 |
|
Boston Harbor and Massachusetts
Bay
|
||||||||||||
|
MWRA monitors the water quality of Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay, measuring nutrients, pathogens, metals, organics, solids, pH, oil and grease and toxicity. See the WHAT'S NEW page for the latest water quality information and permit-required reporting. |
 |
|
Nutrients, pathogens, dissolved oxygen, temperature, & water clarity are measured in BOSTON HARBOR and in the CHARLES, MYSTIC, and NEPONSET rivers. Download historical Water quality data here. Goals: Assess impacts of combined sewer overflows (CSO) on affected water bodies and track environmental effects of pollution reduction efforts. |
|
 |
|
As part of MWRA's Ambient Monitoring Plan, Massachusetts and Cape Cod bays are measured for Nutrients, organic material, toxic contaminants, pathogens, and solids. In Mass. Bay there is bacteria monitoring. The Outfall Monitoring Science Advisory Panel (OMSAP) assists in evaluating and revising the monitoring plan. Goals: Fulfill requirements of the NPDES discharge permit to assess the impacts of MWRA sewer system and treatment
plant discharges on Massachusetts and Cape Cod bays. |
|
 |
|
Harbor beaches are tested daily in summer, and warnings are posted when high bacteria counts are found. Beach data are available for download. Goals: Provide safe and pleasant recreational swimming. Assess sources of bacterial pollution at Carson, Constitution, Malibu, Pleasure Bay, Short, Tenean, Winthrop, and Wollaston beaches. |
|
 |
REGULATORY REPORTING |
MWRA's regulators require reports on Infiltration and Inflow, permit Threshold Exceedances, Harbor, Bay, & Discharge Monitoring, Sewage Flow limitation, Groundwater, Industrial users, System Maintenance, and Combined Sewer Overflows. Goals: Comply with the Clean Water Act, control
water pollution from discharge of treated sewage. |