Assawompset Ponds Complex and Nemasket River

Long Pond Friendly Living

SRPEDD is partnering with the Long Pond Association, Save the Bay and the Towns of Lakeville and Freetown to offer a series of informational sessions for local community members to learn how to be stewards of water quality in Long Pond.

Photo credits: Save the Bay

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Stay up to date with pond friendly living tips and tricks, and hear about upcoming events

Did you know how you manage your yard impacts the health of Long Pond?

Whether you live directly on the pond or several blocks away, you influence water quality in the bodies of water that surround you. When rain falls, it runs over your yard, sidewalks and roadways and into nearby waterways, picking up chemicals and debris it encounters along the way. All of the lands that surround and drain to a body of water are called a watershed - learn more about watersheds here!

This means that fertilizers and other chemicals you apply around your property may inadvertently end up in Long Pond. The cumulative impacts of these chemicals from across the watershed can have serious impacts on aquatic health and may fuel invasive weed growth.

The plants in your yard also play a role in protecting water quality. Planting the right plants in the right spots can help slow runoff and filter out pollutants that may harm water quality, with the added benefits of beautifying your yard, providing wildlife habitat, and saving time and money with fewer waterings.

What you put in the ground matters too.

For those that live on Long Pond, your household's wastewater - everything you wash down the drain from your sink, shower, toilet and washing machine - gets treated right in your yard.

Wastewater flows from your house and into an underground treatment system, called a septic system. This is a buried, water-tight container that uses soil to remove the solids from your wastewater. Septic systems also remove harmful bacteria; however, only advanced systems will remove the nutrients found in wastewater. Some older houses may have a different type of system called a cesspool. These older systems do not remove bacteria or nutrients from wastewater.

Treated water from your septic system or cesspool flows through your yard and into the groundwater. Once it enters the groundwater, it can then flow into nearby wells or into Long Pond. Pathogens and nutrients in groundwater pose serious health risks to nearby wells and fuel aquatic plant growth in Long Pond.

Caring for your septic system and making sure it is functioning properly by pumping and inspecting it regularly, are important to protect your health and water quality!

Learn more at our upcoming Long Pond Friendly Living series of informational meetings!

Pond Friendly Yard Tips

Leave grass clippings on your lawn to break down and provide natural fertilizer.
No need to bag those leaves! Mow them and leave them with your clippings to provide a natural mulch / fertilizer combo.
Raise the height of your mower blade by an inch or more. Taller grasses need less watering.
Capture rainfall with rain barrels to decrease runoff into the pond and use that water to water your garden.
No need to water brown grass in the cooler months. It will naturally go dormant, but turn green again in the spring.
Test your soil before fertilizing so you can fertilizer smarter.
If your yard needs fertilizer, always choose slow-release and apply before October 15th.

Pond Friendly Septic Tips

Have your septic system or cesspool inspected annually.
Have your septic system pumped every three years, or more, depending on usage.
Have your cesspool pumped at least annually, and consider upgrading to a septic system (see funding resources below).
Don't flush anything down the toilet or sink that can't normally decompose (including diapers, sanitary products, disposable wipes, cooking fats, grease and coffee grounds).
Avoid washing antibacterial soaps and cleaners down the drain, as these will reduce the life of your system.
Conserve water to reduce the strain on your system and prevent backups.

Long Pond Friendly Living Learning Series

Session #1: Long Pond Friendly Lawn Care

Join us in person or online to learn more pond friendly tips for a healthy yard and a healthy pond.

Thursday, April 13, 2023, 6-7pm

In person at the Lakeville Eagles Club, 217 County Street, Lakeville

Watch the recording from session #1

View the slides from session #1

View the postcard mailer for session #1

Pond Friendly Living Tip: Maintain Your Septic. Washing a pot in the sink.

Session 2 will explore what septic systems are and maintenance resources to protect water quality.

Session #3: What is a Buffer?

Join us for a site visit to learn what a healthy pondside garden looks like, and how you can plant a garden that protects water quality in your own yard.

Saturday, May 20, 2023, 10am

This session will be in person only, hosted by Martha & John Worley:

80 Lakeside Ave, Lakeville

Watch the recap from session #3

View the postcard mailer for session #3 & 4

Session #4: Gardening for Long Pond

Join us for a site visit to learn what a healthy pondside garden looks like, and how you can plant a garden that protects water quality in your own yard.

Saturday June 17, 2023, 10am

This session will be in person only, hosted by Julie St. Don:

17 Parkhurst Drive, Lakeville

View the handouts from workshop #4

Do more for clean water (by doing less). Photo of lawn mower

Session 1 focused on pond friendly lawn care tips, such as how letting your grass grow a little longer encourages stronger roots so you can water less!

Session #2: Long Pond Friendly Septic Maintenance

Join us in person or online to learn basic septic maintenance 101 and to understand why proper care of your system is important for water quality and your wallet.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 6-7pm

In person at the Lakeville Public Library, 4 Precinct Street, Lakeville

Watch the recording from session #2

View the slides from session #2

View the postcard mailer for session #2

Workshop announcement with picture of a garden beside a pond as the background

In sessions 3 & 4 we will visit examples of pondside gardens and explore how planting along the Pond's buffer can help protect water quality.

Resources for living Pond Friendly

Check out the following resources and guides for more pond friendly living tips! Click on each picture to be brought directly to that resource.

The SNEP Network's Buffer Restoration Guide assists public and private property owners interested in restoring and improving the natural vegetation bordering waterbodies on their land. It will walk you through the process of identifying and implementing the right project for your property. (Photo courtesy of Save the Bay)

This Bay-Friendly Living guide, written by Save the Bay, demonstrates best lawn maintenance practices to minimize fertilizer usage and watering. Learn how to grow a healthy lawn that promotes healthy ponds. (Photo courtesy of Save the Bay)

Have a failing septic system? Low interest (5%) Septic Betterment Loans may be available through your town's Board of Health to replace your system. No credit check required.

The State of Massachusetts offers a $6000 (over 4 years) personal income tax credit for the replacement of a failed septic system or cesspool.

Greenscapes has resources on how to grow a lawn with less maintenance and lower costs while benefiting soil and water health. (Photo courtesy of Save the Bay)

Unearthed septic system being installed with view of a pond in the background

Click the photo for a list of septic system installers and servicers in Massachusetts, and search for those in your town/region. Photo courtesy of Conway Excavating.

Lawn with fallen leaves scattered across it and trees in the background beyond

The Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP) offers Individual Household Well and Septic Loans to replace your septic system. These low interest (1%) loans (up to $15,000) are available to low and moderate income homeowners in rural communities, including Freetown and Lakeville. Photo courtesy of Save the Bay.

UMass Amherst provides soil testing that gives you a detailed breakdown of the nutrient levels and soil acidity of your specific soil. This breakdown allows you to target your soils needs and avoid adding excess nutrients that lead to pollution. Please use the order form for Turf, Ornamentals, and Landscaping when analyzing lawn soils. (Photo courtesy of Save the Bay)

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) has created a series of fact sheets on stormwater solutions for homeowners that describes different measures you can take to reduce run off from your property through a variety of methods from gardening to proper waste removal. (Photo courtesy of Save the Bay)

Photo of house with raised septic leach field and vent

Mass Housing offers low interest (up to 2.5%) homeowner loans, including for septic repairs. 15-year loans up to $25,000 are available to low and moderate income households. Photo courtesy of Save the Bay.

Get in touch with your local officials with specific questions about what you can do on your property and/or get additional support.

Name	Municipality	Commission(s) & Board(s)	Email
Victoria D’Antoni	Freetown	Conservation Commission, Planning Board	planning@freetownma.gov
Keven Desmarais	Freetown	Board of Health Agent	health@freetownma.gov
Nancy Yeatts	Lakeville	Conservation Commission	eaglelady27@gmail.com
Edward Cullen	Lakeville	Board of Health Agent	ecullen@lakevillema.org