DEM closes upper bay to shellfishing following East Providence wastewater leak

Ban remains in effect pending tests

Posted 9/17/21

PROVIDENCE — A leak of partially untreated wastewater from the East Providence facility off Bullocks Point Avenue in Riverside Thursday, Sept. 16, led to the Rhode Island Department of …

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DEM closes upper bay to shellfishing following East Providence wastewater leak

Ban remains in effect pending tests

Posted

PROVIDENCE — A leak of partially untreated wastewater from the East Providence facility off Bullocks Point Avenue in Riverside Thursday, Sept. 16, led to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to immediately halt shellfishing in the Upper Narragansett Bay location known as Area A.

DEM said the closure, which will remain in effect indefinitely, includes waters north of a line from the pier at Rocky Point in Warwick to the pier at Colt State Park in Bristol.

East Providence reported the incident early Thursday morning after the untreated wastewater was unintentionally discharged into the Providence River during what was termed an emergency repair at the facility. As of Friday morning, Sept. 17, repairs were completed and the facility returned to normal operations.

DEM gave no indication of how long the ban will be in place, but has initiated an investigation into the situation. The East Providence facility will be monitored and samples from the river will be tested.

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