By: Julia Blatt, Executive Director, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance
Massachusetts winters test our resolve, but a recent pristine weekend reminded us exactly why we stay. As spring warmth finally arrived, many residents ventured onto local waterways for the season’s first outings. The state’s rivers—more than 10,000 miles of them—offered abundant possibilities. On the Charles, sailboats dotted the water. The Mystic saw rowers in action. Fishing enthusiasts lined the Swift. The Sudbury attracted bikers and kayakers alike. For countless people, that beautiful day became an opportunity to experience Massachusetts rivers from every angle: on them, in them, and along their banks.
June marks National Rivers Month, a 30-day celebration of our waterways. Those who kayak past Revolutionary War landmarks on the Concord, hike across the Bridge of Flowers on the Deerfield, draw irrigation water from the Connecticut, or rely on the Merrimack for drinking water all have reason to celebrate. This month recognizes the progress made in safeguarding these vital recreational, economic and historical resources.
Yet National Rivers Month also demands reflection on unfinished work. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance—the statewide voice for our rivers—is an environmental advocacy nonprofit serving all whose lives connect to these waterways. Consider the pressing issue of sewage overflows. Many municipalities operate aging stormwater and wastewater systems featuring what are called “combined sewage overflow” (CSO) systems, where stormwater and wastewater infrastructure interconnect physically. During heavy rainfall, stormwater overwhelms treatment plants, triggering a dangerous response: raw sewage from homes and businesses discharges directly into Massachusetts rivers. Approximately 200 such CSO connections exist statewide. This results in an estimated three billion gallons of raw sewage entering state rivers annually. Those swimming, canoeing, or bringing pets face exposure to gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, eye or ear infections, skin rashes, hepatitis and additional illnesses. Children, elderly residents, and immunocompromised individuals face heightened risk. Wildlife suffer too, experiencing higher water temperatures, increased turbidity, toxins and depleted oxygen levels from CSO pollutants.
The problem enjoys universal recognition. Solutions require substantial funding—far more than currently exists. Over two decades, Massachusetts communities have invested more than $1 billion eliminating CSOs. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates an additional $4.2 billion remains necessary to complete the work.
Beyond advocating for expanded state and federal funding, Mass Rivers backs a straightforward sewage notification bill pending in the Massachusetts legislature. Remarkably, no current state requirement mandates public notification when sewage enters waterways during these discharges.
Mass Rivers’ supported legislation would mandate that CSO operators notify local boards of health and the state Department of Public Health within two hours of a sewage spill’s start. The public could subscribe to notifications through text, e-mail, phone call or tweet. The state Department of Environmental Protection would centralize all sewage spill data and publish it online. Signs marking CSO outfalls would appear at all public access points including boating areas, fishing spots, and beaches.
National Rivers Month invites us to shed winter’s indoor constraints and embrace Massachusetts’ river abundance. Whether observing great blue herons, fishing for trout, paddling with family and pets, or simply seeking peace and quiet, our rivers await. Protecting these resources and safeguarding river users requires action: towns and cities must demand that legislators mandate public disclosure when sewage contaminates our waters.
Julia Blatt is Executive Director of the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, the voice of Massachusetts rivers. The Alliance is a statewide organization of 77 environmental organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.