Water Resources
Our Mission
Rivers, lakes, and coastal waters will support healthy communities of fish, plants, and other aquatic life, and will support uses such as fishing, swimming, and drinking water quality.
Groundwater will be uncontaminated.
Wetlands will be protected and rehabilitated to provide wildlife habitat, reduce floods, and to improve water quality.
Public health will be protected from the adverse impacts of water pollution.
Public Notices & Upcoming Events
- Public Notices re: Proposed Permit Actions re: RI Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES)
- Proposed Regulations
Quick Links
- Professional Licensing
- Shellfish Harvest Area Closures
- Invasive Aquatic Plant: Hydrilla
- Bay Water Quality Report (BART)
- Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae)
- Lake Management Project Plans
- Financial Assistance
- Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants, Targeted Watersheds
- SepticSmart Homeowners
- Mashapaug Watershed General Permit
- PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) in Water
- Rules & Regulations
RIPDES Annual Fee Payments Temporarily Unavailable
Online payment of RIPDES Annual Permit Fees for Construction General Permits (CGP) through the OWR Application Portal is temporarily unavailable due to system maintenance.
We expect this service to be restored in early July. This temporary interruption will not affect permit status or result in late fees. DEM is unable to accept annual fee payments by mail, physical check, or in person.
Stay Informed: Join our mailing list to receive an email notification as soon as annual fee payments become available again.
Questions? Email DEM.STWConstruction@dem.ri.gov and include the RIPDES Permit Number listed on your invoice. Due to a high volume of inquiries, response times may be longer than usual. We appreciate your patience and will respond as soon as possible.
Office of Water Resources
Quick Links
- General Permitting Information
- Septic / Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS)
- Stormwater Permitting
- RI Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES)
- Freshwater Wetlands
- Groundwater Discharge (GWD) & Underground Injection Control (UIC)
- Water Quality Certification
- Wastewater Treatment Facilities
- Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
- Nonpoint Source Funding
- Wastewater Treatment Facility Resilience
- Marine Pumpouts: Boat Sewage Grants
- Narragansett Bay and Water Restoration Fund (BWRF)
- Flood Prevention
- Community Septic System Loans (CSSLP)
- Sewer Tie in Loan Fund (STILF)
- Additional Financial Assistance Programs