CSO Master Plan

In addition to the activities completed in compliance with the Consent Agreement, the City developed a System Master Plan with estimates of the associated costs for the CSO Program which was submitted in November 2012 to EPA and RIDEM for their review and approval.  Conditional approval of the System Master Plan was received in November 2013. In 2015, the City, RIDEM and EPA negotiated final modifications to the consent decree which give final approval of the System Master Plan and set the schedule for its implementation.   

The purpose of the System Master Plan is to utilize all of the data collected to date in accordance with the consent decree along with an evaluation of the effectiveness of projects that have been completed in order to develop a system-wide plan to reduce CSO events in the future.  To ensure the program was executed in a manner acceptable to the community, the city established a CSO Stakeholder Workgroup to provide input and feedback on the CSO program developed for the System Master Plan.

Accomplishments

Since the SMP was submitted, the City has implemented the following activities from the SMP:

• Completed a contract (Contract #14-045) for the disconnection of identified Catch Basins from the combined sewer system. 36 Catch Basins were removed from the sanitary sewer system, removing approximately 100,000 gallons of stormwater per inch of rain.
• Constructed improvements to the sanitary sewer in Broadway between Everett and Bull Streets (Contract #13-043).
• Completed design and construction of improvements to the sanitary sewer on Friendship Street (Contract #15-070).
• Completed design and construction of improvements to the Goat Island Force Main (Contract #16-001).
• Completed improvements to the Beach Pump Station (Contract #12-054).
• Completed the addition of weirs to the sanitary sewer system to provide additional in-system storage (Contract #14-017).
• Awarded a contract to CDM Smith as the City Advisor to assist with the procurement for design and construction of an upgraded Wastewater Treatment Facility as recommended in the System Master Plan (Contract #14-024).
• Awarded a contract to Newport Water Services, LLC for the design, construction, and operation of an upgraded Wastewater Treatment Facility (Contract #15-023).
• Conducted additional first time building inspections in the Wellington Avenue and Washington Street CSO service areas and verified 645 downspout disconnections. Click here to learn more about the Building Inspection Program.
• Completed design and construction of improvements to the Washington Street CSO Treatment Facility (Contract #16-003).
• Completed design and construction of improvements to the Wellington Avenue CSO Treatment Facility (Contract # 16-002).
• Completed design for improvements to the Ruggles Avenue Pump Station and award of construction contract anticipated by end of 2016 (Contract # 17-016).

Current and Future Activities

Based upon the approved System Master Plan and the modified Consent Decree, the City will proceed with the following activities over the next couple of years:

• Implement additional Catch Basin Separation and Improvement Projects.
• Continue ongoing construction of sanitary sewer improvements.
• Continue to identify sources of extraneous flow entering the sewer system throughout the City's sewer collection system.
• Complete improvements to the Washington St. CSO Treatment Facility.
• Complete improvements to the Wellington Ave. CSO Treatment Facility.
• Complete improvements to the Ruggles Ave. Pump Station.
• Complete upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Facility. 

Upgrades to the Water Pollution Control Plant

• City Council Workshop May 5, 2016 - Proposed Design - Build - Operate Contract