Thinking about Fertilizing? Test Your Soil First!

Contributed by Christopher Edwards and Martha Rounds, Green Acton Toxics/Pesticides Subcommittee To take good care of a lawn or garden in Acton, simply buying an off-the-shelf fertilizer and spreading it once or twice a year can be tempting. This guide offers great information on fertilizing your yard in a way that is better for your… Continue reading →

Creating a Lush, Healthy Lawn without Synthetic Chemicals

Many people love their lawns. In the post–World War II period, they became a symbol of domestic status and beauty, and at the same time became more uniform and “greener.” And though it may seem odd to think about environmental damage and lawns at the same time, “chemical” lawns actually cause significant damage to the… Continue reading →

Green Acton Recommendations for Select Board 2023 Annual Goal Setting

At the Green Acton meeting of May 9, 2023, Green Acton directors (and assembled members) agreed to draft and send a statement supporting two goals for the Select Board annual goal-setting process: (1) Understanding PFAS Pathways and Reducing Exposure Risks and (2) Creating Land/Tree Clearing Limits. What follows is the recommendations memo that was sent… Continue reading →

A Whole-of-Government Approach to Tackling PFAS in Acton

by Kim Kastens, Chair, Green Acton Water Committee PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — comprise a family of harmful chemicals that is found in tap water and in many consumer and industrial products. This post suggests that a whole-of-government approach — one that enacts collaborative efforts across municipal departments and boards toward a shared… Continue reading →

Q&A with 2023 Candidate for Acton Water District Commissioner

This year, there is one candidate running for the position of Commissioner of the Acton Water District (AWD): Stephen C. Stuntz. This post contains Mr. Stuntz’s answers to questions prepared by the Green Acton Water Committee; the goal is to inform voters about some current issues and opportunities facing the District, and the candidate’s thoughts on how to address… Continue reading →

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 →

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 →