RI Outdoors/Sports

The NBC study, the most extensive monitoring study ever done on the

Providence and Seekonk Rivers, used a variety of state-of-the-science methodologies and the data generated

tells a positive story about the effects of two decades of clean-up efforts in these two important urban

tributaries.

During 2001 and 2002, the NBC conducted extensive monitoring of the Providence and Seekonk Rivers to

evaluate the condition of the receiving waters of our wastewater treatment facilities. Study components

included circulation current profiling with acoustic Doppler profilers conducted by Dr. Chris Kincaid of

URI Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO), physical water quality characterization with state-of-the-art

YSI sondes and sensors, background nutrient analyses conducted by the expert marine laboratory of Dr.

Candace Oviatt of URI/GSO and ultra-low level dissolved and total trace metal sample collections.

The

trace metal samples were analyzed by Microinorganics, Inc., one of the few laboratories nationwide with the

capability to analyze samples to the ultra low detection levels necessary for this study. The cost of this

project, the first of its kind ever conducted in Narragansett Bay, was approximately $200,000, excluding

NBC staff time associated with project planning and field work

“We brought together the best scientific resources available to ensure the integrity of this study,” said NBC

Executive Director Paul Pinault, P.E., noting that over the past fifteen years the NBC has aggressively

decreased industrial pollution discharges to the rivers through its award-winning Pretreatment Program.

The study concludes that the levels of toxic inorganic substances, such as cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and

silver, once a tremendous threat to the health of Providence and Seekonk Rivers, have dropped from

dangerous to very acceptable levels and that levels of ammonia, also a toxic substance, are well within the

guidelines set by the USEPA. The results of this study should provide the data necessary for the DEM to

remove the Seekonk and Providence Rivers from the EPA 303 (d) List of Impaired Waterways for these

toxic pollutants.

“The NBC will strive to further reduce toxic discharges to Narragansett Bay through strong Industrial

Pretreatment, Environmental Monitoring, Pollution Prevention, and Sewer Permitting programs, and

through maintenance and improvements to the collection system and efficient wastewater treatment plant

operations,” Pinault added.

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