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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 7, 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

PROVIDENCE - Test results from water quality samples taken Monday by the Department of Environmental Management from the Blackstone River show fecal coliform bacteria at normal levels at four locations along the river. DEM has continued to take water samples since Friday to determine whether Thursday's sewage discharge from the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District has impacted the Blackstone River in Rhode Island.

Water quality samples taken Monday afternoon at Manville Dam, Albion Dam, and Martin Street on the Cumberland/Lincoln line, and at Roosevelt Avenue in Pawtucket found background levels of fecal coliform bacteria (200 fc/100ml or less) at all four locations. This level is considered normal for the Blackstone River in dry weather.

However, two samples taken by US Filter, which operates the Woonsocket Wastewater Treatment Facility, found elevated (1600 fc/100 and 1700 fc/100ml) fecal coliform bacteria levels at River Island in Woonsocket, across from the treatment plant. Additional sampling a quarter mile downstream showed slightly elevated levels (540 fc/100ml) of bacteria. These samples continue to suggest that some contamination associated with last week's spill in Massachusetts is making its way into the Rhode Island portion of the river, at least in its upper reaches around Woonsocket. Thus far, DEM has not picked up anything unusual in its samples collected in the river from the Manville Dam south, nor observed anything unusual visually or by smell. The Department will continue to monitor bacteria levels over the next several days.

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 tomorrow.

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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