Notification of Sewage Discharges
State regulations require BWSC to notify the public when certain events occur that result in untreated or partially treated wastewater being released into surface water--a river or stream, lake, or ocean. Information regarding active discharges is posted on this website and notifications are sent out via email. All Data are preliminary and subject to change. Subscribe to BWSC CSO notifications.
BWSC Public Notification Plan
In January, 2023, BWSC submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) a CSO Public Notification Plan describing how it will comply with the requirements of An Act Promoting Awareness of Sewage in Public Waters, signed into law in 2021. Questions and comments regarding BWSC's Public Notification Plan can be emailed to BWSC at [email protected].
CSO Map
The map below shows the locations of the Commission's active CSO outfalls and the status of their discharges. Discharges from CSO outfalls consist, or likely consist, of untreated or partially treated sewage and waste. The public is advised to avoid contact with impacted water bodies for 48 hours after the discharge or overflow ceases due to increased health risks from bacteria and other pollutants.
Information regarding past public notifications of sewage discharges can be found on MassDeps Sewage Notification Data Portal.
For more information regarding receiving water quality and bathing beach closures and advisories see the following websites.
- Charles River Watershed Association, Charles River Water Quality Flagging Program
- Mystic River Watershed Association
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health Beach Water Quality and Beach Closures
Instructions
General
- Click on a circle icon on the map to view CSO event information in a pop-up
- Subscribe to BWSC CSO notifications
Moving Around the Map
- Click the plus/minus buttons on the right side to zoom in/out of the map
- Hold down the left mouse button and drag to pan the map