Worcester Seeks Public Input on Updated Combined Sewer Overflow Long-Term Control Plan

WORCESTER, Mass. - The City of Worcester is updating its Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Long-Term Control Plan, a vital initiative to improve water quality in the Blackstone River and meet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirement to reduce CSO discharges to no more than four annually.

Led by the Department of Public Works (DPW), the updated plan will incorporate new data, community priorities, and environmental goals to guide future infrastructure investments. DPW is hosting a public workshop on Thursday, Oct. 30 to solicit feedback from the public on the plan.

Key Benefits of the Updated Plan

• Cleaner Waterways: Reducing CSO discharges will improve water quality in the Blackstone River, benefiting public and aquatic health.
  
• Environmental Compliance: Aligns Worcester with EPA policies, helping avoid regulatory penalties and ensuring responsible stewardship of natural resources.
  
• Community-Centered Solutions: Reflects updated priorities and public input to create a plan that balances environmental goals with affordability.
  
• Infrastructure Modernization: Supports long-term upgrades to Worcester's aging sewer system, improving reliability and resilience.

Community Workshop Scheduled

To engage residents and stakeholders, the municipality will host a:

Combined Sewer Overflow Long-Term Control Plan Community Workshop
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025
6:30 - 8 p.m.
Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St.

This workshop is an opportunity for the public to learn more about CSOs, share how they use local waterways, and provide input on strategies to reduce overflows. Attendees will help shape decisions about infrastructure investments, trade-offs between cost and pace of improvements, and impacts on sewer rates.

What is a CSO?

A Combined Sewer Overflow occurs when heavy rainfall overwhelms Worcester's combined sewer system, causing treated stormwater and wastewater to overflow into the Blackstone River. These events pose risks to public health and aquatic life, and reducing their frequency is a key environmental priority. Watch this video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1j_heZgKw0

Stay Involved

Can't attend the workshop? You can still participate by visiting www.worcesterma.gov/worcester-waters to:

• Watch an informational video
• Stay updated on the planning process

Public participation is essential to developing a responsible, affordable, and effective plan that protects Worcester's waterways and supports community needs.

For more information, visit www.worcesterma.gov/water-sewer/sewer-system .