PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that the waters of Bristol Harbor and waters in the vicinity of Hog Island that were closed to shellfishing due to a failure in the disinfection system at the Bristol Wastewater Treatment Plant are scheduled to re-open at sunrise Thursday, March 19.
Specifically, waters North and East of a line from the southern tip of Poppasquash Point, Bristol to Southwest Point on Hog Island and from the southwest point of Hog Island to the southwestern extremity of Arnold Point in Portsmouth, where a DEM range marker has been established. Those waters classified as Prohibited in the area in accordance with RIDEM's May 2014 -2015 shellfish closure map remain closed to shellfishing. Aquaculturists in the areas that will reopen on March 19 can resume normal operations of their leases at sunrise tomorrow.
The DEM collected water samples to test for fecal coliform bacteria in response to this emergency closure with the Bristol Harbor Master on Tuesday, March17. Results from the Rhode Island Department of Health's laboratory analysis indicate that these waters are now suitable for the harvesting of shellfish.
A DEM investigation of the failure is continuing. The facility is currently operating normally.
For more information on the plant failure, contact Bristol Wastewater Treatment Facility superintendent Jose DaSilva at 401-253-8877.
For more information about the shellfish closure, contact Joseph Migliore in DEM's Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 extension 7258.
DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing hotline with recorded updated information on shellfish closure areas. That number is 222-2900.