THE TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN ON-SITE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Welcome to our website! The Town of Charlestown has been on the leading edge of septic system / on-site wastewater management in Rhode Island since 1994. Protection of our groundwater is of utmost importance as all of Charlestown relies ONLY on groundwater for drinking water. Also, our natural beauty, which is a major economic engine for the area is very sensitive to pollution from failing or substandard on-site wastewater treatment systems. 

Please take some time and explore our webpage. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact the On-Site Wastewater Manager.

 

 

 

 

*RECENT NEWS* Click link for information

 

• NEW PUBLICATION - "Relationship between Groundwater Nitrate Concentration and Density of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: Role of Soil Parent Material and Impact on Pollution Risk"
   Authors: Matthew J. Dowling, Jose A. Amador, Seaver Anderson, Stefan Bengtson, Kristen Hemphill, and George W. Loomi
• Publication: Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment

  Volume 10, Issue 3

  https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.SWENG-547

 

CHARLESTOWN'S EPA SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND PROGRAM (SNEP) POSTER, JUNE 2024

"Coastal Watershed Nutrient Loading and Assessing Groundwater Quality Risk from Onsite
Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) in a SNEP Pilot Watershed"

 

NEW - PREDICTED GROUNDWATER NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS MAP SERIES

Using identified relationships between groundwater quality from the publication above, the density of onsite wastewater treatment systems across Charlestown's coastal watershed, the type and use of those systems, the resulting mass loading of pollutants discharged to the subsurface, and over 360 well sampling results, we have developed the following models of current groundwater nitrogen concentrations in Charlestown's Coastal Watershed.

• Charlestown Coastal Zone
• Charlestown Neck Area - Allen's Cove/Eastern Ninigret Pond
• Quonochontaug Neck Area

 

 

YouTube video series- Click here!

 

• ONSITE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - ANNUAL REPORT, YE 2023 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024

 

 

• NEW!  2023 OFFICE INTERIM SUMMARY: NUTRIENT LOADING, COASTAL WATERSHED RISK ASSESSMENT AND FUNDING STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATION

 

• $750,000 US EPA FUNDING FOR THE GREATER ALLEN'S COVE / EASTERN NINIGRET POND PILOT WATERSHED PROJECT (FIVE YEAR PROJECT)
  

• APPROVED EXPERIMENTAL NITROGEN REDUCING SEPTIC SYSTEM FOR CHARLESTOWN 2022

 

• CHARLESTOWN'S EPA SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND PROGRAM GRANT - FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT - JANUARY 2022

 

 

GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR HEALTH

AND OUR ENVIRONMENT!!..............

 

To date 99.9% of all polluting cesspools have been eliminated in Charlestown!

 

 Wastewater Management Commission (WWMC):

• Meets quarterly, on the first Tuesday of February, May, August and November at 6:00 p.m. at the Town Council Chambers Room
• Public is welcome
• The meetings are open to the public. We welcome your comments and will listen to your concerns or ideas.

 

Commissioners:

Elizabeth Richardson, Chair

Fred Klinger

Glen Babcock

William Dunn

 
Currently Open Positions - Call 364-5030 to Volunteer