RIVER CURRENT
Your source for the latest news, updates, & events.
Release: MWRA Plan to Continue Dumping Sewage in Boston’s Rivers Is Sent to State & Federal Regulators for Approval
For Immediate Release: On June 2, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and the Cities of Cambridge and Somerville presented their draft Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) to address Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) in the Charles River, Mystic River, and Alewife Brook.
MWRA Plan to Continue Dumping Sewage in Boston’s Rivers Handed off to State and Federal Agencies
On April 30th, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and the Cities of Cambridge and Somerville submitted their draft Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) to address combined sewer overflows – intentional discharges of raw and partially treated sewage into local rivers and streams – for public comment.
Massachusetts CSOs Make International News
AP News released an article on combined sewer overflows in Massachusetts, highlighting the grassroots organizations (like CRWA) that are fighting back!
The MWRA cleaned up Boston Harbor. It’s time for it to do the same for the Charles and Mystic rivers. — Op-Ed in The Commonwealth Beacon
Read the new opinion piece in The Commonwealth Beacon by CRWA Executive Director Emily Norton and CRWA Board President Paul Levy.
CRWA In The News: ‘Environmental Groups Push Back on MWRA Plan Allowing Sewage Overflows Into Charles’
A new article in The Harvard Crimson mentions CRWA alongside Save the Alewife Brook and the Mystic River Watershed Association, expressing disappointment in the MWRA’s recent decision to continue dumping sewage into our waterways.
MWRA Decides It’s Too Expensive to Stop Discharging Sewage into the Charles
On February 25, 2026, a vote was taken to continue sewage discharges into the Charles River forever. The reason? MWRA says it would be too costly. But how much would it actually impact ratepayers?
MWRA Board Votes To Continue Dumping Sewage Into The Charles For Decades (Press Release)
On February 25, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) voted to approve an infrastructure plan that would allow sewage discharges into the Charles River forever.
Water Authority Proposes Another Weak Plan That Would Continue Sewage Dumping in Charles River (Press Release)
BOSTON, MA – Following a wave of public outrage in October over a proposed plan to allow for sewage to continue to be dumped into the Charles River forever, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) proposed a new plan to its Board of Directors today, representing an improvement but falling short of eliminating combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and subjecting Boston area residents to a future of sewage dumping in larger rain storms.
Thanks to YOU, Pressure Builds on MWRA to Eliminate CSOs
Nearly 350 community members joined CRWA, Save the Alewife Brook, Mystic River Watershed Association, and Green Cambridge on January 11 for a public meeting on plans to address combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in Boston’s waterways.
CRWA in the News: Emily Norton on Jim & Margery
On December 8, CRWA's Executive Director, Emily Norton, appeared on GBH's popular radio show, Boston Public Radio, with hosts Jim Braude and Andrea Cabral (subbing in for Margery Eagan) to discuss MWRA's proposal to allow sewage to continue to be discharged into the Charles River.
Emptying Sewage into the Charles? (WBZ, Boston’s News Radio)
CRWA’s Executive Director Emily Norton was invited to NightSide with Dan Rea.
Grateful for YOU saying “No more sewage in the Charles!”
In this season of gratitude, we are thankful for the 9,000 people who have written emails, signed petitions, or made calls telling the MWRA it’s time to “cut the crap.”
Watershed groups seek to intervene in court proceedings following MWRA’s proposal to dump more sewage in Charles and Mystic Rivers (Press Release)
Three weeks after the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) proposed a plan that would allow for untreated sewage to continue to be dumped into the Charles and Mystic Rivers forever, making people sick and destroying sensitive ecosystems, watershed groups filed a motion in court on Tuesday to intervene in the ongoing federal lawsuit that led to the cleanup of Boston Harbor.
MWRA Postpones Vote on Proposal to Dump Sewage in Charles River— Read More in The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, and more!
CSOs are once again making headlines this month, following the MWRA Board of Directors' decision to table a scheduled vote on the proposal at its November 19 meeting after a wave of public outrage,.
Water Authority Board Tables Vote on Proposal to Dump Sewage in Charles River Forever (Press Release)
Following a wave of public outrage over the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA) recently-proposed plan to allow for sewage to continue to be dumped into the Charles River forever, the MWRA Board of Directors has tabled a scheduled vote on the proposal at its November 19 meeting.
Water Authority Proposes Dumping Sewage in Charles River Forever (Press Release)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2025
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) on Wednesday proposed a plan that would allow for sewage to continue to be dumped into the Charles River forever.
Read press coverage in The Boston Globe, WGBH, and The Harvard Crimson—Water Authority Considers Removing Charles River’s Safe-to-Swim Status To Allow Sewer Overflows
On October 29, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) revealed its long-awaited plan for addressing combined sewage overflows (CSOs) in the Charles: do next to nothing! Read press coverage in The Boston Globe, WGBH, and The Harvard Crimson.
Thank you for joining us! Eliminating CSOs Webinar
Thank you to the over 100 attendees who logged on for our webinar about CRWA's recommendations to eliminate combined sewer overflows from the Charles River.
Fed up, groups demand solution to sewer overflows — State House News Service
Great to read this new article by State House News Service (SHNS) featuring local efforts to eliminate combined sewer overflows (CSOs) from Massachusetts waterbodies, featuring CRWA’s Cut the Crap campaign.
Sick of Sewage in the Charles? It’s Time to Cut the Crap
Sick of sewage in the Charles River? Us too. Join us in telling officials to Cut The Crap. Sign our petition and send a pre-written message at cutthecrapcharles.org