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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image005.png@01D87979.B60DEFC0" alt="DEM-logo-small"></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">CONTACT:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Jay Wegimont, DEM: 401-302-8316 Sunday, June 5, 2022<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:Jay.Wegimont@dem.ri.gov"><span style="color:#0066FF">Jay.Wegimont@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:#0066FF"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM NOTIFIED OF PARTLY TREATED SEWAGE DISCHARGE INTO THE
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">BLACKSTONE RIVER FROM THE WOONSOCKET TREATMENT PLANT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="332" height="321" style="width:3.4583in;height:3.3437in" src="cid:image007.jpg@01D87979.B60DEFC0" align="right" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3"><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE,
RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is investigating the discharge of partly treated wastewater from the Woonsocket Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 11 Cumberland Hill Road in Woonsocket. DEM was first made aware
of the discharge on the morning of June 5. The discharge is currently ongoing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">As a precaution, DEM is advising residents to temporarily refrain from both primary contact recreational water activities (wading, swimming) and secondary contact activities
(canoeing, kayaking, rowing, and fishing) and to avoid consuming any fish from the river from the location of the discharge, at Cumberland Hill Road in Woonsocket, to the Slater Mill Dam in Pawtucket (see map above). This advisory is in effect until further
notice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">The treatment plant, operated by the private contractor Jacobs, treats about 10 million gallons of sewage daily. DEM is investigating the cause of this loss of treatment
and monitoring steps being taken by the city and its vendor to ensure a return to permit compliance. DEM issued letters of noncompliance to the facility in November 2021 and March 2022 regarding operations and maintenance concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information about DEM divisions and programs, visit
<a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:#0066FF">
</span>or follow us on <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!Nmb-inVUKGN-mpUh0NAyYnFwyE48IMHEuM3eDDASrds31EY42Qgw9ZB7xQUwt-LcBXbBf-cQ4wMEYX2z7DqQ9XLfqynQMtE8SpLl$"><span style="color:#0066FF">Facebook</span> [facebook.com]</a>, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0078FF"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0078FF">Jay G. Wegimont | Programming Services Officer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#212121">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#212121">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#212121">401-222-4700, X277-2402<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#212121">Email: </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:jay.wegimont@dem.ri.gov">jay.wegimont@dem.ri.gov</a><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#212121">Web: </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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