Enter NBC’s 2027 Student Poster Contest Today!

Contest deadline is Friday, May 1!

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is proud to sponsor its 33rd annual student poster contest. The theme of this year’s contest is Water’s Journey Through Time. The NBC would like students to artistically showcase how water has changed or will change over time. Students may want to research what the Narragansett Bay looked like many years ago and depict that view in their poster. Some may want to use their imaginations and create a poster of what Narragansett Bay will look like 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years from now. Others may want to create snapshots of Narragansett Bay starting in the past and traveling into the future. We encourage students to use their creativity and come up with their own idea of what the theme means to them.

The theme of the poster contest this year correlates with an event where NBC will open a time capsule that was buried 25 years ago. The time capsule was buried on April 24, 2001, in honor of NBC Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility’s 100th birthday! The ceremony will take place during Clean Water Week. There are other events happening around the state honoring water that week. Please visit https://ricwa.org/event/clean-water-week-open-house/ to learn more.

The contest rules are as follows:

  • Students must be in grades K-6 and reside in Providence, North Providence, Johnston, Central Falls, Lincoln, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Cranston, Smithfield, or East Providence.
  • Posters cannot be larger than 11×17 or smaller than 8 1/2×11.
  • Posters must include the student’s name, grade, school, home address, and phone number on the back.
  • Posters become the property of the Narragansett Bay Commission.
  • Winners receive a $100 cash prize, winning posters are printed in NBC’s 2027 poster calendar, and winners are invited to a recognition ceremony on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 at 5:00 at the NBC Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility at 2 Ernest Street, Providence. 
  • Mail posters to the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Public Affairs Office at One Service Road, Providence, RI 02905.
  • THE CONTEST DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026!

We hope that your school will be able to participate in the contest! For more information, please call the NBC’s Environmental Education Coordinator at 401-443-4947.

Win a $250 Gift Card!

Want to win a $250 gift card? You can with the Narragansett Bay Commission AutoPay and paperless e-billing sweepstakes! To enter, visit www.narrabay.com/customer-care/pay-bill/ and log into your account. Enroll in either AutoPay or paperless e-billing and you’re in. Current users will automatically be entered.  

The sweepstakes runs from November 1, 2025 – January 31,2026, making it the perfect way to get your new year started right. Enroll and enter today.  

NBC Welcomes New CFO

Kevin McDonald has joined the Narragansett Bay Commission as Chief Financial Officer, where he will oversee the agency’s $302 M annual budget, which includes significant infrastructure investments such as the final phase of the agency’s Combined Sewer Overflow project. Mc Donald previously served as Director of Loan Operations for the US Army Corps of Engineers Water Infrastructure Financing Program and as a Senior Underwriter for the USEPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program.

“We are so pleased to welcome Kevin to the NBC,” said Executive Director Laurie Horridge. “His knowledge of public finance—and the water sector specifically—will benefit both the NBC’s ratepayers and the health of Narragansett Bay. We look forward to his collaboration and innovation as we continue to deliver on our clean water mission.”

McDonald has an undergraduate degree from Brown University in American History and a graduate degree from Harvard University in City and Regional Planning.

“Follow the Flush” with a Free Tour!

Narragansett Bay Commission Offers Free Clean Water Tours: Follow the Flush!

In celebration of Rhode Island Clean Water Week, the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) will offer free public tours of its award-winning Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility in Providence on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

The tours will include a look at the region’s most sophisticated water quality lab, “touch-a-truck” and “touch-a-boat” with the NBC’s maintenance and research vehicles, a clean water scavenger hunt, and other fun activities.

“This facility is simultaneously one of the oldest and most advanced clean water facilities in the nation,” said NBC Chairman Vincent Mesolella. “We’re so excited to give the public the opportunity to ‘follow the flush’ and view the process that has made Narragansett Bay cleaner than it has been in 150 years.”

In addition, the NBC will issue certificates of completion to all students who take the tour that may be redeemed for extra credit at school (but students are advised check with their teacher first).

“I am confident that anyone who experiences this tour will be amazed and appreciative by the clean water efforts in our community,” Mesolella added.

Members of the public can book a tour on the half hours between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM by emailing nbcpr@narrabay.com. Spaces are limited. The tour will take approximately 90 minutes.

The NBC joins four other clean water agencies in Rhode Island offering free public tours during Rhode Island Clean Water Week. Information on other tours is available at ricwa.org

First Boat Trip of the Year: Chasing nutrients on the water

After months of waiting and prepping, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of gliding over the water as the world wakes up around you. Our mission this trip? To gather essential nutrients and monitor the health of our water ways. As we cruised along, we collected surface and bottom nutrient samples and watch the surface for signs of life. The first trip of the season isn’t just about science-it’s about reconnecting with nature, honoring the rhythms of our environment, and reminding ourselves why we do what we do. Here’s to many more days on the water this year, chasing nutrients, tracking change, and finding joy in every ripple. We able to catch a picture of a harbor seal basking in the sun right outside Fields point outfall.

February 18, 2026

Nutrient samples were collected from six river stations on February 18th.  In the five days prior to sampling, 0.25” of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Blackstone River @ Slater Mill (TN = 1,430 ppb, TDN = 2,170 ppb, DIN = 1,249.2 ppb). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Moshassuck River @ Higginson Ave. (TN = 710 ppb, TDN = 702 ppb, DIN = 595.9 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is March 4th, 2026.

February 4, 2026

Nutrient samples were collected from nine river stations on February 4th.  In the five days prior to sampling, 0.0” of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Ten Mile River @ Roger Williams Ave. (TN = 3,530 ppb, TDN = 3,510 ppb, DIN = 3,336 ppb). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Coles River @ Milford Rd. (TN = 830 ppb, TDN = 938 ppb, DIN = 731 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is February 18th, 2026.

January 21, 2026

Nutrient samples were collected from seven river stations on January 21st.  In the five days prior to sampling, 0.7” of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (TN = 1,710 ppb, TDN = 1,710 ppb, DIN = 1,519.5 ppb). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Moshassuck River @ Footbridge at Mill St. (TN = 563 ppb, TDN = 572 ppb, DIN = 424.3 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is February 4th, 2026.

January 7, 2026

Nutrient samples were collected from thirteen river stations on January 7th.  In the five days prior to sampling, 0.11” of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (TN = 2,160 ppb, TDN = 2,330 ppb, DIN = 1,234.2 ppb). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Woonasquatucket River @ Manton Ave. Bridge (TN = 808 ppb, TDN = 910 ppb, DIN = 655.9 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is January 21st, 2026.

Apply Today for an Environmental Merit Award

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is proud to announce the thirty-first annual NBC Environmental Merit Awards program. Through this program the NBC offers three types of Environmental Merit Awards: the NBC Pollution Prevention Award which honors (a) companies that have demonstrated efforts that go above and beyond NBC regulatory compliance requirements using pollution prevention techniques/technologies and (b) organizations or individuals that have helped promote pollution prevention and regulatory compliance within the regulatory community; the NBC Perfect Compliance Award which is given to each Significant Industrial User that achieves perfect compliance with all NBC regulatory requirements during the previous calendar year, and the NBC Stormwater Management Award which is given to companies, organizations or individuals that successfully use Best Management Practices to minimize stormwater impacts on the NBC sewer collection system.

Applications are due March 6, 2026. Download your application form here.

December 24, 2025

Nutrient samples were collected from seven river stations on December 24th.  In the five days prior to sampling, 0.77” of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. TN = 1,670 ppb, TDN = 1,700 ppb, DIN = 1,567.1 ppb). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Moshassuck River @ Higginson Ave. (TN = 563 ppb, TDN = 572 ppb, DIN = 424.3 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is January 7th, 2026.

December 10, 2025

Nutrient samples were collected from thirteen river stations on December 10th.  In the five days prior to sampling, 0.07” of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Ten Mile River @ Central Ave. (TN = 3,100 ppb, TDN = 3,130 ppb, DIN = 2,793.0 ppb). The lowest TN and TDN were observed at Moshassuck River @ Higginson Ave (TN = 480 ppb, TDN = 554 ppb). The lowest DIN was observed at Coles River @ Milford Rd. (245.7 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is December 24th, 2025.

Scroll to Top