Notices

Heat safety tips are below. Tips are also available in multiple languages at somervillema.gov/keepcool.

Top 5 Heat Safety Tips: 

1. Never leave children or pets alone in a car or other vehicle, even for a quick errand and even if the windows are open. 

2. Limit outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours. Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, which is typically 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

3. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated or very sugary drinks. 

4. Reduce time spent in direct sun and practice sun safety by wearing sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.  

5. Stay informed: Follow City social media pages and contact 311 for the latest information on places you can visit to cool off.  More information at somervillema.gov/socialmedia and somervillema.gov/311.

Take Care of Yourself and Others:  

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.   

• Take frequent breaks in the shade if you are working outdoors. 

• If you are walking, running, cycling, wheeling, or doing other outdoor exercise during hot weather, have water with you, seek a shady area or route, and pace yourself. Be sure to take a break if you start to feel overheated.

• If playground equipment is hot to the touch, it is too hot for a child’s skin.

• Learn to recognize the signs of heat-related illness and how to respond. Lots of sweating and muscle cramps may be the first signs of a heat illness. Visit mass.gov/extreme-heat to find more information on preventing and treating heat-related illness.

• Check on those who don’t have air conditioning or who are more likely to be affected by heat. These groups may include older adults, infants and children, people with chronic medical conditions, and people who are pregnant.  

• If you see someone out in the heat who appears immobile or disoriented, call 911 so they can receive the necessary help. 

Tips For Pet Parents:  

• Don’t leave pets outside in hot weather for long periods of time. Keep walks on hot days short.

• Provide plenty of fresh, clean water. If outside, leave the water in a shady area.  

• Keep an eye on pets and watch for signs of discomfort on hot days. Warning signs of overheating may include excessive panting or drooling, and labored breathing. Animals with flat faces, older pets, and pets with health conditions may be more prone to overheating.

Safety Tips

Heat safety tips and ways to keep cool in and around Somerville are below. Safety tips are also available in multiple languages on the City’s website at somervillema.gov/keepcool.

Top 5 Heat Safety Tips: 

1. Never leave children or pets unattended in a car or other vehicle, even for a quick errand and even if the windows are open. 

2. Stay indoors as much as possible during extreme heat. Limit outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours, avoid direct sunlight, and rest often in shady areas.

3. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated or very sugary drinks. 

4. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.   

5. Stay informed: Follow City social media pages and contact 311 for the latest information on places you can visit to cool off.  More information at somervillema.gov/socialmedia and somervillema.gov/311.

Take Care of Yourself and Others:  

• Check on relatives, friends, and neighbors who don’t have air conditioning or who are more likely to be affected by the heat. These groups may include older adults, infants and children, people with chronic medical conditions, and people who are pregnant.  

• If you see anyone out in the heat who appears immobile or disoriented, call 911 so they can receive the necessary help. 

Learn to Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Heat Illnesses:  

• Heat stroke  

o If someone is showing signs of heat stroke call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs of heat stroke include a body temperature over 103°F; hot, red skin; a fast and strong pulse; nausea; headache, dizziness or confusion; and possible unconsciousness. While waiting for help to arrive, move the person to a cool area and cool them down with cool wet towels or a cool bath. DON’T give them fluids.  

• Heat exhaustion  

o Look for: heavy sweating; cold, pale, and clammy skin; a fast, weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; headache; fainting  

o Move to a cool place, loosen your clothes, cool down with cool wet towels or a cool bath, and sip water. Get medical help if you are vomiting, your symptoms get worse, or your symptoms last longer than one hour.  

• Heat cramps  

o Look for: heavy sweating during intense exercise, muscle pain, spasms  

o Stop physical activity, move to a cool place, and drink water or a sports drink. Get medical help if cramps last longer than one hour, you’re on a low-sodium diet, or you have heart problems.  

Tips For Pet Parents:  

• Never leave your pet in your car or vehicle, even if the windows are open. 

• Don’t leave pets outside for long periods of time.  

• Provide plenty of fresh water and, if outside, leave the water in a shady area.  

• Don’t let dogs linger on hot asphalt.  

• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor, or collapse.   

• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more prone to heat stroke. These pets, and pets that are older, overweight, or have heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.  

Other Ways to Stay Cool:

With public transportation, you can also visit nearby communities that offer water features or pools:   

• Visit cambridgema.gov/cdd/parks/waterplaymap for a Waterplay Map and cambridgema.gov/Services/recpoolsandswimming for pools in Cambridge.

• Visit the Parks and Fields page on arlingtonma.gov

• Visit boston.gov/heat for places to stay cool, pools, and splash pads

• Visit the Recreation Page on medfordma.org for parks and playgrounds

• Visit mass.gov/swimming for a list of state-managed Swimming Pools, Wading Pools and Spray Decks   

During hot weather, more people cool off in and around bodies of water. Learn how to keep yourself and others safe in and around water by reviewing Water Safety tips provided by the Commonwealth at mass.gov/water-safe

The City of Somerville’s annual Water System Flushing Program will begin the week of May 13 and conclude in late October. This annual program flushes pipes at high velocities to clean water mains and maintain the highest possible water quality.

Flushing will be done on Mondays and Thursdays between 6 p.m. and midnight to minimize disruptions to water service. In most cases, residents will not notice any changes to their water service. However, some homes may experience a temporary, slight drop in water pressure and/or discolored water. In these cases, though the water may be discolored, it is safe to drink. Until the water runs clear, it is advisable to avoid washing laundry, especially white fabrics. If any rust stains appear on wet laundry, it should not be dried, and residents can call 311 (or 617-666-3311 from cell phones or outside the city) for a free bottle of rust remover.

Residents will be notified via signage when their neighborhood will be affected by the Flushing Program. For more information, please contact the Water Department by email at water@somervillema.gov, or call 617-625-6600 ext. 5850.

Household hazardous waste drop off events are held on the second Saturday of each month, April through November only, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Must bring proof of residency.

WHERE: DPW Yard, 1 Franey Rd., Somerville, MA 02145

04/12/25

05/10/25

06/14/25

07/12/25

08/09/25

09/13/25

10/11/25

11/08/25

Please note that street sweeping resumed on April 1st and continue through December 31st. We recommend checking the posted signage on the street for the street sweeping schedule to avoid parking tickets.

Please note that curbside yard waste collection will resume on April 14. Yard waste collection will occur weekly for 4 weeks before switching to the alternative week schedule. The season will end on December 5. Yard waste may be put out on the scheduled day inside a barrel marked with a red “Yard waste only” sticker or in a paper yard waste bag. Yard waste only stickers may be picked up at the DPW, 1 Franey Rd or the City Hall Welcome Desk, 93 Highland Ave. 311 will mail out yard waste only stickers upon request.