The new project will improve the stormwater infrastructure of the Joseph Dawe School by constructing a truly huge infiltration basin. As it’s name describes, an infiltration basin helps combat stormwater pollution by capturing polluted runoff and soaking it into the ground. Stormwater runoff pollution is the biggest source of water pollution in the Neponset Watershed, and it is continuing to grow with new development. Projects like this one help to curb that trend.
The infiltration basin will be built in a wooded area adjacent to the school. A natural ledge formation at the site will allow for the basin to be built with minimal disturbance to the surrounding environment. The basin will collect runoff from the school’s parking lots, roof, and from nearby streets; approximately 25 acres in total. The project will also include a short walking path and interpretive signage explaining what the structure is and why it’s important.
Similar to the recently completed stormwater project at the Gibbon School in Stoughton, this project will be incorporated into NepRWA’s classroom curriculum to provide students with an outdoor hands-on learning experience. The benefits of the project are three fold: it will collect and clean polluted stormwater, recharge groundwater supplies, and provide a great outdoor classroom space for students to learn about environmental stewardship.
It was a pleasure working with the Town of Stoughton on the last round and we are very excited to get going on this new project!
Click here to learn more about stormwater runoff and what you can do to make your home stormwater neutral.
–Chris Hirsch 11/1/2018
The project has been financed with federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (the Department) under an s. 319 competitive grant. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of EPA or of the Department.
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