Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Existing Conditions | Page 186

Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Wastewater Treatment

The City of Newport and the Water Pollution Control Division of Newport’s Department of Utilities has a contract with
United Water to maintain and operate the city’s entire wastewater treatment system. Map 13-2 displays the sewer
system within Newport, including the location of the
privatized Water Pollution Control Plant. The system
Excess water from rainfall or
provides wastewater services for the majority of the City of
flooding can cause overflow in
Newport, 70% of the homes in Middletown, Naval Station
wastewater systems. Areas prone
Newport, and other privately owned sanitary systems in
to this flooding in Newport
the Ocean Drive Neighborhood. The wastewater system
include the North End
includes approximately 97 miles of sewer lines, 15 sanitary
Commercial, Long Wharf,
pump stations, two combined sewer overflow facilities,
Downtown, Harbor / Lower
and a Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP).
Thames, Fifth Ward, Goat Island,
When the city experiences heavy rainfall or flooding, the
excess water can flow into the wastewater system and
cause it to overflow. These are called Combined Sewer
Overflows (CSOs). Newport’s two CSO facilities are used to
partially treat the overflows before the water is discharged
into the harbor. These facilities are located at Washington
Street and Wellington Avenue.

Eustis / Easton’s Pond, Lily / Almy
Pond, and Ocean Drive
neighborhoods.

In 2012, the city developed the System Master Plan with aims of reducing CSOs. Since the implementation of the plan,
there have been large improvements to the city’s infrastructure that have reduced overflows. The improvements
include the disconnection of identified catch basins from the combined sewer system, sanitary sewer improvements
between Everett and Bull Streets, improvements to the Beach Pump Station, and more.
The Water Pollution Control Plant is located on the JT Connell Highway. It receives wastewater from all throughout
the city and Middletown and treats it onsite. Once the wastewater has been thoroughly treated, it flows out into
Newport Harbor. Table 13-6 details the WPCP’s total capacity and the averages for wastewater treatment in 2015.
Table 13-6 - 2015 Wastewater Treatment & Capacity in Newport (Measured in Million Gallons Daily)
Year
2015

Average Daily Flow
8.40

Facility Capacity
10.70

Source: State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Page 13-8

Draft Existing Conditions (March 2016)