What you can do to reduce stormwater pollution
We need you to submit pictures of stormdrains! (marked and unmarked).
We need your help to manage stormwater
The Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative, a partnership between municipalities in the Buzzards Bay watershed, the Buzzards Bay Action Committee, and the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program is mapping stormwater networks and monitoring pollution discharged from stormwater pipes and road cuts into Buzzards Bay. At many sites, stormwater discharges are the primary cause of swimming beach and shellfish bed closures.
The public can help with this effort by managing the stormwater leaving their property, and by submitting information and photographs of stormwater problems like flooding, damage caused by stormwater, and photographs of discharge pipes, especially pipes without photos in our interactive maps pages. These photographs will help us identify unmapped discharges and document the condition of discharge pipes. We want pictures of pipes -- whether or not water is flowing from them. If you see a failing catchbasin (filled with sand or blocked with debris), you can submit photos of those sites too.
Check list of what you can do to reduce stormwater pollution.
Only Rain down the Drain!
-Pick up after your pet and dispose in the trash.
-Properly maintain your septic system.
-Properly dispose of fluids from your automobile.
-Keep your automobile in good repair to prevent leaks and spills.
-Keep yard waste from accumulating in catchbasins.
-Minimize the use of pesticides and learn about Integrated Pest Management.
-Wash your car on the lawn to prevent detergents from entering the stormdrain.
-Direct downspouts and yard drains away from pavement and into garden areas.
-Minimize fertilizer on your lawn and garden.
-Be sure your sump pump only drains groundwater -- never connect washers or utility sinks.
Please also visit the Buzzards Bay Action Committee's page on managing stormwater pollution and lawn fertilizer at Managing Your Stormwater
Email Us
Email messages or photographs to us at jcosta@buzzardsbay.org. Make sure you provide a very clear description of location of the stormwater system feature (nearest street or house #), and any specific concerns.