7 E.P. Waterways on Most-Impaired List

East Providence swimmers should think twice before jumping into some local waterways this summer.

Of the state's 120 various polluted lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams and tributaries, seven East Providence waterways made the state Department of Environmental Management's list of most impaired waters - or Category 5 - as they are labeled.

Every two years the DEM compiles a list of impaired waterways, citing pollutants and creating TMDL standards - or Total Maximum Daily Loads for each waterway and its capacity for flushing out various existing pollutants. The compilation is all a part of a process stipulated under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act to move toward purifying the state's water resources. The last list was compiled in August last year.

The report creates an estimated schedule for restoration of each of the impaired waterways - or when the waterways TMDL will be met - and the DEM works with cities and towns to reduce instances of pollution.

Since 2010 the DEM has worked with an Environmental Protection Agency contractor and several East Providence waterways have met, or are working to meet, TMDL standards. Specifically, Ten Mile River, Central Pond, Turner Reservoir, and Omega Pond have met TMDL on some or all areas of impairments.

A DEM official recently told Go Local Prov that the state is on its way to restoring Rhode Island's waters, but described a dynamic process that is largely driven by policy and management of stormwater runoff.

Stormwater runoff carries nutrients, bacteria and toxins such as metals and oils, according to the Go Local Prov article. Such pollutants are washed into streams, ponds and reservoirs and often become trapped in the low-lying water bodies.