Water Quality Monitoring in the Urban Rivers and Upper Bay Presented by: Jennifer Cragan Environmental Scientist

Narragansett Bay Facts Bay area = 147 mi 2 Watershed area = 1600 mi 2 Population  2 million 60% MA / 40% RI $25 Million/yr in fish and shelling landings $400 Million/yr generated from tourism

Issues in Urban Waters Water Quality Water Quality Habitat Quality Habitat Quality Industrial Users – WWTFs Industrial Users – WWTFs How is the River Impacted? How is the River Impacted?

Our Urban Rivers Listed on the EPA 303(d) List for impairments for Nutrients Pathogens Metals Biodiversity Impacts Low DO Excess algal growth Why?

What impacts water quality? Anthropogenic Inputs Point sources Point sources –Industrial Users past and present (Atlantic Chemical) –WWTFs Metals, nutrients, organics, suspended solids, biologically oxygen demanding waste, grease, oil Metals, nutrients, organics, suspended solids, biologically oxygen demanding waste, grease, oil Non-point sources Non-point sources –Run-off from roads, agriculture, septic system leaching, golf courses Impervious surfaces (roads, parking lots) increase the magnitude of the impact of NPS on water quality. Urban areas Impervious surfaces (roads, parking lots) increase the magnitude of the impact of NPS on water quality. Urban areas

What impacts habitat quality? Anthropogenic Inputs Point sources Point sources –Industrial Users past and present (Atlantic Chemical) –WWTFs Metals, nutrients, organics, suspended solids, biologically oxygen demanding waste, grease, oil Metals, nutrients, organics, suspended solids, biologically oxygen demanding waste, grease, oil Non-point sources Non-point sources –Run-off from roads, agriculture, septic system leaching, golf courses Impervious surfaces (roads, parking lots) increase the magnitude of the impact of NPS on water quality. Urban areas Impervious surfaces (roads, parking lots) increase the magnitude of the impact of NPS on water quality. Urban areas WATER QUALITY!

What does the NBC do about this? Routine water quality monitoring Routine water quality monitoring Implementation of Pretreatment Program Implementation of Pretreatment Program CSO Abatement Project CSO Abatement Project

Weekly River Sampling Locations Blackstone: 2 Woonasquatucket: 6 Moshassuck: 7 West: 2 Providence: 1 Total = 18 Providence: 14 Seekonk: 7 Total = 21 Twice Monthly Bay Sampling Locations

River Bacteria Sampling Sample 5 urban rivers at 18 sample locations every week Sample 5 urban rivers at 18 sample locations every week Rivers are sampled every Monday and Tuesday, regardless of rainfall Rivers are sampled every Monday and Tuesday, regardless of rainfall Then re-sampled on Thursday if bacteria results are high Then re-sampled on Thursday if bacteria results are high This sampling allows us to closely study and track the effects of our Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) This sampling allows us to closely study and track the effects of our Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) Woonasquatucket River

Data Supports IM Department’s CSO Maintenance Program CSOs usually work well during dry weather CSOs usually work well during dry weather However, regulators can get clogged with trash and debris, causing dry weather discharges However, regulators can get clogged with trash and debris, causing dry weather discharges CSOs can overflow into the rivers during wet weather or when regulators become clogged with debris CSOs can overflow into the rivers during wet weather or when regulators become clogged with debris Sampling data provides IM with an alert system to minimize effects of these dry weather discharges Sampling data provides IM with an alert system to minimize effects of these dry weather discharges Combined Sewer Overflow

Woonasquatucket River Sampling Woonasquatucket River - part of the Phase I project focus area Woonasquatucket River - part of the Phase I project focus area General decrease observed General decrease observed Improved maintenance of CSO regulators by IM Improved maintenance of CSO regulators by IM Maintenance Work by IM is improving water quality

CSO Abatement Project The new tunnel will help store this water and then allow the plant to provide a high level of treatment The new tunnel will help store this water and then allow the plant to provide a high level of treatment A reduction in overflow volume of approximately 40% is expected after Phase I facilities are complete A reduction in overflow volume of approximately 40% is expected after Phase I facilities are complete Sampling data will be able to show the beneficial effects of the CSO abatement project Sampling data will be able to show the beneficial effects of the CSO abatement project

Bay Sampling in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers Since 2003, NBC has sampled for fecal coliform biweekly from May to December Since 2003, NBC has sampled for fecal coliform biweekly from May to December Provides valuable data that can be used to assess treatment upgrades and discharge permit changes Provides valuable data that can be used to assess treatment upgrades and discharge permit changes Data available to assist EPA & DEM with special investigations in the Bay Data available to assist EPA & DEM with special investigations in the Bay New NBC Research Vessel, The R.V. Monitor, Acquired in 2004

Recent Bay Fecal Coliform Results

How are we doing? Clean Water Act – 1972 Clean Water Act – 1972 Unlawful to discharge pollutants from a point source to navigable waters Creation of the Pretreatment Regulations within the Clean Water Act – 1978 Creation of the Pretreatment Regulations within the Clean Water Act – NBC establishes Pretreatment Program NBC establishes Pretreatment Program BNR, UV disinfection, WW Upgrades BNR, UV disinfection, WW Upgrades

Pretreatment Program: Metals Loadings to Field’s Point

What else do we do? River Clean Ups River Clean Ups Special Projects Special Projects Education and Outreach Education and Outreach

Woonasquatucket River Clean Up

Refrigerator found Floating in the Woonasquatucket River during a river clean up

Boom Deployment Boom deployed on Woonasquatucket River Boom deployed on Woonasquatucket River Extremely successful Extremely successfulBUT Labor intensive Impedes river transport Impedes river transport Most items captured were hard-to-dispose- of items Most items captured were hard-to-dispose- of items 50 foot boom deployed for one week

Wet Weather CSO studies

Conclusions   Pathogen Monitoring has helped IM more quickly locate and clear blockages   2004 – Providence and Seekonk Rivers Removed from the 303(d) List for metals   With upgrades at Bucklin Point and the CSO Abatement Project currently under way, bacteria levels are expected to greatly diminish as the completion of these projects progress. The CSO Abatement Project will help bring these areas closer to meeting the Fishable and Swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act.

RI & MA WWTFs - Upper Bay Watershed