Five years after Concord’s triumph in spearheading one of the nation’s first plastic water bottle bans, the labels of Poland Springs and Dasani are nowhere to be found in the town’s public schools. On the desks now stand Nalgenes and Camelbacks, colorful, personalizable, and reusable. Cardboard boxes of water line the shelves of the grocery stores and gas stations while hydration stations sit strategically placed in our parks and playgrounds. This legislative achievement has since painted Concord as a frontrunner in environmental protection and conservation, so why is our water still so dirty?
Before crossing the Sudbury river at the South Bridge Boathouse, signs flank either side of the stone guardrails cautioning against fishing and swimming in the water below. Officially, all three rivers of Concord are classified as “swimmable and fishable,” yet it has long been warned to the town’s children that mercury lies in the riverbed. At closer inspection, the magnitude of contaminants entering the town’s water system extend far beyond the average cautionary tale. Four municipal wastewater treatment plants lie upstream of the local segment of the Assabet River, two more treatment plants and a chemical waste site discharge into the Sudbury River, and Concord’s own treatment plant empties directly into the river bearing its name. The existence of a local 46-acre Superfund site, a site placed on the EPA’s National Priorities List for its hazardous waste contamination, has generally flown under the radar of a community widely known for its investment in child health and safety. The EPA’s list of eighteen contaminants in the town’s ground water include arsenic, lead, and manganese, all notoriously harmful neurotoxins, as well as uranium-238, a radioactive isotope that accumulates in bones. In addition to the presence of numerous chemical contaminants, the rivers and ponds of Concord also serve as a basin for nutrient runoff, such as lawn fertilizer and phosphate-based detergent. The excess of nutrients in the water causes frequent toxic algal blooms, regularly forcing Walden Pond and White Pond to close their shores to the public until conditions improve.
The water bottle ban is an improvement, but one step in the right direction does not constitute consistent progress. Actions as simple as reducing fertilizer use and properly disposing of pet waste can result in considerable water quality improvement. Less easy but significantly more impactful solutions include planting trees and perennial drought-resistant plants, or replacing paved patios and front walks with permeable materials. It is not enough to be satisfied with the reusable water bottle tucked into your backpack. The citizens of Concord have long held the privilege of voting with their wallets, and now is the time to do so. Prioritize the health of your children, land, and water over the aesthetic appeal of your lawn, and watch the scenic and historic rivers and ponds of Concord return to their original beauty.
