As someone who has been helping monitor the Charles River’s water quality for the past 17 years, I know very well that a spike in bacteria follows a heavy rain. A rainstorm that overwhelms some antiquated sections of Boston and Cambridge’s sewer systems can raise E. coli counts by a factor of 100 or more. But you don’t need to gather samples for the lab to know that — the smell is proof enough.
So my heart sank when I read that the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has proposed abandoning its long-term goals of eliminating sewage outfalls and making the Charles a truly clean river.
During the nearly 50 years I’ve lived in the Boston area, the Charles has seen a remarkable transformation from a notoriously foul embarrassment to a sparkling venue for sailboats, rowing shells and kayaks. Decades of persistent efforts by municipalities and the MWRA have separated storm sewers that carry off rainwater from sanitary sewers that carry — uh — sewage to the treatment plant on Deer Island…