State Awards Nearly $500K To Combat Mystic River Pollution

ARLINGTON, MA — The Baker-Polito administration on Wednesday announced more than $1.4 million in grants to support six projects targeting water pollution in the state. Included in the funding is nearly $500,000 for the Mystic River Watershed Association.

The grant totaling $498,715 will go toward installing 50 smaller-scale infiltration trenches in three communities, providing cost-effective phosphorus reduction in the Mystic River. The state used money from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund the grants.

"Addressing the effects of polluted stormwater runoff on Massachusetts waterways is vital to protect both the environment and public health," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. "Through these grants, we are able to work with the federal government to provide our local and regional partners with the resources needed to improve water quality."

The grant program focuses on implementation of measures to control non-point source (NPS) pollution to surface and groundwater. Unlike pollution from industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants, NPS pollution is unregulated and comes from a variety of sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snow melt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and ground waters.

Common types of NPS pollution include phosphorus and nitrogen from lawn and garden fertilizers and agricultural operations, bacteria from pet waste and waterfowl, oil and grease from parking lots and roadways, and sediment from construction activities and soil erosion.

The projects will help to protect Massachusetts’ water resources by restoring and preserving watershed areas, constructing BMPs, demonstrating innovative technologies, and educating the public on how to protect sensitive natural resources. Recipients include municipalities, regional planning agencies and environmental organizations.

Each of the projects was reviewed and approved by MassDEP's regional and program staff, the MassDEP/Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Proposal Review Committee and the EPA. Funding for the projects will be available in early 2021.