Leaves and grass clippings that are dumped or stored near waterways or paved areas add to water pollution and flooding.
Be smart about fall cleanup!
Follow these tip to help keep your local waterways clean and healthy:
- Place raked leaves or lawn clippings in paper bags to be collected by the town.
- Consider composting yard waste.
- Keep paved areas and storm drains clear of leaves.
- Keep bagged, piled and mulched leaves on natural soil, a few feet back from paved areas.
- Ensure that your lawn service is properly disposing of yard waste.
- Reduce excessive lawn chemical use and always follow manufacturer’s directions.
- Call the NSP Stormwater Hotline (781) 575-0354 x300 to report dumping.
The #1 cause of water pollution in the Neponset River Watershed is polluted stormwater runoff.
Polluted stormwater happens when bacteria, chemicals, and trash get washed into storm drains from impervious surfaces, like streets, driveways, parking lots; industrial sites, and construction sites.
After the polluted runoff enters our storm drains, it empties — untreated — into local streams and ponds and affects our drinking water resources, swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife, and fish habitats.
The Neponset Stormwater Partnership (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.
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).
Read below to learn how you can help to reduce stormwater pollution in your community.
Residents
Make simple changes around your home. Limit lawn chemical use and always pick up after your dog!
Businesses
Maintain the area around your property and follow guidelines to reduce contaminants.
Construction
Protect your business and your clients by installing construction site stormwater best management practices.
Industry
Take steps to reduce or eliminate the cause of polluted runoff to minimize the risk of costly clean-ups.
Report a Problem. Ask a Question.
Seen dumping in a storm drain? Spotted pollution in a waterway? Have a stormwater question?
Email us at stormwater@neponset.org, or give us a call at 781-575-0354 x 300. If we can’t solve the problem or answer the question on the spot, we will relay it to the appropriate agency for further action.
The NSP is Managed by NepRWA
The Neponset Stormwater Partnership is managed by the Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA), a non-profit grass-roots organization founded in 1967, with a mission to protect and restore the natural resources of the Neponset River, its tributaries, and surrounding watershed lands for the benefit of present and future generations.
You can learn more about NepRWA and the programs they manage at neponset.org
For more information about the NSP, contact NepRWA Managing Director for Community Resilience, Kerry Snyder, snyder@neponset.org (781) 575-0354 x300
