Green Acton Supports Water Rate Study Article for AWD Annual Meeting

The warrant for the Acton Water District (AWD) 2023 annual meeting includes an article asking the district to commission an external expert study of water rates. Green Acton Directors voted to support this article because it has the potential to support Green Acton’s mission by conserving water resources and advancing environmental justice.

Road Salt Threatens Aquatic Ecosystems in Acton

Contributed by Kim Kastens and the Green Acton Water Committee As part of a study by OARS of road salt pollution across the Sudbury/Assabet/Concord (SuAsCo) watershed, the Green Acton Water Committee measured electrical conductivity in brooks and rivers at 29 sites throughout the Fort Pond Brook tributary system. High conductivity is typically, although not always,… Continue reading →

Perspectives: Options for Funding Acton’s Response to PFAS

By Kim Kastens, Chair, Green Acton Water Committee The discovery of PFAS in Acton’s groundwater confronts the town with the prospect of many millions of dollars of new capital costs to add PFAS treatment capacity to the Acton Water District’s (AWD’s) local water treatment plants and/or to connect to the Massachusetts Regional Water Authority (MWRA)… Continue reading →

The Challenging Interrelationships among Water Rates, Conservation, and Environmental Justice

Contributed by Kim Kastens, Chair, Green Acton Water Committee The cost of delivering clean tap water is rising around the world, including in Acton. Public water suppliers across Massachusetts are seeking ways to balance competing demands to cover the costs of infrastructure and operations, to encourage water conservation, and to provide the essential good of… Continue reading →

Greener Ways to Avoid Tick Bites

Contributed by Chris Edwards, Chair, Green Acton Toxics/Pesticides Subcommittee Ticks can bite and cause serious diseases, such as Lyme disease, all year. Although tick infection is commonly assumed to be a summer ailment, the tiny bugs can survive even in near-freezing temperatures, waiting for passengers. Surprisingly, October and November are periods of heightened activity in… Continue reading →

Less Lawn, More Garden: Making Your Yard a Home for Birds and Pollinators

Contributed by Martha Rounds How Do Lawns Affect the Natural Environment? The traditional American lawn is a monoculture that requires consistent mowing, fertilizing, watering, and pesticides. Lawns in the U.S. are estimated by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to cover three times more area than any food crop (e.g., corn or soybeans). More than… Continue reading →