Narragansett Bay Commission secures federal funds for 2-mile tunnel

26 September 2019


Rhode Island – The Environmental Protection Agency announced September 20 its nearly USD 270M water infrastructure loan to the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC).

Funding is for Phase III of the NBC’s CSO Abatement Program, which is estimated at USD 760M. The centerpiece of Phase III is a 30ft (9m) diameter, 2.2-mile-long (3.5km) deep rock tunnel under Pawtucket and Central Falls to capture and store storm-related sewage overflows and transport those flows to the NBC’s Bucklin Point Wastewater Treatment Facility for full treatment.

“We know Rhode Islanders value a clean and healthy bay,” said NBC Chairman Vincent Mesolella. “We’re very proud of infrastructure investments Narragansett Bay Commission ratepayers have made over the past two decades to mitigate the century-old issue of CSOs and the NBC is confident that this final phase of the CSO project will result in a bay that will be a beloved resource for our children and grandchildren. The WIFIA loan also ensures that the cost of this ambitious clean water project will be mitigated for our ratepayers.”