Sustainable Winchester Talks about Protecting Town's Watershed System

On Wednesday evening at the , Sustainable Winchester hosted "Above & Below: Our Watershed, Our Storm Water." Winchester Town Engineer Beth Rudolph and Beth MacBlane of Mystic River Watershed Association spoke about the efforts being taken to protect our watershed.

Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) Outreach coordinator, Beth MacBlane provided a broad overview of the Mystic River Watershed. “The Mystic River Watershed spans 22 communities and 76 square miles,” MacBlane said. “We monitor spots in the river for sewage, chemical and other industry related waste once a month. We are hoping to work with local, state and federal agencies to improve the water quality.”

“Last year, the Mystic River was safe to swim in only 26 percent of the time due to bacteria problems,” MacBlane said. “I often see people fishing there and, personally, I would not eat the fish there.”

MyRWA has actively provided environmental protection for The Mystic River area, rich with industrial history and pollution, while working with communities to not hinder economic prosperity since 1972. MyRWA monitors Sanitary Sewer Overflows, discharges of raw sewage into water sources and communities that pose substantial public health risk, Combined Sewer Overflows, storm water run-off, fish consumption/conservation, and invasive or non-native species such as Water Chestnuts in the river.

“There are a lot of challenges facing the Mystic watershed, it is expensive and is a very slow process,” MacBlane said. “But there are a lot people eager to help out.”

Beth Rudolph presented a virtual tour of the water system of Winchester detailing the 110 miles of water pipes, the town maintains 90 miles of sewer pipes and the storm drains system.

“There are three reservoirs, created in the late 1800s. In 1996, the town completed the development of the water treatment plant, which is connected to South and Middle Reservoir. North Reservoir serves as a backup supply,“ Rudolph said.

There are two separate pipes under the roads: Sewer and catch basins. Catch basins are designed to catch run-off, or what doesn’t infiltrate the soil. These catch basins discharge into wetlands. The sewer pipes lead to the treatment plant.

“We see a lot of storm water flooding and we have a lot runoff flooding, which runs untreated into rivers lakes and ponds,” Rudolph said. “Our concerns with polluted runoff vary. We worry about the destruction of aquatic habitats, aquatic life, allege/bacteria blooms and public health concerns from bacteria and other pathogens.”

To prevent pollution, “never, ever, ever, ever, dump anything down storm drains,” Rudolph said. “Check your car for leaks, recycle motor oil, clean up after your pet and use a commercial carwash facility.”

There are strict requirements for all new and redevelopment projects related to storm water quality and quantity. The EPA has regulations that cover several municipalities in MA, which must be met.

“For five or six year, we have partnered with the Rain Barrel project, which holds water and can be delivered to transfer station,” Rudolph said. Capital improvement projects have put massive drainage systems to help infiltrate water in to the ground at Manchester Field. The ongoing expansion of the Aberjona River is also

“Near future plans in the area, depending on funding, include Craddock Locks downstream improvements, Scalley Dam upstream improvements, Center Falls Dam gate valve replacement, Mt. Vernon Street Bridge, Swanton street bridge and railroad bridge expansion near Muraco School each will be worked on to increase capacity,” Rudolph Said. “We are also building another culvert system under Skillings Field.”