Protecting the Blackstone River

This cool, brisk Saturday morning WA students worked with the city to raise awareness within the neighborhood about pollution of our local waterway. Students stenciled catch basins and dropped off fliers and information sheets to households. Rain run-off from the upper level of campus and west flows into the Blackstone River  (45 mile long river that is fed by headwaters throughout the Worcester area and that flows to Narraganset) and to the east into the Broad Meadow Brook, which in turn feeds the Blackstone further to the south.

Capable of destruction of fish and wildlife, loss of aesthetic value, and of threats to public health through food, water supplies, and recreation, run-off water pollutants include pet waste, oil and other vehicle fluids, lawn fertilizer, pesticides, hazardous wastes, and physical objects such as yard debris and litter.

For more information on Worcester’s Storm Water Management Program call 508-799-1480, go to dpw, and/or go to the EPA site for sewer line risk information ssoenweb.pdf