Water quality at Boston Harbor beaches has improved dramatically over the past decade. Cleaner waters at Boston Harbor's beaches are a direct result of the multi-million dollar water and sewer projects being implemented by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. These projects are resolving long-time bacteria problems associated with wastewater discharged into Boston Harbor.

The new plant on Deer Island now provides improved treatment of sewage and removes solids from wastewater before the remaining effluent is discharged into the ocean. The following milestones of the Boston Harbor Project have already made a significant difference in water quality as evidenced by MDC water quality data and the return of porpoises, seals and other marine life to the Harbor.

• In 1989 both Deer Island and Nut Island treatment plants implemented screening which halted discharge into Boston Harbor of more than 10,000 gallons per day of floatable pollution, grease, oil, and plastics, known as scum.
• Since 1991, sludge from the 43 communities served by the MWRA sewer system has been sent to a pelletizing plant in Quincy, recycled into fertilizer and marketed all over the country. Before that time the sludge was dumped directly into Boston Harbor.
• In 1995, the new primary treatment facility came on-line providing greater capacity and treatment for wastewater. As a result, the number of combined sewer overflows was greatly reduced and wastewater being discharged into the Harbor was much cleaner.
• During 1997 and 1998, secondary treatment came on-line providing biological treatment of wastewater before being discharged into Boston Harbor for the first time. The result is cleaner waters for marine life.

Testing the Waters

Boston Harbor beaches already have the most comprehensive water quality sampling program for beaches in the country, with samples collected at least weekly at each beach. The Boston Harbor Association is working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission to provide the public with comprehensive information about beach conditions in Boston Harbor.

Beginning during the summer of 1996, several of Boston Harbor's beaches were sampled daily to assess the impact of rainfall and related stormwater runoff on water quality. Results showed that water quality was excellent at most beaches during dry weather. However, swimming at many Boston Harbor beaches is not recommended for 24 hours after a heavy rainstorm due to potential water quality problems associated with combined sewer overflows (CSOs). This summer, water quality flags will continue to be flown at Boston Harbor's beaches so that swimmers know when the waters are swimmable. Blue flags indicate good swimming conditions, and red flags indicate a potential water quality problem.

Water Quality at Tenean Beach in Dorchester & Wollaston Beach in Quincy

Significant water quality problems remain at two of Boston Harbor's Beaches: Tenean Beach in Dorchester, and Wollaston Beach in Quincy. The Boston Harbor Association is currently working with the cities of Boston and Quincy, the MDC, the MWRA and the Wollaston Beach Task Force to resolve these local water quality problems. For more information call TBHA at 617-482-1722.

Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)

Before the improvements discussed above, Boston Harbor beaches were often posted with water quality warnings throughout the summer during both dry and rainy periods. Many of the remaining water quality problems at the Boston Harbor beaches are related to sewer problems. Like many other older urban cities across the country, Boston has some antiquated sewer systems which overflow into storm drains during heavy rainstorms. These systems are known as Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). Many of the beach postings at Boston Harbor beaches are a result of CSO pollution after rainstorms.

The MWRA and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, with support from The Boston Harbor Association, are working to eliminate CSOs completely from the beaches. The complex nature of this project, which involves separating sewers from storm drain systems, makes it both costly and time consuming. Approximately $420 million is being spent to completely eliminate combined sewer overflows from the Boston Harbor beaches by the year 2008. In the meantime, existing CSOs are being treated and filtered to reduce the problem in the short term.
 

The Boston Harbor Association   -   374 Congress Street, Suite 307   -   Boston, MA 02210   -   617-482-1722 (P)   -   617-482-9750 (F)   -   mail@tbha.org