Protecting our Waters from Stormwater Pollution

Congratulations to the municipalities in the Ipswich Watershed and across Massachusetts who are taking strides to protect their water resources. On October 1st, communities submitted Notices of Intent for the federal stormwater permit, which went into effect for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on July 1st. The permit requires municipalities to take additional steps to protect rivers, lakes, streams and ponds from pollution caused by rainwater runoff, called stormwater. Contaminated stormwater is the top pollution problem in rivers across Massachusetts.

The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4 permit, requires towns to update their stormwater management plans, monitor outfall pipes and prioritize cleanup of the most pressing problems, such as the discharge of untreated sewage into nearby waterways via storm drains. The permit also requires “good housekeeping” practices such as storm drain cleaning and street sweeping.

One of the ways communities are meeting the requirements of the new permit is through membership in the Greenscapes North Shore Coalition, another partnership working in the PIE-Rivers region. As part of the permit, towns and cities must establish a robust outreach program aimed at educating citizens how to best keep pollutants out of our lakes and rivers. In Essex County, many municipalities are partnering with Greenscapes, a program which provides communities with school programs, public presentations, flyers and public service announcements, tabling events and many other tools and services. By tailoring messages to different audiences, the Greenscapes program helps communities to easily meet this component of the MS4 permit. “Ultimately,” Margaret Duffy, the Greenscapes North Shore Coordinator explains, “This means safer swimming, fishing and boating for people and a cleaner habitat for fish and wildlife.”

Read more about the MS4 permit here. Is your town partnering with the Greenscapes Coalition? Ask us at info@pie-rivers.org.