Examining how Changing Climate Could Affect Wastewater Management

RPS assists in conducting Rhode Island Climate Change study.

Working with project partner Woodard and Curran, and in coordination with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) and the RI Bays, Rivers and Watersheds Coordination Team, RPS recently conducted a vulnerability assessment of the potential effects of climate change on Rhode Island’s wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure.

The results of this study will be used to recommend physical and operational strategies to manage adverse impacts to wastewater treatment facilities, collection systems and the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Combined Sewer Overflow tunnel system.

RIDEM released a targeted website providing access to the study results as well as community profile data, interactive maps and perspectives from wastewater treatment plant operators. The press release is attached here.