Baker-Polito Administration Awards Funding to Braintree for Water Quality Management Efforts
The Town of Braintree and five other Massachusetts municipalities have received a total of $208,995 in grant awards from the Baker-Polito administration for projects that seek to address local water quality impairments. The awardees were selected by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and are funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through Section 604b of the federal Clean Water Act.
The intent of the 604b Grant Program is to address water quality issues related to non-point source pollution. The main generator of non-point source pollution in Braintree is stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff carries pollutants like phosphorus and nitrogen from lawn and garden fertilizers, bacteria from pet waste and waterfowl, oil and grease from parking lots and roadways, and sediment from construction activities and soil erosion directly to the Town’s water bodies.
The Braintree Stormwater Division will use their 604b grant award of $30,623 to work with an engineering firm to identify and prioritize five town-owned parcels suitable for stormwater retrofits that will capture and treat non-point source pollutants on site. Conceptual designs for nature-based stormwater best management practices will then be developed for these five sites. This effort will include a public engagement program for stakeholders through public meetings, design charrettes, and interpretive signage.
For more information about local efforts to improve water quality in Braintree’s rivers, lakes, and streams, feel free to contact the Braintree Stormwater Division at (781) 794-8930.