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Restoring a Swimmable
Neponset River
NepRWA
runs an active water-monitoring program, the Citizen Water
Monitoring Network, CWMN. CWMN is an EPA-approved,
volunteer-based approach to water quality monitoring. Active
since 1995, CWMN provides critical scientific data that
enables NepRWA to effectively advocate for the clean-up of
pollution sources and for sustainable land and water use
policy in the 14 communities of the Neponset River
Watershed.
The CWMN program follows a Quality Assurance Project Plan as
approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. This document is updated annually and
reviewed by EPA and DEP to assure high quality data
Because of its cost effectiveness and reliability, NepRWA's
CWMN program has become the primary source of ongoing water
quality monitoring data in the Neponset Valley. NepRWA
maintains a water quality database and encourages
communities to use the information in grant applications,
preparation for Phase II Storm water requirements, etc., eliminating the need to hire expensive
consultants to collect baseline data. This service
allows communities to focus on implementation activities
rather than costly preliminary results. Please
consider donating to CWMN.
Why is water monitoring needed?
"Point source" and
"nonpoint source" pollution enter the river
and degrade water quality, negatively impacting fisheries
and wildlife habitat in addition to making recreational
activities such as fishing, wading, swimming and boating unpleasant
and/or unhealthy.
Point source pollution originates from a single,
identifiable source, such as a leaking sewer pipe.
Nonpoint source pollution originates from a variety of
sources: fertilizer from lawns, oil from roads, and animal
wastes that together with water form stormwater runoff.
What does CWMN test for?
One morning
every six weeks, during all of the year except winter, CWMN
volunteers sample 41 sites along the Neponset River,
collecting data on the health of the river.
Some of the parameters that measure the health of the
river are:
Biological
Properties. Fecal
Coliform
and E.coli are bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts
of animals and humans. High levels of these bacteria
and their accompanying viruses can make rivers and
streams unsafe for swimming, boating, drinking or
shellfishing. The
viruses can cause ear infections or other more serious
health problems. Point sources of sewage pollution include
overflowing sewers, cracked and leaking sewer pipes, and failing septic
systems, while a nonpoint source is often animal waste.
The number of colony-forming units (cfu) of fecal Coliform
measured per 100 milliliters (ml) of water is the basis of
the Massachusetts water quality standards.
The state standard for fecal Coliform is 200 cfu/100 ml
for swimming and 1000 cfu/100 ml for boating. CWMN has
identified "hot spots" that have had fecal Coliform
counts of over 1,000,000 cfu/100 ml!
Chemical Properties. The presence of sewage, fertilizers, animal wastes and home
cleaning products all affect the chemical properties of
the river, specifically its nutrient levels.
High levels of nutrients (for instance, from human
waste, pet waste, Canada geese waste, or laundry
detergent) can result in excessive plant
growth and low dissolved oxygen levels, which can cause
fish kills and foul odors.
Physical Properties . Some of the important physical parameters to observe include
the acidity of the water, the depth and flow of the water,
the temperature of the water, and the amount of dirt, sand
and other particles stirred-up in the water. These physical parameters determine the ability of
a stream or stretch of river to provide habitat for fish
and other wildlife.
NepRWA
provides the water-testing results to local Boards of
Selectmen, Boards of Health, Conservation Commissions, the
Boston Water and Sewer Commission, the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and CWMN volunteers, among others. NepRWA
also posts the results on-line.
CWMN Goals
Point
source pollution
Identify
and remediate point source pollution
Conduct
follow-up remediation activities of nonpoint source pollution/stormwater
runoff
Work with communities to remediate stormwater discharge sites
Education/Public
Outreach
Educate
watershed citizens about their impact on the Neponset River -
how to reduce their negative and increase their positive
impacts
Expand public knowledge of water quality program successes
Streamflow
Examine the connection between water quantity and water
quality
Educate watershed citizens about why and how to conserve water
in their homes
Learn
More
Interested
in becoming a CWMN Volunteer? Contact NepRWA Environmental
Scientist Bill Guenther to get involved: 781-575-0354 x302, guenther@neponset.org.
Boston
Harbor Watershed H20 Quality & Hydrologic Investigations Report
Learn
about techniques for cleaning
up contaminated stormwater
(e.g., street runoff).
Acknowledgements
A Special thank you to our CWMN Volunteers and to Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs,
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management,
the Boston Water and
Sewer Commission, and the numerous donors who generously
support CWMN.
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