January 2009

U.S. Water News Online

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Two companies that dumped excessive amounts of chemicals into the Blackstone River in 2005 will split a $95,000 fine.

The state Department of Environmental Management fined the private companies, Veolia Water North America and Synagro Woonsocket, which run the city-owned sludge incinerator and adjacent wastewater treatment plant.

The Woonsocket Call reported that the companies discharged phosphorous, ammonia, cyanide and nitrogen at higher levels than allowed.

Some of the pollution violations occurred in October 2005, when the plant was flooded by more rainwater than it could handle.

Yet other problems came with glitches in the handling of new technology. The company says that problem has now been fixed.

Click here to subscribe to e-Water News Weekly!