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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY WATER SAMPLING RESULTS INDICATING THAT SEWAGE DISCHARGE FROM WORCESTER PLANT IS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING RI WATERS PROVIDENCE -- The Department of Environmental Management late this afternoon received water quality sampling results taken Friday to determine whether the sewage discharge from the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District wastewater treatment facility has impacted the Blackstone River in Rhode Island. Approximately two to three million gallons of sewage was discharged into the Blackstone River from the wastewater treatment facility Thursday afternoon, as a result of a power failure at the plant. The facility is located at the head of the Blackstone River, just south of Worcester.Two rounds of samples were collected yesterday at four locations along the river: the first between 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. and the second between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Samples were collected at Millville, MA; Singleton Street in Woonsocket; Manville Dam in Lincoln; and Martin Street in Cumberland. The samples results showed that bacteria levels in the river were only slightly above background levels, indicating no evidence of significant impact to the river at this time. Also, DEM conferred with officials from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on Friday, which said that preliminary water sampling results indicated that impacts to the Blackstone River would not be seen much beyond the Fisherville Dam in Grafton, MA. Throughout the weekend, automatic sampling equipment will continue to collect water samples near the end of the Blackstone River at Roosevelt Street in Pawtucket. Additional sample results will be available late Sunday afternoon. DEM also said that at this time it is unlikely that shellfish harvesting waters in RI will be impacted by the sewage spill. However, a routine closure of shellfish growing areas may be necessary due to rainfall that is currently moving through the area. Factors such as dilution and die-off of bacteria in the sewage as it travels down the river may be minimizing harmful effects, such as elevated bacteria levels in the Blackstone River and upper Narragansett Bay. As a precaution, the Department of Health and DEM are advising people to continue to refrain from contact recreation along the Blackstone River and to avoid consuming fish from the river. -30- |
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