RED FLAGS IN CHARLES RIVER BASIN SIGNAL HEALTH RISKS
CRWA's Innovative Flagging System Underway for Fourth Season

Newton, MA, June 21 … Following heavy rain last night, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) hoisted red water quality flags in the Charles River Basin as a signal that today’s conditions pose a health risk to boaters and others on the water.  Elevated bacteria levels, due to combined sewer overflows and contaminated stormwater runoff, caused the basin to fail the state’s boating standard on the first day of summer. CRWA will continue to test basin water regularly and fly blue or red flags, depending on bacteria levels, until mid-October. 

Now in its fourth season, CRWA’s signaling system is based on water quality monitoring at four sites in the Charles River Basin, the most heavily-used stretch between Watertown Dam and Boston Harbor.  Blue flags fly on days when water quality near testing sites meets boating standards for fecal coliform bacteria set by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Red flags warn that elevated bacteria levels violate state standards and are a health risks for boaters.  Blue flags indicate that conditions are OK.

Water samples are tested mainly at CRWA’s laboratory in Newton.  Results are relayed back to seven boating centers where red or blue flags are hoisted.

On most days, blue flags fly at all basin sites. However, red flags typically appear after heavy rainfall when stormdrains and combined sewer overflows discharge pollutants into the river.  Red flags also appeared earlier in the week after Sunday’s deluge.  Last summer when there was less than average rainfall, the basin met the state boating standard 90% of the time overall. 

Gaining national recognition, CRWA’s flagging program will be featured in a film documentary on public uses of information generated by citizen monitoring groups.  Produced by Emmy Award winning Greenworks, a Philadelphia-based environmental documentary film company, the program is likely to be aired on the Public Broadcasting System next year.  The Discovery Channel and National Geographic also have expressed interest in the program, according to Deborah Arnold of Greenworks.

“We are grateful to Boston Water and Sewer Commission, US Environmental Protection Agency, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, Stop & Shop Supermarket Companies, Triumvirate Environmental, Inc., and The William P. Wharton Trust for their generous support for our flagging program,” said CRWA’s Program Manager Kathy Baskin. “Without them, the thousands of people who use the basin daily simply would not know about water quality and health risks.”

Baskin also acknowledged the important role that seven basin boating centers play in flying the color-coded flags.  Flags are hoisted at: Charles River Canoe and Kayak, Community Boating, Community Rowing, Henderson Boathouse (Northeastern University), Newton Yacht Club, Riverside Boat Club, and Weld Boathouse (Harvard University).

Founded in 1965, CRWA also tests water quality along the entire length of the Charles at 37 sites once a month with the help of nearly 80 volunteers.  Over the last four decades, CRWA has played a prominent role in the cleanup of the Charles and protection of its watershed.  For more information, visit CRWA’s website at www.charlesriver.org.

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