BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today awarded $267,000 to seven regional watershed coalitions and planning collaboratives to help communities better manage stormwater and keep harmful pollution out of Massachusetts waterways.
Stormwater is created when rainwater and snow melt flows over hard surfaces like pavement, collecting pollutants like oil from roadways and bacteria from pet waste. This polluted stormwater runoff travels through storm drains directly into rivers, lakes, and other waterbodies—harming water quality and limiting fishing, boating, and swimming. The funding enables regional watershed coalitions and planning collaboratives to develop innovative programs to limit pollution, better detect illicit discharges, manage construction site runoff, and enhance public education and participation in stormwater management.
“Stormwater is one of the biggest drivers of pollution in our waterways,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These grants strengthen our commitment to protecting water quality by empowering communities to take action where it matters most so we can deliver real, measurable improvements for everyone.”
“This funding empowers our cities and towns to stop harmful bacteria and pollutants before they enter waterways,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “By supporting proactive stormwater management and better controlling sediment, litter, and waste, we’re tackling pollution at its source. Keeping our storm drains clean is one of the best ways to keep our rivers and lakes clean and healthy.”
The awarded projects will help communities meet the requirements of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits that are required to manage stormwater discharges and prevent pollutants from entering storm sewer systems. 260 Massachusetts municipalities are subject to the MS4 permit. The MS4 Permit is issued by the EPA under the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and the projects are selected by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
The groups receiving funding are:
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) — $63,225
The BRPC will work with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) and Waterstone Engineering to improve stormwater planning tools for local communities. The project will add new stormwater management designs, create a practical guide to help communities choose the right solutions for specific locations, update cost estimates and provide training for municipal staff on the planning tools. MS4 representatives, as stormwater officials, will help shape the work to ensure the tools are user-friendly and effective for public infrastructure projects.