Dirty Water Another Result of Record Rainfalls - Think Again.Think Blue. Raises Stormwater Pollution Awareness

Boston, MA, June 26, 2006 --(PR.com)-- With recent excessive rainfall across the state, the Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association (MBEA) is actively engaging citizens, companies, and organizations to become aware of stormwater pollution through its Think Again.Think Blue. public awareness campaign. (www.ThinkAgainThinkBlue.org)

The destructive flooding from the record rainfall has not only affected people and properties, but has also increased the volume of pollutants entering the state’s storm drains. Much of the pollution is preventable.  It consists of litter such as cigarettes, pet waste, excess fertilizer, and anything else swept off of our streets and yards and into the storm drains. In most cases, this polluted stormwater flows into storm drains that are directly connected to our rivers, beaches, and bays.

“At a time when many people are asking, ‘where does all the rainwater go?’ it is important to educate the public on preventative actions they can take to reduce the pollution flowing into storm drains,” says MBEA’s Executive Director, Paula Jewell. “With warmer weather approaching, rivers, beaches, and bays become increasingly popular for summer activities. As a result, it is vital for people to be aware of how pollution can have a direct effect on their daily lives.”

With an increase in public awareness comes a sense of responsibility. The Think Again.Think Blue. campaign provides resources and information for citizens ready to help protect Massachusetts rivers, beaches and bays.  The campaign focuses its education outreach efforts on cigarette disposal, domestic animal waste, and lawn fertilizing techniques.

For example:

•    Disposal of Cigarettes
Cigarettes are the most littered item in America- 176 million pounds each year. That’s enough to fill the seats at Fenway Park 32 times. Add that to the fact that cigarette butts and filters can take up to 20 years to decompose, and you can see why it’s so important that smokers dispose of cigarettes properly to prevent them from entering storm drains and traveling directly to the rivers, beaches and bays.

•    Domestic Animal Waste
When dog owners don’t pick up their dogs’ waste, it contributes to high bacteria levels in sewage and runoff, causing sickness and infections among humans. High bacteria levels can also contaminate seafood. In 2004, nationwide, 85 percent of beach closing and advisory days stemmed from high levels of bacteria that were associated with fecal contamination.

•    Lawn Fertilizing Techniques
Generally speaking, lawns need much less fertilizer than homeowners think.  Excess fertilizers either leach through the soil to the groundwater, or are washed by rain into storm drains that lead to the nearest waterbody. These fertilizers can contaminate our drinking water and cause rapid algae growth in the bays. Algae blooms not only make swimming and boating unpleasant, but also can block out sunlight and deplete the water of oxygen, killing fish and other animals.

Their statewide campaign Think Again.Think Blue. shows Massachusetts citizens how they can help prevent stormwater pollution from entering storm drains and  our rivers, beaches and bays. Polluted stormwater is a major public health threat to coastal waters; closing beaches, harming shellfish, birds and mammals.

Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association raises community awareness of the resources and threats to the Bays through education, outreach, and advocacy programs.  The MBEA works towards the vision of clean and healthy bays in a collaborative effort with the Massachusetts Bays Program, the North & South Rivers Watershed Association, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Eight Towns and the Bay, the Cape Cod Commission, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and many other organizations and agencies. For more information call (781) 378-1610, visit, www.ThinkAgainThinkBlue.org or www.MassachusettsBays.org.

Contact an organization near you for a local perspective on this important issue:

NSRWA
Sara Grady
PO Box 43
Norwell MA 02061
sara@nsrwa.org
781-659-8168
781-659-7915 (f)

Salem Sound Coastwatch
Barbara Warren
201 Washington Street, Suite 9  
Salem, MA 01970
Barbara.Warren@salemsound.org
978-741-7900

Eight Towns and the Bays
Peter Phippen
160 Main Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
PPhippen@mvpc.org
978-374-0519
978-372-4890 (f)

Cape Cod Commission
Steve Tucker
PO Box 226
Barnstable, MA 02630
stucker@capecodcommission.org
508-362-3828

The Association to Preserve Cape Cod
Joanne Muramoto
PO Box 398
Barnstable, MA 02630
jmuramoto@apcc.org
508-362-4226
508-362-4227 (f)
www.apcc.org

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