Thanks to environmental laws such as the federal Clean Water Act and Massachusetts’ Rivers Protection Act, many Bay State waterbodies are cleaner than they were twenty years ago. But threats remain. More than half of Massachusetts residents live within 50 miles of the coast. This means more pressure on coastal resources, and more pollution sources.

Our coastal and inland waters are threatened by pollution from stormwater runoff, old combined sewer-stormwater systems; failing septic systems; and sewer systems that overflow in heavy rains (see box).

The bottom line? Even if you don’t live on the shore, you are contributing to pollution problems at our beaches and all along the coast.

There is a lot you can do around the house, in your neighborhood, and with environmental groups to prevent coastal water pollution. The list on the back of this sheet should get you started. If you want more ideas, go to the following internet sites:

Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov/owow)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.yoto98.noaa.gov)

Mass Bays Program (www.state.ma.us/massbays)

Center for Watershed Protection (www.cwp.org)

For more information, call ELM at 617-742-2553 or check on our web site: www.environmentalleague.org

1. Skip the pesticides. Plant native species that can stand up to native pests and diseases. Whenever possible, use natural alternatives.
2. Don’t pour used motor oil down the drain. It takes only one quart of oil to contaminate a million gallons of water. Bring back to where you bought it, sellers are required to accept it.
3. Don’t pour chemicals on the ground or down the drain. Old chemicals sitting in your basement are perfect candidates for household hazardous waste collection days. Call your Department of Public Works to find out when the next collection will take place.
4. Test your soil before adding fertilizers. And then use compost or another natural fertilizers that slowly release nutrients, to make sure you don’t over-fertilize.
5. Inspect your septic system yearly, and pump regularly. Lack of maintenance is a common cause of septic system failure.
6. Don’t divert storm drains or sump pumps to the sewer system. Combined stormwater-sewer overflows are more likely when more water enters the system. For the same reason, don’t do laundry or run the dishwasher during rainstorms.

1. Pick up after your pets. Pet waste contains bacteria that can be washed away by rain into the nearest stormdrain – and from there contaminate local waterways. This contamination can lead to beach closures.
2. Stencil the stormdrains. Many local environmental organizations can set you up with a kit to paint messages next to stormdrains warning of the impacts on local water bodies: "Don’t dump, drains to Seaside Creek."
3. Encourage street plantings. Grassy borders, trees, and bushes hold water and allow it to seep into the ground, decreasing street flooding.