Rhode Island to Settle Water Violations

The city of Newport in Rhode Island, US, has agreed to spend $25m on upgrading facilities at its wastewater treatment plant and wastewater collection system in order to settle water discharge violations.

The city will also pay a $170,000 penalty, which will be split between the federal and state governments.

According to the governments, the city violated the Clean Water Act by illegally discharging sewage and stormwater containing bacteria and other pollutants that pose a threat to human health and the environment.

The city will take the necessary steps to eliminate illegal discharges of sewage into Narragansett Bay from its wastewater treatment plant and wastewater collection system.

It will also strive to reduce the pollutants associated with storm sewer discharges to Easton’s Beach, and will purchase and distribute rain barrels to the city’s residents to help capture stormwater for reuse.