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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: October 6, 2003
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL SAMPLING RESULTS FOR FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA IN THE BLACKSTONE RIVER
Worcester Sewage Spill Contaminates Nearing RI Waters

PROVIDENCE - Preliminary results from water quality samples taken Sunday from the Blackstone River in nearby Blackstone, Massachusetts show elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria, according to the Department of Environmental Management. The Department has continued to take water samples since Friday to determine whether Thursday's sewage discharge from the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement Distrct has impacted the Blackstone River in Rhode Island.

DEM's test results found elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels (>1600 fc/100ml) at the Main Street Bridge in Blackstone, and slightly elevated levels (300 fc/100ml) at Sayles Street in Woonsocket, approximately three miles downstream from the Blackstone site. Additional downstream sampling results showed bacteria levels in the river were at background levels. These samples suggest that the material is moving more slowly than previously anticipated and that contamination is currently moving through the Woonsocket area. Thus far, DEM has not picked up anything unusual in its samples collected in Rhode Island, nor observed anything unusual visually or by smell. The Department will continue to monitor bacteria levels over the next several days. Additional sampling results will be available late Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to the water quality sampling conducted by DEM, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MASS DEP) and USFilter, which operates the Woonsocket Wastewater Treatment Facility, will take water quality samples from the Blackstone River today and tomorrow. The Narragansett Bay Commission will conduct sampling in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers on Wednesday. Samples taken by the MASS DEP on Friday have shown extremely high fecal coliform concentrations in the Blackstone River between Fisherville and Riverdale, MA.

As a precaution, DEM and the Department of Health continue to advise people to refrain from contact recreation along the Blackstone River and to avoid consuming fish from the river until further notice.

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