For Release: August 28, 1998

Contact: Bob Ballou 222-4700 ext. 4420

Bill Patenaude 222-4700 ext. 7264

PROVIDENCE - Narragansett Bay experienced a substantial 17% to 21% drop in conventional pollutants in 1997 due to reductions in flow and improvements at the 19 major wastewater treatment facilities in Rhode Island, according to a new report by the Department of Environmental Management.

The 42-page report, titled "Annual Survey of Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Rhode Island," includes brief performance evaluations for all 19 facilities.

DEM Director Andy McLeod said that the statewide decreases of 21% for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and 17% for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are attributable not only to the investment of local, state and federal monies to upgrade wastewater facilities, but also to the high quality of operation of these facilities by their staffs.

"Overall, community wastewater treatment facilities are doing a very good job protecting Rhode Island's waters," McLeod said. "While this spring's abnormally heavy rains did cause numerous sewage-collection failures throughout the state, such aberrations should not let us forget that, on a day-to-day basis, the wastewater treatment facilities are performing very well."

Eighteen of the 19 major facilities in the state attained an excellent or good rating in the survey, with one facility, Woonsocket, receiving a rating of poor. The survey, which examined the calendar years 1996 and 1997, shows that, with the exception of Woonsocket, there is a continuing trend toward improved performance by the wastewater treatment facilities. Previous reports have also revealed declines in pollutant loadings from the facilities. Overall, the facilities handle approximately 100 million gallons of wastewater every day.

The survey's ratings are based on monthly violations for BOD, TSS, fecal coliform, and flow. BOD is a measurement of the oxygen-depletion characteristics of a wastewater discharge, and TSS is a measurement of the total amount of suspended solids in a discharge. Fecal coliform is a bacteria tested to determine the possible presence of disease-causing organisms. The report also examines each facility's flow, since continuous flow violations may indicate an over-burdened facility.

The report does not evaluate the efficiency of a community's sewage-collection and conveyance system, which directs wastewater to each facility. Rather, the report focuses exclusively on how well each facility handles and treats the wastewater it receives.

According to McLeod, DEM's wastewater treatment program, which combines regulation and technical assistance, has been a key factor underlying the strong record of performance by the facilities. "In addition to issuing permits and conducting regular inspections to ensure compliance, we continue to work closely with individual communities on a proactive basis, providing trouble-shooting, training, and other forms of technical assistance," he said. McLeod also pointed out that, with support from DEM, a number of facilities are stepping-up their efforts to reduce levels of nutrients and chlorine (a toxic material used for disinfection) in their effluent, as well as making other advancements to improve the operation of their facilities.

The report is available free of charge from DEM's Office of Water Resources, Operations and Maintenance Section. Contact Bill Patenaude at 222-4700 ext. 7264.

A summary of the report is attached herewith.

• The BRISTOL Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved GOOD treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 3.1 MGD (million gallons per day). Annual averages for BOD and TSS were well below permit limits. The plant had nine monthly violations for flow during 1996 and 1997.

• The BURRILLVILLE Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow was 0.8 MGD in 1997. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were well below permit limits. The plant had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997.

• The CRANSTON Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 10.8 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below permit limits. The plant had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997.

• The EAST GREENWICH Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow was 0.9 MGD for 1997. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were well below permit limits. The plant had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997.

• In spite of problems in its collections system, the EAST PROVIDENCE Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow was 6.2 MGD in 1997. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were well below permit limits. The plant had no monthly violations in 1996 and one for flow in 1997.

• The JAMESTOWN Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved GOOD treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 0.4 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were well below the permit limits. The plant had five violations for flow in 1996 and one for flow in 1997.

• Showing great improvements over previous years, the NARRAGANSETT Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 0.6 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below the permit limits. Narragansett had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997.

• The NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION'S BUCKLIN POINT Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 23.2 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below permit limits. The plant had no violations in 1996 and one for flow in 1997.

• The NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION'S FIELDS POINT Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved GOOD treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 44.4 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below permit limits. The plant had one monthly violation for fecal coliform in 1996 and three monthly violations for fecal coliform in 1997.

• The NEW SHOREHAM Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 0.1 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were well below permit limits. The plant had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997.

• The NEWPORT Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved GOOD treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was about 7.5 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below permit limits. The plant had six monthly violations for flow in 1996 and one for flow in 1997.

• The RHODE ISLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Corporation's QUONSET POINT Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 0.9 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below permit limits. The plant had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997. In 1997, EDC was given a regional excellence award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its Quonset Point Wastewater Treatment Facility.

• The SMITHFIELD Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved GOOD treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 1.5 MGD. The facility had no monthly violations in 1996. In 1997, the facility had two monthly violations for BOD, three related violations for TSS, and one for fecal coliform

• The South Kingstown Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 2.6 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below permit limits. The plant had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997.

• The WARREN Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved GOOD treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 1.7 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below the permit limits. The plant had eleven monthly violations for flow during 1996 and 1997.

• The WARWICK Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 3.5 MGD. Annual averages for BOD and TSS were below the permit limits. The plant had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997.

• The WESTERLY Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 2.1 MGD. Averages for BOD and TSS were below the permit limits. The plant had one monthly violation for flow in 1996 and one for TSS in 1997.

• The WEST WARWICK Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved EXCELLENT treatment in 1996 and 1997. The average flow for 1997 was 4.8 MGD. Averages for BOD and TSS were below the permit limits. West Warwick had no monthly violations in 1996 or 1997.

• The WOONSOCKET Wastewater Treatment Facility was the only facility in this survey to be rated POOR. The average flow for 1997 was 8.6 MGD. While the annual average for BOD was below the permit limits, the annual average for TSS was well above. The plant had 7 monthly violations for TSS for the period of 1996 and 1997 and two for chlorine residual during 1996 and 1997. These violations were due to industrial loadings and operational failures. Over the past few years, both the DEM and EPA have taken legal action against the city for its failure to adequately treat its wastewater.