The region had experienced discharges of raw sewage inside housing units and into the street, presenting an environmental and public health threat.
The supplemental environmental project has been designed to address this issue by eliminating sewer system backups in the area.
EPA, which is working closely with the RI Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in Rhode Island, has issued administrative orders to 12 communities and a wastewater utility to take the actions necessary to maintain their wastewater collection systems and ensure the protection of Rhode Island water quality.
EPA’s orders, which complement RI DEM’s ongoing actions across the state to control SSOs, require each entity to conduct a system-wide assessment of its collection system, develop a plan to address any deficiencies identified and adopt long-term preventive maintenance programs.
Further these entities are required to provide an annual report to EPA listing overflows that have occurred and specific actions taken during the previous year to comply with the order.
