By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Ratepayers who have already contributed more than a half billion dollars toward the first two phases of the combined sewer overflow project to cap sewage flows into Narragansett Bay are facing an additional $779 million, or potentially hundreds of additional dollars per year, as the quasi-public Narragansett Bay Commission prepares to embark on the third and final phase of the federally-mandated project.
“Under the federal Clean Water Act, these overflows must be dealt with,” said Jamie Samons, spokeswoman for the NBC. “What Narragansett Bay Commission has done, and DEM (Department of Environmental Management) has recently approved is extending the time line out for this final phase.”
The NBC, which serves Providence, North Providence, Johnston, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln, the northern portion of East Providence and small parts of Cranston and Smithfield would stretch out the project an additional 15 years, from 2026 to 2041, to try to lessen the overall cost to ratepayers.
Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner is intervening with the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, which determines rates from utilities like the NBC, asking that rate relief be provided for low-income ratepayers.
“For families that are earning, you know, $30,000, $20,000, $35,000 dollars a year, a $600 dollar a year sewer bill is very difficult to afford,” Magaziner said.
