Town of Arlington Receives Water Quality Improvement Grant from Patrick Administration

The Town of Arlington was awarded a $39,580 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to address the problem of pollution in the Alewife and Mill Brook sub-watersheds. Arlington was one of the five recipients of similar grants awarded last week to local groups engaged in the assessment, planning and implementation of water quality improvement projects.  

The Town of Arlington will apply this grant in partnership with the Town of Belmont and the Mystic River Watershed Association to reduce pollution. The collaboration will specifically investigate non-point source pollution or pollutants that are carried to a waterway as a result of precipitation and storm water runoff from the land or infiltration into the soil. 

“The water quality of the Alewife and Mill Brooks have long been a concern to the residents of Arlington,” said Senator Kenneth Donnelly. “I am thrilled this grant will allow our town to take a proactive approach to restoring the quality of these waterways.” 

“Our delegation is grateful to MassDEP for supporting the local efforts to improve water quality and reduce harmful pollutants,” added Representative Sean Garballey. “I look forward to seeing the collaborative work that will be done to stop pollution thanks to this grant.” 

The grants were initiated under section 604b of the federal Clean Water Act, which established the Water Quality Management Planning grant program, a vehicle by which each state can provide funds to eligible entities such as regional planning agencies, conservation districts or municipalities. 

Visit MassDEP’s website for more information on Arlington’s proposal and the grants awarded to other Massachusetts towns.