Rivers & Ponds How will can the water quality of the rivers and ponds be improved?
Why are Providence's Rivers Important?

Providence's rivers & ponds are important as (1) Natural, (2) Historical & (3) Recreational resources. 1. As a natural resource, rivers and ponds provide a place for fish, birds, plants, and other wildlife to live (wildlife habitat). 2. As a historical resource, rivers in Providence have been used for industries like textile mills for more than 200 years. 3. Rivers and ponds are places where people can enjoy swimming, fishing, canoeing, and other recreational activities.
What Does This Map Shows?

The letters that appear after the names of the rivers and ponds in the Map above indicate the water classification assigned by the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM). The classification is based on water quality data collected by DEM.

B = Can sustain fish & wildlife, safe for recreation

B1 = Can sustain fish & wildlife, safe for recreation that does not include direct contact with the water such as canoeing because it can be affected by discharges from Wastewater Treatment facilities

SB1 = Same as B1 only difference is that its not freshwater

{a} = When this symbol appears next to a classification it means that use of the water may be affected by sewage from combined sewer overflow (CSO).

 

What is the Problem?

Providence’s rivers and ponds do not meet water quality standards because of 4 main sources of pollution:

1. Human sewage from Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) discharges.

2. Past & Present toxic (industrial) discharges and contamination such as dioxin, PCBs and mercury.

3. Residential and commercial runoff

4. Industrial, residential and commercial Waste Water Treatment Facility (WWTF) discharges.

 
Combined Sewer Overflows
What are Combined Sewer Overflows(CSO)?

In the early 1900s, cities built sewer systems to carry rain water and sewage in the same pipe. This is called a combined sewer. During dry weather conditions, the sewer system works fine. But, during heavy rain storms, the water in the combined sewers overflow into local rivers and Narragansett Bay. This is a Combined Sewer Overflow. The picture on the right shows how water from different places enters a combined sewer. When it rains heavily, the Interceptor Sewer fills up and the water includes sewage overflows into the River. (http://www.narrabay.com/fac/cso.html)
Facts About CSO's
  • Fifty-seven of the 87 CSO outfalls discharge into the Providence River or its tributaries. CSO's pose pollution and public health risks since they are a collection of residential, commercial and industrial wastes, and other pollution washed into storm drains.
  • Tests show that after a heavy rain storm, the Seekonk and Upper Providence Rivers are 20-100 times more polluted than state and federal standards allow.
  • In 1997-98, the Urban Rivers Team concluded that the main reason for the poor water quality in the Providence & Seekonk Rivers was bacteria (human waste fecal Coliform) from CSO discharges.
  • CSOs carry pollutants in the form of sewage solids, metals, oil, grease and bacteria that can affect the health of people who swim in or eat shellfish from CSO polluted waters

 

 

Did You Know?

87 CSO outfalls release an estimated 2.2 billion gallons of untreated combined sewage into the Moshassuck, Providence, Seekonk, Woonasquatucket, and West Rivers.
Past and Present Toxic Discharges and Runoff

Recently, high levels of dioxin and PCB were discovered in fish tissue, soil and sediment from the Woonasquatucket River at a level considered unsafe for swimming and eating fish. The source of the dioxins is probably from old industries that were near the banks of the Woonasquatucket River. Other toxics found in the Woonasquatucket, Providence, and Moshassuck Rivers include PCBs and metals such as copper, lead, and mercury. Runoff from city streets can carry metals and organic compounds into the rivers during wet weather as well. Runoff during heavy rainstorms can be especially high in a city with many impervious surfaces (impervious means that there are no pores to absorb water).

 Discharges From WWTF

In addition to runoff and historical sources of pollution, the wastewater treatment facilities at Fields Point and Bucklin Point may release a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial untreated waste water into the rivers during periods of heavy rain. Although the Fields Point station can provide primary treatment for up to 123 MGD (Millions of Gallons per Day) of wet weather waterflow, the facility still does not have the capacity to handle CSO after moderate and heavy rainfall.
Mashpaug & Roger Williams Park Ponds
In addition to runoff and historical sources of pollution, the wastewater treatment facilities at Fields Point and Bucklin Point may release a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial untreated waste water into the rivers during periods of heavy rain. Although the Fields Point station can provide primary treatment for up to 123 MGD (Millions of Gallons per Day) of wet weather waterflow, the facility still does not have the capacity to handle CSO after moderate and heavy rainfall.Mashapaug Pond and the Roger Williams Park Ponds have little monitoring data for water quality. Rhode Island’s List of Impaired Waters Report describes Mashapaug Pond as having nutrient overloads, algal blooms, organics and metals. The Department of Health has collected fish samples from the ponds to test for the presence of metals and organics contamination in the fish tissue. The List of Impaired Waters Report (1998) assigns Mashapaug Pond a "medium" priority ranking. This ranking means that the conditions in the pond are not expected to meet water quality standards until the years 2005-2010. The Roger Williams Park Ponds are given the lowest priority ranking, meaning that these ponds are not expected to meet water quality standards until after the year 2010.

Current Strategies

Future Strategies

  • Reduce Runoff into storm drains and rivers by reducing impervious surfaces throughout the city. Reduction of non-point sources of pollution into rivers and ponds is critical to the improvement of water quality in Providence.
  • More funding to municipalities to upgrade antiquated WWTF. (State Revolving Fund)
  • More monitoring of understudied rivers and ponds in Providence.
  • More multi-lingual educational campaigns about risky and safe activities allowed in the rivers and ponds.
  • The EPA and State agencies like RI DEM should work together to acheive a long term goal of fishable & swimmable rivers.

* (Adapted from section 305(B) Report)

 
Resources and Contacts                                        

Contacts

  • Constance Carey, RI DEM, Office of Water Resources, 222-3961
  • RI Dept. Of Health, Environmental Health Risk Assessment, 222-4948
  • Urban Rivers Team, Margherita Prior, EPA, (617) 918-1597
  • Narragansett Bay Commission, 222-6680
  • Woonasquatucket River American Heritage River Program, 455-8880

Plans & Reports

  • The State of the State’s Waters – Rhode Island, Section 305(B) Report, 12/1998
  • Narragansett Bay Water Quality: Status and Trends July 1998
  • The Providence Recon Project, Urban Rivers Team Findings, 1998-99
  • US EPA, 1999 Woonasquatucket River Dioxin (TCDD) samples
  • State of RI 1998 303(d) List of Impaired Waters July 1998