Summary
South Meadow Brook is a tributary to the Charles
River which flows in a southwesterly direction through Newton and
discharges into the main stem of the Charles near Needham Street in
Newton. CRWA conducted water quality monitoring on South Meadow Brook
on August 3, 2007, a dry weather occasion. Samples were collected at
six sites along the brook.
Click here for a site map. Samples
were analyzed for several pollutants of most concern in the watershed,
E. coli bacteria, total suspended solids (TSS) and total
phosphorus. CRWA also measured several in situ parameters
including dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity and water
temperature.
Click here for monitoring results.
E. coli levels ranged from 55 cfu/ml to 3600
cfu/ml. E. coli levels at five of six sites sampled exceeded the
Massachusetts Water Quality Bacterial Standard for swimming (126 cfu/100mL)
and boating (630 cfu/100mL). Such high E. coli levels
during dry weather are usually indicative of illicit connections to the
stormwater drainage
system. The City of Newton has made substantial efforts to identify and
remove such connections. However, identifying and removing all
such illicit connections will take the continued effort of the City of
Newton and the support of its residents. Other potential sources of
bacterial contamination to the brook include pet and wildlife waste and
poorly maintained septic systems.
Additionally, total
phosphorus levels at all sites exceeded US EPA’s recommended total
phosphorus criteria in Level III, Ecoregion XIV. In fact, total
phosphorus levels at Site SMB2 were six times greater than the EPA
criteria. Excessive nutrients are a significant problem throughout the
Charles River, which requires the development and implementation of
nutrient TMDLs. Runoff from large impervious surfaces is particularly problematic for urban and suburban waterways like South Meadow Brook. Fertilizers from
lawns, playing fields and golf courses, as well as, pet and wildlife
waste, organic matter from lawn clippings and leaf litter, detergents,
and automobile emissions, are some of the likely sources of nutrients to
this brook.
CRWA also observed
problems with total suspended solids in South Meadow Brook. The
sediment concentration at Site SMB5 measured 200 mg/L, which well
exceeds CRWA’s Action Limit for TSS of 30 mg/L. This Action Limit is
based on Water Quality Criteria proposed by U.S. EPA and represents a
threshold value, over which, TSS may cause significant degradation to
the water quality and overall health of the brook.
Last Updated December 2009
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WATERSHED INFO
