Jamie Samons

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, the state’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners, has closed on $100,000,000 in Clean Water State Revolving Fund bond financing, with $7,069,000 in principal forgiveness stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Bond proceeds will help finance the ongoing construction of the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Phase III project and other system infrastructure upgrades.

The $100 million in total financing comes via a Series A $75 million in open market bonds and a Series B $25 million direct loan. The term for both is 30 years at an interest rate of 3.14%. The Series A bonds were rated AAA by S&P and Fitch.

“Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank has been providing low-cost financing for the Narragansett Bay Commission’s CSO project for over two decades, and we’re pleased to continue that partnership with this $100 million bond to support Phase III construction and other system upgrades,” said William Fazioli, Executive Director. “The CSO is among the largest infrastructure projects in Rhode Island’s history and has helped to dramatically improve the health of Narragansett Bay. This is a true demonstration of the importance of investing in infrastructure and utilizing Rhode Island’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund and federal resources from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”

“The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank’s low-cost financing has been crucial for our CSO project,” said Laurie Horridge, Executive Director of the Narragansett Bay Commission. “We are grateful for their decades-long partnership and this latest $100 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund financing, which will support our ongoing CSO Phase III construction and other needed upgrades across our system.”

“Working with my colleagues in the delegation, we were able to deliver historic levels of federal investments for our state’s roads, bridges, and clean water infrastructure through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  Thanks to this federal support, Rhode Island is advancing historic projects, like the CSO, to better protect our environment and boost economic development,” said Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  “I was proud to help support phase three of this important project to continue improving the health of Narragansett Bay and significantly enhance stormwater management across the state.”

“The Narragansett Bay Commission’s CSO project is a generational investment in the health of our Bay that is already paying dividends for Rhode Islanders,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.  “As Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I’ll continue fighting to protect the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and other programs that allow the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank to make these kinds of projects possible.”

This funding will make the Narragansett Bay cleaner and sewer bills more affordable for thousands of Rhode Islanders,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “I am proud to work with my colleagues in Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation to deliver funding to support this project so that generations of Rhode Islanders can continue to enjoy a healthier Narragansett Bay.”

“Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we’re protecting Rhode Island’s waterways,” said Representative Gabe Amo. “This federal funding will dramatically improve our environment—preventing sewage from seeping into Narragansett Bay — and ensure the Bay remains clean for commerce and recreation for every Rhode Islander to enjoy.”

“Utilizing the Infrastructure Bank’s capital and below market rate financing on this issue, Narragansett Bay Commission was able to realize significant savings while borrowing at 3.14% interest rate, which is well below traditional financing options,” said Bank Board Chair Vahid Ownjazayeri. “Including this bond, Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank has provided approximately $1 billion in Clean Water State Revolving Fund financing for Narragansett Bay Commission clean water infrastructure investments. This long-term partnership is improving public health and the health of Rhode Island’s environment.”

Since 2003, the Narragansett Bay Commission has used the Bank’s low-cost Clean Water State Revolving Fund program to complete Phase I and Phase II of the CSO project, diverting more than 1 billion gallons of combined water and wastewater that would have otherwise gone straight into Narragansett Bay, and is now treated at their Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility each year. The project has helped to dramatically improve the health of Narragansett Bay.

Phase III of the Combined Sewer Overflow project, currently under construction, is a 2.2-mile long, 30-foot diameter tunnel running underneath Pawtucket and Central Falls that is expected to reduce overflow volumes by 98 percent and treat stormwater before it flows into Narragansett Bay.

The financing team that led this highly successful transaction included RBC Capital Markets as Senior Managing Underwriter, Hilltop Securities as Financial Advisor, and Hinckely Allen as Bond Counsel.

The Narragansett Bay Commission will be conducting smoke testing investigations in the Providence/Cranston area on May 15. These investigations are being conducted to identify sources of extraneous water that discharge into its
sanitary sewers.

The testing involves blowing white smoke into the sanitary sewer lines in the street and observing/recording where the smoke leaks out. The smoke is harmless, odorless, non-staining, and leaves no residue. A Material Safety Data Sheet can be provided upon request. The smoke will not enter your house or building unless there are defects in your sanitary plumbing.

Although unlikely, should smoke enter your building, do not be alarmed. Simply open the windows, and then notify the EST Associates crew in the street at 617-212-6714 that smoke has entered your building. Please be assured that the smoke will disappear quickly. Prior to testing, you can reduce the chances of smoke entering your building by pouring about a gallon of water down each sink and flush each toilet in your home. This will allow water to fill each trap (bend in the piping under the fixture), which will in turn prevent the smoke from entering the building.

The smoke testing is being coordinated by the Narragansett Bay Commission’s engineering consultant, Tighe & Bond, and will be conducted by EST Associates, Inc. Representatives of these firms will carry photo identification and EST vehicles will be clearly labeled with the company name and phone number. Field crews will be on your street within the next week to perform this test on May 15, 2025. The hours for testing are between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Monday through Friday. The Fire and Police Departments are being notified of the smoke testing work locations.

If you suffer from lung or respiratory ailments and have concerns, please contact EST at (781) 455-0003 and special arrangements will be made.

If you have any specific questions regarding the smoke testing please contact Bryan Weiner, PE, Project Manager for Tighe & Bond at (781) 708- 9846 or Michael Caruolo, PE, The Narragansett Bay Commission at (401) 461-8848 x357. 0637.

Narragansett Bay Commission Offers Free Clean Water Tours: Follow the Flush!

In celebration of Rhode Island Clean Water Week, the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) will offer free public tours of its award-winning Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility in Providence on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

The tours will include a look at the region’s most sophisticated water quality lab, “touch-a-truck” and “touch-a-boat” with the NBC’s maintenance and research vehicles, a clean water scavenger hunt, and other fun activities.

“This facility is simultaneously one of the oldest and most advanced clean water facilities in the nation,” said NBC Chairman Vincent Mesolella. “We’re so excited to give the public the opportunity to ‘follow the flush’ and view the process that has made Narragansett Bay cleaner than it has been in 150 years.”

In addition, the NBC will issue certificates of completion to all students who take the tour that may be redeemed for extra credit at school (but students are advised check with their teacher first).

“I am confident that anyone who experiences this tour will be amazed and appreciative by the clean water efforts in our community,” Mesolella added.

Members of the public can book a tour on the half hours between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM by emailing nbcpr@narrabay.com. Spaces are limited. The tour will take approximately 90 minutes.

The NBC joins four other clean water agencies in Rhode Island offering free public tours during Rhode Island Clean Water Week. Information on other tours is available at ricwa.org

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is proud to sponsor its 32nd annual student poster contest. The theme of this year’s contest is The Best Day I Had With Water. The NBC would like students to artistically showcase a day they remember having a great time with water. There are so many activities that involve water. Students could draw themselves at a beach, a water park, in a canoe, using their own pool, or even enjoying a drink of water after a grueling sports activity. Water helps us daily, let’s celebrate it!

The contest rules are as follows:

• Students must be in grades K-6 and reside in Providence, North Providence, Johnston, Central Falls, Lincoln, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Cranston, Smithfield, or East Providence.
• Posters cannot be larger than 11×17 or smaller than 8 1/2×11.
• Posters must include the student’s name, grade, school, home address, and phone number on the back.
• Posters become the property of the Narragansett Bay Commission.
• Winners receive a $100 cash prize, winning posters are printed in NBC’s 2026 poster calendar, and winners are invited to a recognition ceremony at the NBC Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility at 2 Ernest Street, Providence. 
• Mail posters to the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Public Affairs Office at One Service Road, Providence, RI 02905.
• THE CONTEST DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025!

For more information, please call the NBC’s Public Affairs Office at 401-443-4947 or email cmorissette@narrabay.com.

The Narragansett Bay Commission is proud to announce its thirtieth annual Environmental Merit Awards.

Each year, the Narragansett Bay Commission honors companies that have gone beyond compliance using pollution prevention techniques and approaches, have implemented stormwater mitigation technologies, and those companies that have achieved perfect compliance records. The future economic and environmental well- being of Rhode Island is dependent upon industry working together with environmental agencies like the Narragansett Bay Commission to reduce or eliminate waste. The Narragansett Bay Commission’s Environmental Merit Awards program provides an opportunity for companies to receive public recognition for operational advances behind the scenes that have helped protect the environment.

The Narragansett Bay Commission’s Environmental Merit Award winners set the standards for all regulated businesses. Other businesses are encouraged to achieve this level of success with the help of the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Pollution Prevention Program. The non-regulatory Pollution Prevention Program helps the industrial community find environmentally and economically sound ways of eliminating or reducing the generation of industrial wastes and pollutants.

We welcome your nomination for this year’s Environmental Merit Awards. Nominations are due March 5, 2025. Download the nomination form here.

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is offering grants ranging from $250 up to $1,000 for local Earth Day River and Lake Cleanups, restoration or beautification projects for areas located within the NBC service area or along NBC receiving waters. The goal of the NBC 2025 Earth Day River Cleanup Grant Program is to clean up our important environmental resources by providing funding assistance to local organizations restoring and improving the green spaces in their communities. Deadline for applications is February 14, 2025.

The grants may be used for Earth Day volunteer cleanup projects of green spaces and river, lake and pond cleanup projects located within the NBC service district or along NBC receiving waters. Projects that include an educational component to educate volunteers about some aspect of the environment, environmental restoration, protection are preferred. All sections of the grant application, including the project description form must be completed. Applications must be accompanied with an invoice on organizational letterhead with the grant award total request listed. The invoice must have the letterhead of your organization. An invoice template is attached for your use. Please tailor the template to your organization’s needs. Any incomplete grant application forms received will not be considered. Only one application per project will be considered, and projects must be completed no later than September 8, 2025. The range of funding for any single project shall be between $250 and $1,000, depending upon the number of applicants and funding availability.

Download the grant application here.