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 →
Coming January 1, 2023: New Plastics Bylaw Goes into Effect
On New Year’s Day 2023, Acton’s new Polystyrene and Disposable Plastic Reduction bylaw goes live. See flyer below, and the QR code, for more information:
Sustainable Holiday Gift Wrapping
Contributed by Carolyn Davis, Green Acton Materials/Plastics Subcommittee Do you want to save money and help the planet this holiday season by reducing trash? Green Pro Tip: make your own wrapping paper! Americans spend about $8 billion a year on wrapping paper. Not only is that a lot of money for something that gets ripped… 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 →
Coming Changes to Acton Power Choice in 2022
In October, most Acton electricity customers will see increases in prices. What follows in this article is information on the source of those changes, information on how to weather the storm of spiking electricity prices, and the good news about renewable energy.
How Level 3 Critical Drought Manifests in Acton
On July 21, 2022, the Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force declared that the Northeast Region of Massachusetts, including Acton, had moved into Level 3 Critical Drought status. The Drought Management Task Force (DMTF) uses six different types of information in deciding when to declare a drought. This post takes a look at how these six… Continue reading →
Greener Ways to Avoid Acton’s Mosquitoes
by Chris Edwards, Chair, Green Acton Toxics/Pesticides Subcommittee While you’re enjoying the outdoors in Acton, it’s important to protect yourself and your loved ones from being bitten by mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other insects, since these critters can carry harmful viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Unfortunately, some of the most effective repellents have environmental and toxic… Continue reading →