Naragansett faces multi‑year wastewater upgrades; solids‑handling repairs become immediate priority

Town engineers and wastewater operations staff presented a multi‑year facilities plan for Naragansett’s wastewater systems that separates urgent repairs at the Scarboro treatment plant from a longer, larger expansion package tied to economic development goals.

Immediate priorities: engineering staff emphasized that failures in solids handling — notably aging sludge‑transfer pumps — were responsible for operational problems last season and must be repaired or replaced quickly to stabilize plant performance. The town has identified an initial near‑term package in year one of the capital plan of roughly $5.2 million focused on replacing and upgrading solids‑handling equipment. Staff said they would pursue emergency pump repairs and a bid for replacement pumps immediately, with the goal of completing urgent repairs prior to the summer season.

Multi‑year program: the facilities plan documents roughly $34 million in work to bring Scarboro’s equipment and structural components into a state of good repair over successive years (staff presented a multi‑year phased schedule). In addition, engineering referenced a larger potential expansion — an approximately $35 million estimate in planning documents — that would increase capacity to accommodate new commercial users (for example, fish processing operations) and make the plant capable of receiving additional sewers from the town’s South End; that expansion would be pursued only after state and federal grant options and financing structures were identified.

How to pay for it: staff and the finance director said the wastewater enterprise fund cannot absorb the full cost of the program. The council discussed options including revenue bonds paid from the enterprise fund (which would not require a ballot), a general‑obligation bond (which would require voter approval), and pursuing state and federal grant opportunities (including economic‑development funding) to defray costs. Staff underscored the need for urgent, smaller‑scale fixes this year while pursuing larger financing for the multi‑year package.

Operational context: the Scarboro plant is currently operating well below permitted hydraulic capacity (staff estimates roughly 55–60 percent of the plant’s 1.4 million gallons/day permitted capacity in yearly average flow), but equipment age and deferred maintenance increase the risk of failures during higher summer loads. Engineering said the town is already taking steps to improve plant controls and operations and has hired consultants to evaluate the systems and recommend immediate corrective actions.

Next steps: staff will issue procurement documents for pump repairs, submit required paperwork for loans or categorical exclusions with DEM (the state environmental agency), and continue work with RI Infrastructure Bank, the town’s financial advisor and potential grant funders to identify the optimal financing mix. The council requested updated schedules and clear financing recommendations before any bond or referendum commitment.

Speakers quoted or referenced here include: town engineer John Ghard, wastewater superintendent (operating staff quoted during meeting) and councilors. Direct quotes in the meeting were used only where speakers were identified.