Hopkinton Faces Rising Costs to Protect Waterways Under Federal Stormwater Mandate

Hopkinton may have to put more money into cleaning streets to protect the waterways. In her latest weekly update, Town Manager Elaine Lazarus says Hopkinton operates its drainage system under a federal permit which was redrafted in November to require an increase in effort and spending for stormwater management including street sweeping, retrofitting drainage catch basins, and more to reduce water pollution runoff into the Charles River, Lake Whitehall, and other bodies that catch town water. Lazarus says there is currently no money for that increase but says the Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition is preparing a letter to the EPA about town concerns.