Public Health & Preparedness

As climate change threatens to impact our health and well-being, we have a responsibility to improve our climate change preparedness and response, as well as provide accessible resources for physical, mental, and emotional health. Learn more about Watertown's resources to help residents and businesses prepare for extreme weather events and improve health and well-being.

• Live Well Watertown “Community Connect” program
• Farmers Market
• Access food assistance programs
• Food pantries and community fridge
• Sign up for WatertownAlert
• Emergency Preparedness Guide
• Preparedness kit checklists
• Learn about PFAS: PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties.  There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time. PFAS can be present in our water, soil, air, and food as well as in materials found in our homes or workplaces. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. Learn more about PFAS, we recommend the following articles, as well as those published through Silent Spring Institute.
  • Our Current Understand of the Human Health & Environmental Risks of PFAS – US EPA
  • Tracing the path of Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ inside the body – Gabrielle Emanual, WBUR
  • PFAS expert tips: How to reduce your exposure to harmful ‘forever chemicals’ - Gabrielle Emanuel, WBUR.