The Charles River has come a long way since its “Dirty Water” days. For decades, trash, sewage and industrial waste were regularly dumped into the Charles, making it one of the most polluted rivers in the country. Thanks to decades of work and billions of dollars of investment, the Charles is much cleaner… but the work is not done. Tens of millions of gallons of sewage-filled stormwater are still discharged into the river every year, and that volume is growing thanks to climate change.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) deserves credit for much of the cleanup of the Charles over the past several decades. But now the MWRA and the cities of Cambridge and Somerville are balking at finishing the job.
The Clean Water Act of 1972 promised fishable, swimmable rivers by 1983. Yet 40 years later, it’s still not safe to swim in our river.
If you want a swimmable Charles River, then please join us to tell our leaders, it’s time to cut the crap going into the Charles River!
The Clean Water Act of 1972 called for “fishable, swimmable” rivers by 1983 and the Clean Charles Initiative called for “a swimmable Charles” by 2005. Instead, tens of millions of gallons of sewage-laden stormwater are still entering the river every year, and that volume is growing thanks to climate change.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) deserves credit for much of the cleanup of the Charles over the past several decades, but the MWRA and the cities of Cambridge and Somerville must finish the job!
We demand that MWRA, Cambridge, and Somerville officials make the necessary investments to end CSO discharges so that we can finally achieve the promises of the Charles River cleanup, protect the river for future generations, and restore swimming to our beloved river – It's time to Cut The Crap!