The health of a stream depends on the quality of the water that flows through it. To care for the stream, we must also care for all the land that drains to it—its watershed.
Everything in the watershed affects the water in the stream. Hazardous chemicals, automotive products, pesticides, fertilizers, pet wastes, excessive soil erosion and air pollution all contribute to water pollution. These pollutants don't have to be dumped directly into the water to cause a problem. They are washed from streets, lawns, roofs and even out of the air by rainfall—eventually ending up in wetlands, streams and lakes.
The storm drain or gutter in the street outside your home carries water into a network of storm drains that lead directly to the Chelsea and Mystic Rivers. Storm drains are separate from the sewer system-which handles wastewater from your sinks, tubs and toilets-and does not go to a treatment plant but into our streams, rivers and lakes.
Resulting impacts of water pollution can range from the obvious, such as oil floating on the water to losses of wildlife due to habitat destruction that often goes unnoticed.
The following links are to several helpful brochures regarding the growing problem of stormwater runoff.
Stormwater Permit Program
Six easy ways you can run a stormwater- friendly business
"Clean water is everybody's business"
Preventing Pollution & Using Resources Wisely
Recommended practices for Agriculture, Forestry, Automotive
Facilities, Construction, Commercial, and Residential locations
and the Mystic River Watershed Association and presents
an overview of the problems with runoff and links to more information.
"Troubled Waters" is from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and defines the responsibilities of communities in managing runoff, as well as some of the assistance available to communities for this purpose
is a United States Envrionmental Protection Agency
brochure that provides hints on how the individual
citizen as well as the community can help prevent pollution resulting from runoff.
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