Rapid Notification of Sewage Discharges

State regulations require MWRA 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. Notifications are posted online and also sent out via email and text. All Data are preliminary and subject to change. Subscribe to MWRA notifications.

MWRA Public Notification Plan (pdf*)

*PDF files require free PDF reader available from Adobe Systems.

MWRA COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW (CSO) NOTIFICATIONS Some MWRA communities have combined sewer systems, where surface runoff enters the sewer and mixes with sewage during heavy rain, reducing system capacity.  When the sewer system is overwhelmed, it can result in a combined sewer overflow (CSO). MWRA has completed the final construction milestone of its Long Term Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Plan, a 25-year plan to reduce the impact of combined sewer overflows to surface waters in the metropolitan Boston area. The plan comprised 35 wastewater system improvement projects that bring CSO discharges at CSO outfalls in the Boston area into compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act. Go to CSO Notifications. Subscribe to MWRA CSO notifications More about CSOs CSO receiving water quality monitoring CSO Variances MWRA SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW (SSO) NOTIFICATIONS A Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) is an unintentional discharge of wastewater to the environment prior to reaching a treatment facility. SSOs occur on infrequent occasions when the capacity of the sewer system is exceeded, usually due to extreme conditions such as heavy rainfall, or an obstruction or break in sewer lines. Go to SSO Notifications. Subscribe to MWRA SSO notifications More about SSOs and how to help prevent them OTHER NOTIFICATIONS Discharge of blended flows: In very wet weather, MWRA sometimes has to partially treat some flows in order not to overwhelm the treatment facility. These primary treated flows are blended with secondary treated flows and disinfected before discharging more than 5 miles from shore. All flows meet water quality limits. Go to Blending Notifications. MORE WATER QUALITY INFORMATION Charles River water quality alerts Mystic River boating advisories Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health beach information