DEM TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON JANUARY 4 TO DISCUSS WAYS TO RESTORE WATER QUALITY IN THE WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold a public meeting on Thursday, January 4 to discuss study findings and recommended strategies for restoring water quality in the Woonasquatucket River. The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. in Room 300 at DEM Headquarters, located at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. Attendees should park in the visitor parking area on Promenade Street and access DEM via the side door at 3 Holden Street, across from visitor parking.

DEM's Office of Water Resources has completed a water quality restoration study, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), to address bacteria and dissolved metals impairments in the Woonasquatucket River. TMDLs are mandated by the federal Clean Water Act and establish the maximum pollutant load that a waterbody can assimilate and still meet water quality standards.

The Woonasquatucket River watershed comprises more than 52 square miles in communities of Smithfield, North Smithfield, Johnston, North Providence, and Providence. The river flows through Waterplace Park in Providence and ultimately discharges into the Providence River and Narragansett Bay. DEM utilized data from water quality investigations during both dry and wet weather conditions to characterize water quality conditions in the river. According to the TMDL, most of the river consistently fails to meet water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria, an indicator of pathogen contamination. In addition, dissolved metals such as copper, lead, and zinc exceed applicable water quality criteria for protection of aquatic life at various locations in the river.

DEM has spent several years conducting field investigations and analyzing pollution source databases and land use information to identify pollution sources, and to determine necessary pollutant reductions and pollution abatement activities. Elevated bacteria concentrations can be traced to tributaries, stormwater outfalls, and both dry and wet weather combined sewage overflow (CSO) discharges. Identified sources of dissolved copper, lead, and zinc are the Smithfield wastewater treatment facility, stormwater runoff, and CSOs. The TMDL outlines a watershed-wide pollution reduction strategy directed at both point and nonpoint sources of pollution to restore the river's water quality. Impacts from CSOs are being addressed by the Narragansett Bay Commission's approved abatement plan. The TMDL findings have been utilized to develop revisions to the RI Pollution Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES) permit for the Smithfield wastewater treatment facility, which is also available for public review and comment. The public comment periods for both the draft TMDL and the draft RIPDES permit have been scheduled coincidently from January 4 through February 5, so that interested individuals will have an opportunity to review and submit comments on both documents.

DEM will present the draft water quality restoration study to the public at the January 4th meeting. Copies of the executive summary from the draft document will be available at the meeting. The entire TMDL document is available online at DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Topics", then "Water Quality", then clicking on "Restoration Studies". Copies of the TMDL are also available by contacting Brian Zalewsky at DEM at 222-4700 ext. 7145 or by e-mail at brian.zalewsky@dem.ri.gov.

A public hearing on the draft RIPDES permit for the Smithfield Wastewater Treatment Facility will be held Thursday, February 1, at 5 p.m. in Room 280, 235 Promenade Street, Providence. The draft RIPDES permit, fact sheet and a copy of the public notice are available online at DEM's website by clicking on "Topics", then "Water", then clicking on "RIPDES", or may be obtained by contacting Samuel Kaplan at 222 4700 ext. 7046 or samuel.kaplan@dem.ri.gov.