Sewage flows into Blackstone River

July 2, 2011

PROVIDENCE (AP) — Rhode Island health and environmental officials are asking residents to stay away temporarily from the Blackstone River after as much as 162,000 gallons of partially-treated sewage was discharged into it.
Officials say said Friday that sewage from the Woonsocket Wastewater Treatment Facility was discharged into the river on Thursday.
Officials say an electrical failure at the plant triggered the discharge between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Residents are advised to refrain from contact recreation and consuming fish from the Rhode Island portion of the river. The advisory will be in effect until Saturday at sundown.
Mayor Leo T. Fontaine was in a meeting at his office Friday afternoon and unavailable for comment. Woonsocket Public Works Director Sheila McGauvran was reportedly off from work on Friday,
With reports from Call reporter Joseph B. Nadeau.