Show All Answers

1. What is a storm drainage system?

The Storm Drainage System is a series of catch basins, drainage pipes and drainage ditches that collect and channel runoff from streets, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and vegetated land surfaces. This network of pipes and ditches flow into bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, streams and rivers.

2. What is the Problem?

Stormwater becomes a transportation system for pollutants. Soil that erodes from a construction site, litter from parking lots, antifreeze and oil dripped from cars, fertilizers and pesticides from turf management, and sand and salt left from de-icing operations on roadways can be deposited untreated into our waterways. Water can contain and transport sediments, metals (copper, cadmium, chromium, lead, zinc), nutrients (nitrates, phosphates, ammonia), salt, petroleum products and coliform bacteria among other materials.

3. What can I do about stormwater?

• Eliminate pesticide and fertilizer use in your yard.
• Scoop your pet's poop—pick it up and flush it down the toilet rather than leaving it on the ground or depositing in a catch basin.
• Wash your car in a commercial car wash that treats or recycles its wastewater, or wash your car on your yard rather than on your driveway so that the water infiltrates into the ground.
• Don't ever dump anything down a storm drain—storm drains run directly into streams without being treated, so whatever goes into the drain goes into the stream.
• Use rain barrels to collect run-off from your roof to store for later use in watering your garden or lawn.
• Report illegal dumping and illicit discharging into streams and ponds and stream flow problems by contacting the Engineering Department at 617-730-2139.

4. What's Being Done?

The Town of Brookline implements a variety of Best Management Practices (or BMPs) to help reduce pollutant discharges to its waterways. Many of these BMPs are implemented or coordinated by the Department of Public Works. These include street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, public education and enforcements of stormwater management and erosion control measures that require proper procedures during construction to minimize pollutant runoff.

5. What is the proper method for draining my swimming pool?

When swimming season is over, pool owners need to be careful of how and where they discharge swimming pool water when they lower the level of their pool. The discharge of chlorinated swimming pool water directly into a waterway or into a storm drain is prohibited. The storm drainage system (which includes catch basins, ditches and pipes) was designed to handle runoff from rain and snow only. The water is not treated before it is discharged into area brooks and rivers. If the water contains chlorine, it can be very toxic to fish and other aquatic plants and animals. Therefore, residential swimming pool water must be dechlorinated before being discharged.

This can be accomplished two ways: Dechlorinate naturally; allow the water to sit in the sun for 5-10 days without adding chlorine; or use a chemical dechlorination additive (contact your local pool supply store for options).

Drain dechlorinated water to the grass/turf/or other area on your property that will allow the water to percolate into the ground.