Water Quality at RI's Bristol Town Beach Improves

Urban runoff and wildlife waste contributed to high levels of bacteria at Rhode Island’s Bristol Town Beach. But series of restoration measures has improved the area’s water quality.

The beach experienced a large number of closures before solutions were implemented. Pollution sources also contributed to elevated bacteria levels resulting in shellfish closures in Upper Narragansett Bay. The pathogen impairment of Upper Narragansett Bay was first listed as impaired for shellfishing by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management on its 1998 Clean Water Act list.

Project partners implemented BMPs designed to control urban runoff and wildlife waste in the town of Bristol like parking lot renovation with bioinfiltrated vegetated swales, permeable pavement installations and beachfront trail reduction.

Bacteria levels have since decreased at Bristol Town Beach, which has improved water quality. A full case study is available on the EPA’s website.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency