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THE FUTURE OF CLEAN WATER:THE ISLAND WATERS PUBLIC FORUM
Compiled by:
AIPC SMART ISLAND SERIES PARTNERS:
◦ van Beuren Charitable Foundation◦ RI Foundation◦ Newport Daily News
Thanks also to the Community College of Rhode Island!
ISLAND WATERS PARTNERS:
◦ U.S. EPA - Southeast New England Program◦ Aquidneck Island Planning Commission◦ RI DEM◦ City of Newport◦ Town of Middletown◦ Town of Portsmouth◦ Aquidneck Land Trust◦ Eastern RI Conservation District◦ Clean Ocean Access◦ RI Green Infrastructure Coalition◦ RI DOT
CURT SPALDINGRegional Director, EPA New England Region and former director of Save the Bay
TONIGHT’S AGENDA:
◦ Aquidneck Island’s Waters & Watersheds
◦ Island Waters Project
◦ State Initiatives
◦ Municipal Programs
◦ Non-Profit Organizations
◦ Individual Efforts
◦ Discussion
Show of hands
1. If you drink the tap water on Aquidneck Island
2. If you’ve ever been affected by a beach closure
✋
Island WatersIt’s all connected
69 miles of coastline38 sq. miles of lands
6,000 acres of drinking water watershed25% of Island lands
638 acres of reservoirs80% of fresh surface water
AQUIDNECK ISLAND:
$700 millionNewport tourism -- annual
PricelessSafe drinking and swimming water
$200 millionBoating industry
VALUE OF CLEAN WATER:
Water Pollution
THREATS TO WATER QUALITY:
Pollutants of Concern:◦ Bacteria & Pathogens –
Human Health◦ Nutrients (fertilizers) –
Ecosystems & Health◦ Toxics – metals, pesticides,
petroleum, etc.
Sources:◦ Wastewater & Septic◦ Land Use & Agriculture◦ Industry◦ Runoff – Stormwater
WHAT IS STORMWATER?● Rain water that is not absorbed into the ground
● Natural areas like forests -- rain soaks into the ground and filters through the soil
● Development adds roads, roofs, parking lots -- impervious surfaces
● Runoff carries pollution to fresh and salt water
○ Lawn fertilizer
○ Animal waste
○ Petroleum compounds from cars & paving
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEAN WATER?
◦ Federal Law▫ Clean Water Act, 1972▫ Safe Drinking Water Act, 1974
◦ State Agencies: DEM, DOH, DOT, CRMC◦ Municipalities: local roads, construction, utilities, etc.◦ Nonprofits: voluntary & proactive; education &
outreach◦ Individuals: homeowners, water users
STORMWATER SOLUTIONS
Source Reduction:◦ Land Conservation◦ Depaving
Green Infrastructure:◦ Engineered solutions to encourage infiltration
Management Practices – Government, Agriculture, Personal:◦ Storm drain maintenance◦ Fertilizer management◦ Rain barrels, water conservation
Outreach & EducationFinancing
ISLAND WATERS PARTNERSHIP
◦ EPA Funding: $1 M grant plus local match◦ 3-year project◦ 3 municipalities, 4 non-profits, 2 state agencies◦ RI’s first regional stormwater partnership◦ Goal: Improve effectiveness & cost-effectiveness
of stormwater management on Aquidneck Island
PROGRAM ELEMENTS
◦ Prioritize stormwater actions based on existing plans and permits
◦ Implement – build stormwater facilities; training and practices
◦ Island Park – Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
◦ Outreach – watershed stewardship, cleanups◦ Evaluation – cost-benefit analysis, program
improvement◦ Financing Plan – Island-wide stormwater solutions◦ Share results throughout New England
Get involved! www.aquidneckplanning.orgOr contact us [email protected] | 401-845-9299
Facebook.com/AquidneckPlanning@aquidneckisland
ELIZABETH SCOTTDeputy Chief, Office of Water Resources, RI Department of Environmental ManagementContact at: [email protected]
RIDEM Source Water Initiative
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION INITIATIVE FOR AQUIDNECK ISLAND RESIDENTS
RIDEM Office of Water ResourcesDecember 8 2016
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION INITIATIVE FOR AQUIDNECK ISLAND RESIDENTS
Coordinated effort between RIDEM & RIDOH
The primary objective is to restore water quality in the nine reservoirs to a condition that supports their primary use (drinking water supply) and to protect them from future degradation
WATER QUALITY CONDITION OF NEWPORT’S WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS
ASSESSMENT OF 2011/2012 WATER QUALITY DATA
All nine reservoirs identified as water quality impaired on 2014 303d List:
● Drinking Water Use Support (assessed by HEALTH)○ Total Organic Carbon (contributes to elevated levels of
trihalomethanes in finished drinking water)● Aquatic Life Use Support (assessed by RIDEM from 2011 and 2012
data)○ Total Phosphorus (contributes to periodic low dissolved
oxygen levels and frequent and excessive algal and cyanobacteria blooms)
303d Listing leads to requirement for DEM to conduct Water Quality Restoration Study aka Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
NEWPORT WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS TMDL STUDY OBJECTIVES
● Reduce phosphorus levels to a target concentration, which in turn is expected to reduce:○ Algal/Phytoplankton biomass○ Dissolved organic carbon○ Disinfection byproduct formation potential (TTHM)○ Taste and odor issues○ Frequency and severity of cyanobacteria blooms○ Low oxygen levels in the reservoirs
● Identify pollutant sources contributing to the impairment● Provide a framework (which includes both recommendations
and requirements) to reduce sources of nutrients
● ●
TMDL TECHNICAL APPROACH OVERVIEW
● Conduct Monitoring of Nine Reservoirs (completed in 2015):○ Investigate Total Phosphorus > chl a > DOC > DBP formation
potential○ Evaluate cyanobacteria bloom frequency, severity, & toxin
formation○ Obtain data to estimate release of phosphorus from reservoirs’
sediments● Establish target nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations for the
reservoirs● Determine existing nutrient loads from watersheds and release of
phosphorus from reservoirs’ sediments● Determine allowable nutrient loads and necessary reductions to
achieve desired targets● Identify sources of nutrients● Identify watershed and stormwater management actions to
achieve necessary reductions in phosphorus
RESULTS FROM 2015 STUDY OF NEWPORT’S WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS
Average concentrations of Total Phosphorus and Chlorophyll in surface waters of Newport’s Water Supply Reservoirs
RESULTS FROM 2015 STUDY OF NEWPORT’S WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS
Average concentrations of Total Nitrogen in surface waters of Newport’s Water Supply Reservoirs
WATERSHED CONDITION
● Land Use ranges from highly impervious to less dense residential and agricultural
● Sources of nutrients:○ Urban stormwater (pet
waste, fertilizer)○ Agricultural uses (soil erosion
and sedimentation as well as animal waste)
○ Failed septic system/ inadequate waste disposal
○ Waterfowl
WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS OF TRIBUTARIES
● Lack of Riparian Buffers● Streambank/Streambed Erosion● Erosion/Runoff from
Agricultural/Urban Areas● Elevated levels of nutrients,
bacteria, and sediment during wet weather events
TRIBUTARY WATER QUALITY IMPAIRMENTS EXISTING AND PROPOSED 303d LISTINGS
● Maidford Brook (Upper Segment) – Benthic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments, Lead, Fecal Coliform○ Proposed 2016: Total Phosphorus, Turbidity
● Paradise Brook – Fecal Coliform○ Proposed 2016: Total Phosphorus, Turbidity
● Bailey Brook - lead, benthic macroinvertebrate bioassessments, enterococcus○ Proposed 2016: Total Phosphorus
NATIONAL WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE a partnership between US EPA, Natural Resources Conservation Service and state agencies such as RIDEM
● Goals of NWQI○ Implement Voluntary
Conservation practices.○ Restore/Improve water quality
affected by agricultural nonpoint sources.
● Assess potential water quality improvements resulting from focused agricultural conservation actions.
● RIDEM conducted 6 water quality surveys during wet and dry weather in Maidford River and Paradise Brook in 2014-2016
RESULTS OF MONITORING IN MAIDFORD & PARADISE WATERSHEDS IDENTIFY NEED FOR BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Total Phosphorous (ug/l)
NEXT STEPS
● Complete TMDL Study○ Continue data analysis, watershed pollutant load modeling and
calculation of phosphorus release from reservoir sediments and writing of TMDL document
● Ongoing Watershed Management Activities○ Continue work with ag partners to improve management on agricultural
lands○ Provide support to watershed municipalities in efforts to control
pollution sources especially improved management of stormwater○ Undertake monitoring program for tributaries into Nonquit Pond○ Continue coordination with URI on ongoing data collection & watershed
modeling
● Ongoing Communication and Coordination○ Keep Newport and watershed communities informed on TMDL
development efforts○ Engage & Coordinate with Non-Governmental Organizations
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION: A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES
THANK YOU
Questions/Additional Information:● Scott Ribas: [email protected]● Elizabeth Scott: [email protected]● Brian Zalewsky: [email protected]
JULIA A. FORGUE, P.E. Director of Utilities, City of NewportContact at: [email protected]
Newport Dept. of UtilitiesNewport's Water Management
WATER DIVISION
◦ Provides Drinking Water to Aquidneck Island◦ Retail – Newport; Middletown; small section of
Portsmouth◦ Wholesale – Portsmouth Water & Fire District; Naval
Station Newport◦ System consists of:
▫ 9 surface water reservoirs▫ 2 water treatment plants▫ 4 water storage tanks▫ 14, 500 service connections
◦ Safe Drinking Water Act – implemented by RIDOH◦ Regulated municipal Water Utility – RIPUC
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION
Includes Wastewater System and Storm Drainage SystemClean Water Act – implemented by RIDEM
Wastewater◦ Wastewater Treatment Facility◦ 14 pump stations; 90 miles of sanitary sewers◦ 2 CSO Treatment Facilities◦ 500,000 gallon inline storage conduit◦ Retail – Newport◦ Wholesale – Treatment for Middletown and Naval Station Newport◦ Industrial Pretreatment Program
Storm Drainage◦ 47 miles of storm drains; 8” to 72” diameter◦ 85 storm outfalls; 2400 catchbasins◦ UV stormwater disinfection system at Easton Beach
CHALLENGES….
Water Division◦ Reservoirs located in developed watersheds◦ Watersheds outside City limits◦ Raw Water Quality vs treatment◦ Aging underground infrastructure◦ Affordability
Water Pollution Control Division◦ Long term CSO Control◦ Aging underground infrastructure◦ Stormwater- quantity & quality◦ Soil conditions for green infrastructure◦ Sea level rise◦ Affordability
WHAT WE ARE DOING….
Water Division◦ New Water Treatment Plants in Service◦ Mixing systems in Storage Tanks◦ Phosphorus Reduction Study- St Mary’s & Watson◦ Reservoir Aeration; Algae Control◦ Dam Improvements◦ Water Main Improvements
Water Pollution Control Division◦ Implementing System Master Plan for CSO Control◦ New DBO (Design–Build-Operate) Contract for Services◦ Implement Green concepts◦ Drainage & Flooding Studies◦ Sanitary sewer improvements◦ Study of fee structure
TOM O’LOUGHLINDirector of Public Works, Town of MiddletownContact at: [email protected]
Stormwater Financing in Middletown
MUNICIPAL FUNDING OPTIONS:
◦ General Fund (Property taxes)▫ Schools, police, fire, etc.
◦ Enterprise Funds or Utility Districts – Restricted Receipt Accounts (User Fees)▫ Beaches, sewer fund
$
MIDDLETOWN’S WATER QUALITY FINANCING NEEDS
● Town responsibilities under MS4
● Operational budget
● Capital improvements
STORMWATER UTILITY DISTRICT
● Study completed in 2014
● Implementation underway
● Why a utility district?
ISLAND WATERS PARTNERSHIP
● Communities work together on implementation● Island-wide financing plan will build on
Middletown’s financing work● Funding for implementation of watershed plans● Continues Hurricane Sandy program● Ongoing partnership for stormwater planning and
implementation● Reduce costs by sharing resources and
information
Portsmouth Wastewater Management District
● WWMD begins with an Onsite Wastewater Management Plan (OWMP)
● State law authorizes municipalities to establish local management programs to encourage or require septic system maintenance – RIDEM approval – Portsmouth is one of nineteen communities
● Incentive is participation in the CSSLP program
● Cesspool Phaseout Act of 2007
● Municipally-funded loan program established while we were working on our plan
An additional incentive for Portsmouth... RIDEM Notice of Violation
RIDEM NOTICE OF VIOLATION
● Requirements: ○ Complete long-overdue wastewater planning to
address pollution problems○ Produce a Wastewater Facilities Plan and initiate
construction of sewers in Portsmouth Park and Island Park neighborhoods
● Penalty: $186,000 fine for polluting state waters
● Town’s initial response was to challenge the legal authority of RIDEM to force us to install sewers
RIDEM NOTICE OF VIOLATION (cont’d)
● Parallel track of working on an wastewater “facilities” plan that made the case that proper wastewater treatment could be accomplished with onsite systems.
● Roles and Responsibilities – RIDEM and the Town of Portsmouth
● Mental construct - Townwide wastewater treatment facility with 7,000 individual components
November, 2014:
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
RIDEM would:
Stay the NOV, not pursue the Town to install sewers and allow us to credit the penalty funds towards implementation of the agreement
Town would:● Produce an OWMP and
WWMD ordinance
approvable by RIDEM
● Inspection of all septic
systems in Portsmouth
● Undertake additional Illicit
Discharge Detection and
Elimination (IDDE) and
outfall monitoring efforts
● Cesspool ban
PORTSMOUTH WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTEstablished by Ordinance – September, 2015
◦ District boundary is the entire town◦ Establishes position of full-time Wastewater
Manager◦ Inspection Program◦ Builds a database of all onsite septic systems◦ Timeline for re-inspection◦ Discovers failed systems and turns them over to
RIDEM◦ Cesspools◦ Enforcement provisions◦ Education & Technical Assistance
ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION AND ELIMINATION (IDDE)
◦ Additional work required in Island Park and Portsmouth Park by terms of the Memorandum of Agreement
◦ Methodology established by agreement with RIDEM and detailed in the Portsmouth OWMP
◦ “Develop, demonstrate and assess innovative approaches to illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE), initially to address impaired waters and shellfish closures in the Island Park (Portsmouth) area; ultimately for use throughout Aquidneck Island and SNE region;”
CHUCK ALLOTTExecutive Director, Aquidneck Land TrustContact at: [email protected]
Aquidneck Land Trust Watershed LandConservation Plan
WATERSHED CONSERVATION PLANNING
STREAM WALKS
WATERSHEDS
WATERSHEDS AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACES
WATERSHEDS
OUTREACH
SARA CHURGINDistrict Manager, Eastern RI Conservation DistrictContact at: [email protected]
'Soak Up the Rain' Neighborhood Outreach
WHAT IS THE EASTERN RI CONSERVATION DISTRICT?
‘SOAK UP THE RAIN’
Voluntary program with a goal of protecting and restoring clean water in our local communities:
○ Lakes ○ Ponds○ Streams○ Rivers○ Estuaries
‘SOAK UP THE RAIN’
Working with local organizations and assisting home and landowners to:
○ Determine if a property is generating stormwater runoff that may be threatening nearby local waters
○ Upon request, provides recommendations for simple improvements:■ Low cost consultation■ Low-cost-do-it-yourself stormwater
practices
PURPOSE OF ‘SOAK UP THE RAIN’
● Explains that stormwater pollution is a threat to clean bodies of water
● Helps prevent water pollution● Uses stormwater for other purposes
○ Watering plants and trees○ In doing so, conserves town water
● Promotes green infrastructure ● Prevents costly damages to properties, such
as erosion and flooding
Video: Faces of ‘Soak up the Rain’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DybVanTc5sc
BEACH CLOSURES● Economic Impact
○ Hurts merchants with less tourism○ Hurts families paying for the
beach● Limits parks and recreation
usage● Closures caused by
○ Chemical fertilizers○ Fecal matter from geese○ Discharge from storm drains○ Degraded wetlands○ Consumed by invasive species
● Went from 20 closures a summer to 1 closure in the past 2
STORMWATER PRACTICES IN ERICD
Bristol:
◦ Water filtration pond next to Colt State Park
◦ Colt State Park◦ Bristol Fire Department◦ Aidan's Pub
STORMWATER PRACTICES IN ERICD
Newport:Sail Newport Boat Ramp
◦ Pervious pavement boat ramp at Fort Adams
◦ Concrete block system for durability and to reduce erosion.
Jamestown:
◦ Environmental Packaging International
◦ Green roofs ◦ Pervious pavement
STORMWATER PRACTICES IN ERICD
Middletown:Potter League for Animals
◦ Green roofs◦ Pervious pavement◦ Cisterns
Tiverton:Fort Barton Elementary School
◦ Rain garden ◦ Bioretention
DAVE MCLAUGHLINExecutive Director, Clean Ocean AccessContact at: [email protected]
Stormwater Pathogens: Find it & Fix it
CLEAN OCEAN ACCESS
Mission: Action today so future generations can enjoy ocean activitiesBackground: Founded in 2006, working exclusively on Aquidneck IslandPresenter: Dave McLaughlin, Executive Director
CORE PROGRAMMING
● Overview: Collecting 10 water samples from coastal waters every Thursday since 2006 to measure bacteria levels to protect human health, identify problems, share data with public, and stakeholders to address and resolve issues.
● Future plans: Continue current efforts, expand to Portsmouth, include more non-designated swimming areas, and work with policy makers to change EPA designation of New England beaches to year-round.
CORE PROGRAMMING
SEAWEED NUTRIENT ANALYSIS
● Overview: Collected weekly (500 water samples and 600 seaweed) samples in 2014 & 2015 to determine if excessive and abundant macro-algae at Easton’s Beach could be related to excess nitrogen coming from the watershed, and bring awareness to the connection of the watershed to our beaches.
● Future plans: Complete report, formulate next steps to gain further insight into this potential relationship.
SEAWEED NUTRIENT ANALYSIS
BAILEY BROOK WATERSHED
● Overview: Collecting 4 water samples from headwater to North Easton Pond every Saturday since 2014 to measure nutrient levels to identify hot spots, areas for GI, identify problems, share data with public and stakeholders to address issues.
● Future plans: Engage residents and businesses around Bailey Brook to participate in water quality monitoring, energize GI projects, expand to Maidford River, and identify other areas for citizen science water quality monitoring.
STORMWATER PATHOGENS
Future plans: Finish sampling this month, work on reports, share with stakeholders and integrate findings into Island Waters Project.
Overview: Collecting twice monthly 12 water samples and 8 sediment samples from Newport Moat and Easton’s Beach since June 2016 to identify bacteria levels during dry & wet weather, identify the likely sources, propose remediation plans, and improvements for conveyance systems.
“This project was funded by an agreement (CE00A0004) awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission on behalf of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program.”
STORMWATER PATHOGENS
“This project was funded by an agreement (CE00A0004) awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission on behalf of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program.”
● Overview: Investing in watershed environmental education with students of all ages, and developing citizen science hands-on problem based learning water quality monitoring programs at local schools.
● Future plans: Lead education and outreach efforts at cleanups, community events, ALL schools, and public workshops for Island Waters Project.
EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS
Island Solutions: What You Can Do
WHAT IS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE?
http://www.georgetownclimate.org/adaptation/toolkits/green-infrastructure-toolkit/introduction.html
BENEFITS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
RAIN GARDENS COST/BENEFITS
http://www.kitsapgov.com/sswm/rain_gardens.htm
● Vary with plant type and other materials but average between $10-17/square foot
● Improves water quality● Reduces flooding● Lowers water treatment
Needs
DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION COST/BENEFITS
● Rain Barrels and Downspout Diverters can be purchased at riwaterlady.com for $89.00 and $37 respectively
● Increases available water supply
Rain Barrels Permeable drainage areas
http://regionalstormwatermanagement.ca/blog-post-Mandatory%20Downspout%20Disconnection.html
GREY, GREEN, AND BLUE ROOFS COST/BENEFITS
Blue Roof
● Rainwater storage and slow release of stormwater
● Does not add/remove pathogens from collected stormwater
Green Roof
● Reduction in home and outside temperatures
● Improves air quality● Absorbs rainwater =
reduction in stormwater runoff
● Existing houses can be retrofitted to support vegetation, range in price from $5-50/ square foot.
● Maintenance similar to traditional landscaping.
● Reduces energy needs● Intake atmospheric CO2● Reduces Noise
PERMEABLE PAVING COST/BENEFITS
● Ranged between $7-15/square foot including infiltration bed
● Saves on traditional infrastructure
● Can infiltrate over 20” of rain per hour
● Reduces salt use in winter
REDUCE YOUR LAWN COST/BENEFITSAND PLANT TREES
● 1 Crabapple intakes 292 gallons/ year and cost ~$40 for 4-5ft tree, more decorative trees cost ~$100
● 1 Red Oak intakes 1,129 gallons/ year and cost ~$70 for 4-5ft tree
● 1 Elm intakes over 2,000 gallons/ year and cost ~$30 for 4-5ft tree
TREAT THE WATER THAT COMES INTO YOUR HOME LIKE GOLD
1. Every drop of water in our homes is fit to drink, as soon as it goes down the drain it becomes waste water.2. Every drop of water that doesn’t enter the drains, helps to keep our oceans clean and reduces costs to our community.3. Small efforts inside every home to conserve water makes a huge difference.
TREAT THE WATER THAT FALLS AS RAIN LIKE A GIFT AND SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO
1. Every drop of water that lands on this island is fit to drink, as soon as it washes into a drain it becomes stormwater.2. Every drop of water that doesn’t rush into drains or sewers, helps to keep our oceans clean and reduces costs to our community.3. Small efforts on every property to hold onto the rain makes a huge difference.
DISCUSSION:The Future of Clean Water
