In September, 2006 the City Council awarded a contract for engineering services to Fuss & O'Neill, Inc. for the Easton Pond Dam & Moat Study.
The work included an assessment of the dam and appurtenant structures which form North and South Easton Pond and an evaluation of the drainage moat which surrounds the dam.
South Pond Spillway
The City has identified the Easton Pond dam and its integral drainage moat as a vital piece of the city infrastructure for both its drinking water and storm drainage. Easton Pond consists of North Easton Pond and South Easton Pond totaling 112.7 acres and 147.5 acres respectively.
The north and south ponds are separated by an earthen embankment and connected by pipelines through the embankment. The ponds are two of the raw water reservoirs used by the Newport Water Division. Water from these reservoirs is treated at the Station 1- Water Treatment Plant located on Bliss Mine Road. The Easton Pond has served as a raw water source dating back to 1877 and is a vital part of the Newport Water Division's infrastructure.
The last significant work completed on the dam was reconstruction of the spillway and south bank of the dam in 1939.
A drainage moat encircles the South Pond Dam starting at Station 1- Water Treatment Plant and discharges under Memorial Boulevard to the Atlantic Ocean at Easton's Beach in the same area of the spillway for South Pond.
The shallow, nearly flat ditch (moat) was apparently constructed to carry runoff from an area northwest of the pond and flow from the emergency spillway of North Pond.
West Embankment
Prior to the new Station 1 coming on line in 1991, filter backwash water and sediment from the sedimentation basin cleaning were discharged into the moat.
These discharges are now discharged directly to the Bliss Mine Road Sewer Pumping Station. Over the years with the development in the City, the moat has also become a discharge channel for numerous storm drains. During significant rain events the capacity of the moat is exceeded and area flooding occurs which at times leads to road or travel lane closures.
The Department of Utilities has since continued working with Fuss & O'Neill to investigate vulnerabilities, future risks, and effective mitigation measures further. These efforts include a 2019 Life Cycle Assessment - Technical Memorandum North and South Easton Pond Reservoirs. This preliminary memorandum detailed dam challenges resulting from flooding, assessed coastal flooding & salt water intrustion vulnerabilities, and identified potential adaptations to enhance the stability of the aging dams. Using the results and information gathered in the 2019 Memorandum, The Department of Utilities applied for the FY20 FEMA BRIC Grant program cycle to fund more rigorous investigation, analysis, and conceptual design of recommended mitigation construction improvements, which it was awarded. As a result of the grant award, the 2023 Conceptual Design Report: North & South Easton Pond Dams Stability Project was developed. Using the results of the 2023 report, the Department of Utilities applied for the FY23 FEMA BRIC Grant Program cycle to fund the construction of the $50 Million+ project. The project was not selected for funding; however, The Department resubmitted the project for the FY24 FEMA BRIC Grant Program cycle with hopes of realizing this critical infrastructure project to protect the stability and future of our drinking water. The BRIC program has since ended.
While the Department awaits funding to construct the long-term stability project, interim stabilization is necessary to protect the integrity of our primary drinking water supply. The Interim Stabilization Project was developed in alignment with dam safety regulations and critical drinking water supply protections. Given the increasing storm frequency and intensity experienced in recent years, additional structural reinforcements are required to prevent further damage and risks until the long-term stability plan can be implemented. The sediment basin south of the North Easton Pond Dam auxiliary spillway between the two impoundments is no longer used for its original purpose, resulting in vegetation, safety, maintenance, and increased seepage concerns. The concerns and their associated risk of structural failure necessitate urgent mitigation measures. The Department submitted an Application for State Assent, accompanied by a report and engineering plans detailing the Interim Stabilization Project, to the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), Office of Compliance & Inspection. The project's Dam Repair Approval was granted by the RIDEM, Office of Compliance & Inspection, on March 19, 2025. The project's Notice of Assent was granted by CRMC on April 24, 2025. Current project approvals take precedence over and supersede previous approvals.
The drainage watershed that encompasses Whitwell Avenue and the surrounding neighborhoods has experienced an increase in street flood events during rain events of high intensity. The storm drainage system in the area discharges into the Moat at Ellery Road.
The City awarded a contract in April, 2016 to conduct a drainage investigation and flood analysis for the Whitwell Avenue and surrounding neighborhood area to identify the causes and to develop short- and long-term mitigation measures. The investigation will consider observations made during recent street flooding events and trends in extreme precipitation events.
The first public informational meeting for the project was held on June 1, 2016.
Presentation – June 1, 2016
The second public informational meeting for the project was held on December 7, 2016.
Presentation- December 7, 2016
The City's engineer for the project, Fuss & O'Neill, has submitted their final report for the project which was outlined at the December 7, 2016 public meeting. The City thanks all the stakeholders that provided valuable input for the project.
Final Report - January 4, 2017
When the neighborhoods along Wellington Avenue and Bridge Street were first developed hundreds of years ago, their locations close to Newport Harbor were seen as a benefit. As time progressed more homes and businesses were established and the City installed storm drainage infrastructure in these neighborhoods and throughout the City. The investments in storm drainage infrastructure have served the City well for decades, and in many areas still provide adequate storm drainage even during the largest and most intense precipitation events. Recently, the Wellington Avenue and Bridge Street neighborhoods have experienced what is perceived to be more frequent and more severe street flooding events.
In 2015, the City conducted a drainage investigation and flood analysis for these two locations to identify the causes and to develop short- and long-term mitigation measures. The investigation considered observations made during recent street flooding events and trends in tidal cycles and extreme precipitation events.
The Project was completed in 2017 after three public informational meetings:
The Easton Pond Dam & Moat Study reviewed and presented long term water quality alternatives for the moat outfall onto Easton Beach. The long term alternatives involve major capital improvements and construction.
Based on the evaluation of the alternatives, Fuss & O'Neill recommended that the City implement an Ultraviolet Light (UV) disinfection system to treat the discharge from the moat after a storm event prior to it mixing with the water at Easton Beach.
However, there are several variables that need to be better defined prior to proceeding with a design of the system. It was further recommended that the City conduct a pilot testing program. The purpose of the pilot testing was to confirm that UV disinfection could significantly reduce bacteria loadings being discharged from the moat after a storm event as well as to collect data that would be required for the final design of a full scale system.
The City amended the contract with Fuss & O'Neill in June 2007 in order to proceed with the pilot testing for a UV disinfection system. A trailer mounted UV pilot plant was operated by Fuss & O'Neill from September through October 2007. The results of the pilot study are presented in the report.
The results of the pilot study confirmed that UV disinfection could significantly reduce bacteria loadings being discharged from the moat during a storm event onto Easton Beach. While the pilot testing has confirmed that UV treatment is practical, several design issues need to be resolved as part of preliminary engineering such as: system layout and hydraulics; determine if pretreatment required; determine subsurface conditions; dilution factor; and electrical power requirements.
The City amended the Contract with Fuss & O'Neill in June 2008 for engineering design services associated with advancing the design of a UV system to a 60% level. A presentation of the preliminary design status was presented at a City Council Workshop on October 16, 2008. The preliminary design report was completed and is presented below.
The City amended the contract with Fuss & O'Neill in February 2009 to proceed with the final design and permitting in preparation for the bidding process for construction. The final design was presented at City Council workshop on August 25, 2009, prior to submitting permit applications for the project to the applicable regulatory agencies. A final City Council Workshop on the UV Disinfection Project was held on November 19, 2009.
The UV Disinfection Project will be advertised for bids beginning December 4, 2009. Construction bids for the project are due January 7, 2010.