NepRWA at the 50th Annual Northeast Aquatic Biologists Conference

In February 2026, Meher Khanna, NepRWA’s Environmental Science Fellow, attended the 50th Annual Northeast Aquatic Biologists (NAB) conference, a three-day gathering of nearly 200 aquatic and environmental science professionals from across New England and New York.

This year’s conference featured talks and posters covering a wide range of topics, including water quality monitoring, emerging pollutants, environmental policy, climate change impacts on waterways, and regional aquatic ecosystems.

Presentations provided an opportunity for professionals to share findings, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration and future projects.

Notable takeaways from the conference included:

Discussions on new indicators for tracking wastewater contamination, such as caffeine monitoring
Emerging pollutants like 6PPD-quinone from tire wear, which can be harmful to fish
Growing research showing that beaver-modified ecosystems can improve water quality by reducing nutrient runoff

A big thank-you to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission for hosting the event and bringing together professionals from across the region!

Meadow Brook

Meadow Brook in Norwood, MA, is the consistently lowest-scoring tributary in the Neponset Watershed for E. coli.

A major cause of elevated bacteria levels at this site is leaking wastewater from aging sewer pipes, which enters underdrains and ultimately discharges into the Brook.

*The Neponset River Report Card grades use E. coli data to show whether our waterways are safe for activities like swimming and boating.*

The Town of Norwood has acknowledged the need for remediation and has invested millions of dollars in lining and rehabilitating sewer pipes.

*Lined sewer pipes help prevent wastewater from leaking into surrounding soils. (Pipes on the right show turberculation from mineral accumulation.*)

As a result of these efforts, E. coli levels have decreased significantly, though they remain higher than what is considered safe for human recreation and wildlife.

Consistent, long-term monitoring is essential to track changes in river health over time. To supplement routine monitoring, NepRWA also conducts hot spot and outfall sampling to help identify point-source pollution.

The Problem: Leaking Sewers and Underdrains

In the Meadow Brook watershed, underdrains—perforated pipes installed beneath sewer lines—are designed to collect and direct groundwater away from infrastructure and into the Brook.

While this system was intended to reduce damage from excess groundwater, aging sewer pipes began to crack and leak wastewater into the surrounding soil.

The underdrains then unintentionally collected this wastewater and conveyed it directly into Meadow Brook.