Stormwater runoff is the #1 cause of water pollution in the Neponset River Watershed.
We help communities manage polluted stormwater runoff and protect clean water.
Water pollution from rainstorms occurs when bacteria, chemicals, and trash get washed into storm drains from impervious surfaces, like streets, driveways, parking lots, industrial sites, and construction sites.
This polluted stormwater runoff enters local streams and ponds — untreated — and affects our drinking water resources, swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife, and fish habitats.
Neponset Stormwater Partnership
NepRWA is committed to reducing stormwater pollution in the Watershed through the Neponset Stormwater Partnership (NSP)
The NSP is a regional cooperation and resource-sharing program in the Neponset Watershed that was formed to help reduce the water quality problems caused by polluted stormwater runoff.
The work of the NSP includes:
- Development and distribution of regional public outreach materials
- Development and delivery of specialized stormwater and water conservation curriculum to fifth-grade students
- Development of model stormwater regulations and technical assistance for implementation
- Education about potential stormwater management financing solutions (and supporting the implementation of those solutions)
NSP partners include the towns of Avon, Canton, Dedham, Foxborough, Medfield, Milton, Norwood, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, and Westwood, along with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).
Visit the NSP website to learn more.
For questions about the NSP Program, please email NepRWA Managing Director for Community Resilience, Kerry Snyder
Stormwater Runoff is a Problem
Despite improvements in water quality, pollutants continue to enter our streams and the River, mostly as polluted stormwater runoff.
Polluted runoff damages our aquatic environments and species, limits the diversity of species that can call our Watershed home, and decreases the quality of life for wildlife and humans.
Working in conjunction with our Watershed communities, through programs such as our Community Water Monitoring Network (CWMN) and our Hotspot Program, we aim to decrease pollutants on the landscape and filter polluted runoff before it degrades adjacent waterways.
Learn about green infrastructure practices that reduce stormwater.
What is polluted stormwater runoff?
Polluted stormwater runoff occurs when rain falls on hard surfaces and washes contaminants into storm drains, including:
- bacteria and parasites from pet waste
- chemicals from fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides
- nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) from leaves and grass clippings
- snow/ice melt chemicals and sand
- motor oil, antifreeze, and transmission fluid
- all types of litter
Polluted stormwater causes problems for local drinking water sources; recreational activities like swimming, boating, and fishing; fish and aquatic life.
The simplest way to prevent stormwater pollution is to keep your pavement clean and redirect water away from storm drains
Take Simple Steps to Prevent Stormwater Pollution
- Always pick up after your pet and throw the waste into a trash can. Bacteria from pet waste is a major source of water pollution.
- Avoid fertilizers and keep yard waste away from storm drains. Lawn fertilizer, grass clippings, and leaves are high in phosphorous, which is a major water pollutant.
- Redirect the runoff from your roof by turning your downspouts toward a lawn, garden, or wooded area. This prevents runoff and allows the water to soak into the ground naturally.
- When building walkways, patios, or driveways, use pervious pavers, stones, or other pervious materials, so that rain can pass right through to the soil.
- Wash your car on the lawn or park it in an area where the water will run off into the grass. Better yet, go to a car wash, which recycles and conserves water.
- Clean up chemical spills, like fertilizer, pesticides, or motor oil off of driveways and sidewalks. Use kitty litter for absorption.
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean sidewalks, driveways, and patios. Sweeping will prevent runoff and conserve water.
- Be sure that your sprinklers are only watering the lawn and not creating runoff on the driveway or sidewalk.
- Never pour anything into a storm drain. Always remember, only rain down the drain!
- Build rain gardens, which are shallow, vegetated “basins” that collect and filter polluted stormwater runoff. Click here to learn more about rain gardens.
- Install rain barrels to capture roof runoff for later use, especially during drought. Rainwater is free of chlorine and great for watering plants.
- Use “greener” ice melt products to minimize the harmful effects of salt in our water and on our plants. “Pet safe” products are a good choice.
