Home & Garden

Four Bristol-Warren Waterways Make DEM's Most-Impaired List

Of the state's 120 impaired waterways, four are in Bristol and Warren.

While Bristol and Warren shores are considered prime swimming for beach goers near and far, swimmers should think twice before jumping into some local waterways this summer.

Of the state's 120 various polluted lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams and tributaries, four waterways in Bristol and Warren made the state Department of Environmental Management's list of most impaired waters - or Category 5 - as they are labeled.

Every two years the DEM compiles a list of impaired waterways, citing pollutants and creating TMDL standards - or Total Maximum Daily Loads for each waterway and its capacity for flushing out various existing pollutants. The compilation is all a part of a process stipulated under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act to move toward purifying the state's water resources. The last list was compile in August 2012.

Find out what's happening in Bristol-Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The report creates an estimated schedule for restoration of each of the impaired waterways - or when the waterways TMDL will be met - and the DEM works with cities and towns to reduce instances of pollution.

Impaired Waterway:  Reason for Impairment:  TMDL Estimate:  Upper Narragansett Bay (from Conimicut Point in Warwick south to Jacobs Point, Warren to Popasquash Point in Bristol) Nitrogen, Dissolved Oxygen, Fecal Coliform 2016, and 2022 for Fecal Coliform East Passage  Dissolved Oxygen 2016 Mt. Hope Bay Fishes Bioassessments, Nitrogen, Dissolved Oxygen, Water Temperature, Fecal Coliform 2018 Palmer River, Waren Nitrogen, Dissolved Oxygen, Fecal Coliform 2016

DEM official recently told Go Local Prov that the state is on its way to restoring Rhode Island's waters, but described a dynamic process that is largely driven by policy and management of stormwater runoff.

Find out what's happening in Bristol-Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stormwater runoff carries nutrients, bacteria and toxins such as metals and oils, according to the Go Local Prov article. Such pollutants are washed into streams, ponds and reservoirs and often become trapped in the low-lying water bodies.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here