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The Narragansett Bay Commission has released a draft Facility Plan Amendment (FPA) for biosolids management at its Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility in Providence.
NBC initiated this FPA effort to evaluate the existing condition of sludge management facilities and operations at the Field’s Point WWTF and to recommend future facility needs. The intent of this Field’s Point WWTF FPA is to identify current operational deficiencies and determine recommended improvements for establishing reliable dewatering and biosolids management operations now and over the next 20 years which are in the best interest of NBC and its ratepayers.
Water clarity was measured at six locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuaries on October 15, 2025. In the five days prior to the survey, 2.39 inches of precipitation were recorded at TF Green. Secchi depth averaged 3.0 meters. The lowest clarity this week (1.8 meters) was measured at Conimicut Point, while the greatest clarity (3.3 meters) was measured at Edgewood Yacht Club. There was a general north-to-south trend of increasing water clarity among the sites this week. Compared to previous measurements taken on October 1, 2025, water clarity remained relatively consistent at most sites. However, Pawtuxet Cove showed a notable decrease of 1.1 meters and both Bullock Reach and Conimicut Point showed a notable increase of 1.1 meters.
Surface chlorophyll data were collected on October 15, 2025, while the R/V Monitor was underway collecting nutrient samples in the Providence and Seekonk River estuary. The average chlorophyll concentrations were categorized as good in all areas. The average chlorophyll concentrations were also categorized as good over all areas surveyed. Overall, chlorophyll ranged from 0.64 µg/L to 3.60 µg/L with an average of 1.57 µg/L. The chlorophyll concentrations from this date are presented in the map below using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation.
Surface chlorophyll data were collected on October 1, 2025, while the R/V Monitor was underway collecting nutrient samples in the Providence and Seekonk River estuary. The average chlorophyll concentrations were categorized as fair in the Seekonk River, and as good in all other areas. The average chlorophyll concentrations were categorized as good over all areas surveyed. Overall, chlorophyll ranged from 2.07 µg/L to 10.16 µg/L with an average of 4.94 µg/L. The chlorophyll concentrations from this date are presented in the map below using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation.
Phytoplankton samples were collected on September 17, 2025 at Bullock’s Reach and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection.
The water temperature was 20.99 °C, the salinity was 31.07 psu, and the chlorophyll a was 13.57 ug/L.
The qualitative tow net sample had a quick filtration time. The filtrate was reddish brown and murky.
The analysis of the quantitative whole water sample revealed a total of 1,014,000 cells/L. The microflagellates were found at 374,000 cells/L. The most predominant phytoplankton genera were Chaetoceros spp. at 303,000 cells/L, Prorocentrum spp. at 168,000 cells/L, and Heterocapsa spp. at 46,000 cells/L.
Gymnodinium is a genus of marine and freshwater dinoflagellates. They have two flagella used for locomotion and they are one of the few dinoflagellates that appear ‘naked’ due to their lack of armored cellulosic plates. Some species produce saxitoxins which can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Water column profiles were conducted using a Seabird Electronics profiler at five locations in the Providence River and one location in the Seekonk River on October 15, 2025. In the five days leading up to this there were 2.30 inches of rain recorded at T.F. Green International Airport (Warwick, RI). The water column was strongly stratified at India Point Park and Phillipsdale Landing, and weakly stratified at Bullock’s Reach, Edgewood Yacht Club, Pawtuxet Cove and Pomham Rocks.
Dissolved oxygen conditions were not below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at any of the visited locations. The highest fluorescence reading was observed about 1.25 meters below the surface at Phillipsdale Landing.
Nutrient samples were collected from seven river stations and eight bay stations on September 3rd. All bay stations were sampled at the surface. In the five days prior to sampling, no precipitation was recorded at T.F. Green.
Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN) was observed at Pawtuxet River @Broad Str. (TN = 1,450 ppb). The highest total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Blackstone River @ Stateline (TDN = 1,940 ppb, DIN = 1,467.7 ppb). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Moshassuck River @ Higginson Ave (TN = 598 ppb, TDN = 703 ppb, DIN = 454.4 ppb).
Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface TN was observed at Phillipsdale Landing (1,220 ppb). The highest TDN and DIN were observed at Pawtuxet Cove (TDN = 969 ppb, DIN = 729.3). The lowest surface TN and TDN were observed at Bullock Reach (TN = 453 ppb, TDN = 162 ppb). The lowest surface DIN was observed at five of the eight bay stations (13 ppb, reflecting minimum detection limits for DIN).
The next scheduled sampling date is September 17th, 2025
Water column profiles were conducted using a Seabird Electronics profiler at seven locations in the Providence River and one location in the Seekonk River on October 1, 2025. In the five days leading up to this there were 0.06 inches of rain recorded at T.F. Green International Airport (Warwick, RI). The water column was strongly stratified at Phillipsdale Landing, weakly stratified at Bullock’s Reach, Conimicut Point and Pomham Rocks, and well-mixed at Edgewood Shoals, Edgewood Yacht Club, India Point Park and Pawtuxet Cove.
Dissolved oxygen conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower part of the water column at Edgewood Shoals, and the entire water column at Pomham Rocks and Phillipsdale Landing. The highest fluorescence reading was observed at about 1.75 meters below the surface at Phillipsdale Landing.
Water column profiles were conducted using a Seabird Electronics profiler at six locations in the Providence River and one location in the Seekonk River on September 3, 2025. In the five days leading up to this there were 0.84 inches of rain recorded at T.F. Green International Airport (Warwick, RI). The water column was moderately stratified at India Point Park, weakly stratified at Bullock’s Reach, Conimicut Point, Phillipsdale Landing and Pomham Rocks, and well-mixed at Edgewood Yacht Club and Pawtuxet Cove.
Dissolved oxygen conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower part of the water column at Bullock’s Reach, Edgewood Yacht Club and Pomham Rocks. The entire water column at Phillipsdale Landing was hypoxic. This is also where the highest fluorescence reading was observed at about 1.5 meters below the surface of the water.