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Stormwater
and Nonpoint Source Pollution
After a storm, stormwater
flows over lawns and impervious surfaces, such as, parking lots, roads, and roofs,
collecting pollutants and whisking them into rivers, lakes, streams,
oceans, and groundwater. This type of pollution, which comes from
many unspecified sources, as opposed to a specific source like a
pipe, is called nonpoint source pollution. Examples of pollutants
that stormwater transports include: fertilizers containing harmful
nutrients, oil, grease, viruses, bacteria, toxic metals, sediment,
and salts. These pollutants can harm human health and our fragile
ecosystems. In cities with combined sewer overflows, the problem
is exacerbated when excessive amounts of stormwater cause raw sewage
to be released into the receiving waterbody (many of which we swim,
fish, and boat in). The effects of stormwater reach farther than
just polluting the waters. As the many residents in the Mystic watershed
have seen, stormwater can cause flooding, degradation of habitats,
sewage backups, and erosion. The problems related to stormwater
runoff are not going to go away, but will only increase. As more
and more open space land is developed and covered by impervious
surfaces, stormwater cannot infiltrate into the ground and is forced
to become runoff.
| Categories
of Principal Contaminants in Stormwater |
| Category |
Examples |
| Metals |
zinc, cadmium, copper, chromium,
arsenic, lead |
| Organic chemicals |
pesticides, oil, gasoline, grease |
| Pathogens |
viruses, bacteria, protozoa |
| Nutrients |
nitrogen, phosphorus |
| Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
grass clippings, fallen leaves,
hydrocarbons, human, and animal waste |
| Sediment |
sand, soil, and silt |
| Salts |
sodium chloride, calcium chloride |
| Source:
http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap2.asp#table2-1 |
Citizen Tip Lines
If you see evidence of nonpoint source pollution, such as dumping in storm drains, clogged storm drains, uncovered construction sites, leaking gas or oil barrels, hazardous waste, illegal trash dumping, dry weather discharge in stormwater pipes, illegal connections to stormwater systems, or anything else that you think might be a problem, contact your local stormwater citizen tip line (see list below) or the Mystic River Watershed Association (781-316-3438 or contact@mysticriver.org)
Cambridge- Stormwater hotline: 617-349-4800
Chelsea- DPW: 617-889-8376
Medford- Energy and Environment Office: 781-393-2137, pbarry@medford.org
Melrose- DPW: 781-979-4170
Somerville- Call 311 from any phone in Somerville.
Winchester- DPW: 781-721-7100
Woburn- DPW: 781-932-4490
If your municipality is not listed, call their Department of Public Works (DPW).
Arlington- DPW: 781-316-3108
Belmont- DPW: 617-993-2690
Burlington- DPW: 781-270-1670
East Boston- DPW:
Everett- DPW: 617-394-2285
Lexington- DPW 781-862-0500 x251
Malden- DPW: 781-397-7160
Reading- DPW: 781-942-9077
Revere- DPW, Water and Sewer: 781-286-8145
Stoneham- DPW: 781- 438-0760
Wakefield- DPW: 781-246-6300
Watertown- DPW: 617-972-6420
Wilmington- DPW: 978-658-4481
Winthrop- DPW: 617-846-1341
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