NepRWA’s Hotspot Program allows us to follow up on problem areas identified through our Community Water Monitoring Network (CWMN) Program.
Staff visit problem sites and collect numerous samples to zero in on specific sources of pollution, such as sewer leaks and other illicit discharges. Once a problem is isolated, we work with local communities to get it fixed.
Common pollution sources in the Neponset Watershed are:
- sewer leaks
- illegal dumping into storm drains or along stream banks
- illegal connections between the house’s sewer line and the storm drain system
- aging infrastructure and poor behavior
The Hotspot Program was started by a group of generous individual donors in 2015. We typically sample more than 50 outfalls a year and uncover 1-2 pollution hotspot sources a year.
Pollution sources can be difficult to uncover. However, the water quality problems found in a waterbody can give us clues about potential sources. Those clues guide where in the hot spot stream we investigate and what tests we use.
Please email NepRWA River Restoration Director, Sean McCanty at mccanty@neponset.org if you have any questions about the Hotspot Program.
View Hotspots on our interactive map, below.