Residents

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater runoff is rain or snow melt that flows over the ground.  In Cambridge, stormwater flows to the Charles River or Alewife Brook. As stormwater flows, it picks up pollutants left on driveways, sidewalks and streets. Common pollutants in Cambridge are trash, leaves, grass clippings, salt, and dog waste. We all play an important role in keeping our sidewalks and storm drains clean of these materials, so only rain goes down the drain!

Click here or the image below to watch a short video on stormwater

What can residents do to prevent stormwater pollution? 

Sign up to be a Storm Steward

Cambridge’s Storm Stewards Program is a way for residents to get involved to protect the health of our local rivers and reduce street flooding. Residents are encouraged to participate by claiming (and naming!) a storm drain in their neighborhood and keeping the drain clear of debris, particularly ahead of rain events.

With 5,800 City owned storm drains in Cambridge, the task of maintaining them is substantial. City crews work diligently to clear storm drains before and after storms, but this task can be completed more quickly with community assistance. Volunteers can significantly expedite the process, aiding in both pre- and post-storm checks to keep drains functioning optimally.

By claiming a drain, volunteers commit to checking on a drain each month and keeping it clear of debris, like trash and leaves. This ensures stormwater can flow into the drain and helps keep these materials out of our waterways. View the Storm Drain Care Guide for more details on how to care for your drain. 

How to sign up 

• Visit the Storm Stewards interactive Map 
• Enter your address to zoom the map to your location and view available drains
• Choose a drain by clicking on it, then fill out the form and give it a name!
• Any Cambridge resident willing to monitor a storm drain is welcome to become a Storm Steward. Residents can claim as many drains as they would like to take for. View the Storm Drain Care Guide for recommended equipment to help care for your drain

Click the image above to view the interactive Storm Stewards map. For those trying to access this map on an iPhone, remember to turn off your Pop-up blocker (Go to Settings > Safari > Block Pop-ups and make sure to disable that option).

Having Issues with the map? Contact Cambria Ung at cung@cambridgema.gov 

Pick Up After Your Pet

While we love our furry friends, when pet waste is left behind, it can wash into storm drains when it rains.

Why is pet waste bad for our rivers and streams?

• Pet waste contains nutrients that encourage excess weed and algae blooms.
• Decaying pet waste uses up oxygen in water, which is harmful for fish.
• Pet waste can carry diseases and bacteria that are unsafe for humans, including high levels of harmful E. coli bacteria and other pathogens.

For clean water, scoop the poop! Be sure to collect all your pet’s waste and place dog waste bags in trash bins (never down a storm drain).

Cambridge pet owners are stepping up for cleaner waterways. Boulder, Blaze, Gia, Piper, Axel, and Zoey’s owners are already on board!

Move Your Car For Street Cleaning

Street cleaning is important because leaves and organic material on streets get into storm drains. Once in the drainage system, organic material releases phosphorous, polluting rivers. Leaves can also block drains, resulting in flooding.

It’s essential for residents to move their vehicles according to the posted street cleaning schedule for the City’s program to be most effective.  By moving your car, you are giving street cleaners the room they need to pick up leaves, sand, and other debris along the curb, keeping this material out of our rivers and streams!

Visit DPW’s Street Cleaning webpage to find your street’s cleaning schedule, sign up for reminders, and import the schedule into your digital calendar. The City sends alerts so you know exactly when to move your car.

Bag Your Leaves and Grass Clippings for Yard Waste Pickup

Bagging leaves, grass clippings, and other yard waste for curbside pickup keeps these materials out of the streets.  These materials can clog storm drains and cause pollution in our rivers. Leaves and grass will leach nutrients into stormwater as they break down, contributing to pollution and algal blooms.

You can help by bagging your grass clippings in the spring and raking up your leaves in the fall!

• Pick up yard waste on your lawn, sidewalk, and in the curb in front of your property.
• Be sure not to blow or sweep these materials into the street.
• Consider leaving grass clippings where they fall when you mow. They will add nutrients to your soil, reducing the need for fertilizer!

Visit Cambridge DPW’s Yard Waste Pick Up webpage to learn more about the City’s free, curbside yard waste collection.

Use Less Fertilizer On Your Lawn

If applied improperly or in excess, fertilizer can be washed off your property and carried into storm drains. Fertilizer contains nutrients, but too many nutrients in rivers can cause algal blooms.

Follow these tips to keep your lawn green while also protecting water quality:

• Get your soil tested to see if fertilizer is needed.
• As an alternative to fertilizer, consider scattering fresh grass seeds.
• If using fertilizer, opt for one that is slow-acting and phosphorus-free (look for “0” as the middle number on the bag).
• Follow application instructions carefully and do not over-fertilize. If you use too much fertilizer, the excess will just wash away in the next rain. Do not apply fertilizer before a rainstorm.

Use Less Salt On Your Sidewalk

Melting snow picks up salt and de-icers from your sidewalk and flows to local rivers. Follow these tips to keep your pavement safe while protecting water quality:

• Shovel early and often down to bare pavement before applying de-icer.
• Use non-chloride de-icers when possible instead of rock salt.
• Apply de-icers sparingly following manufacturer’s instructions. Use the least amount needed (only a small amount is required to melt ice).
• Remove slush once de-icer has done its job. Damage to concrete can be caused by the freeze/thaw cycles of de-icing agents left on sidewalks.
• When storing, cover salt and de-icers in areas that aren’t open to rain.