwra somerville | |
| Court Case 2016 Document, including Compliance Order 239, USA v. MDC & CLF v. MDC | Doug Foy, Esq., director of the Conservation Law Foundation, who brought the groundbreaking Boston Harbor Clean-up lawsuit, probably quoting an ubran sociologist, said, “A great city had three characteristics: It had world-renown cultural and educational institutions. It had enduring distinctive residential neighborhoods, and it had a body of water that it embraced.” | Cambridge, Climate Change, CSOs, EPA, Green Infrastructure, Legal, MassDEP, MDC and DCR, MWRA, Somerville | cambridge climate-change csos epa green-infrastructure legal dep mdc-and-dcr mwra somerville | |
| Somerville’s 2017 Infrastructure Presentation | New projects described here include combined sewer separation, flood control are encouraging. Interesting data about … | Climate Change, CSOs, Flooding, Green Infrastructure, Historical, Somerville | climate-change csos flooding green-infrastructure historical somerville | |
| CRWA MyRWA 2021 Letter re US v MDC | 2021 Letter from the Charles River Watershed Association and the Mystic River Watershed Association to … | CSOs, EPA, Green Infrastructure, Legal, MDC and DCR, MWRA | csos epa green-infrastructure legal mdc-and-dcr mwra | |
| Cambridge’s 2017 Alewife Sewer Separation Project Overview | Wondering what’s involved in combined sewer separation and CSO elimination work? This is Cambridge’s $90 … | Cambridge, CSOs, Green Infrastructure | cambridge csos green-infrastructure | |
| Alewife Reservation Stormwater Wetland MCWRA 2017 Symposium | This is a powerpoint presentation by Carter Stantec for the 2017 Massachusetts Coalition for Water … | Cambridge, CSOs, Green Infrastructure | cambridge csos green-infrastructure | |
| Cambridge’s 2019 Alewife District Plan | This is Cambridge’s 2019 Alewife Planning and Development document. It includes information about flooding, water … | Cambridge, Climate Change, CSOs, Flooding, Green Infrastructure | cambridge climate-change csos flooding green-infrastructure |