Water

Water Department Breaking News....

During site investigations started in February 2006 and completed March 2007 associated with attempting to determine the extent to which soils have been impacted by lead from exterior lead based coatings from the Saunderstown Tank, it was determined that the tank site identified as North Kingstown Assessors Plat 41, Lot 10 and certain offsite properties from the tank site were impacted with lead contaminated soils. The offsite property included: A.P. 41, LOT 7. The investigation of these impacts were summarized in a Site Investigation Report and related documents.

In accordance with the Remediation Regulations the Town of North Kingstown has provided notice as required to all abutters of the completion of Site Investigation activities and report at the above referenced properties.  Also as required by RIDEM regulation, this Site Investigation Report is available for public comment for a 14-day period commencing on April 30, 2012 through May 14, 2012.  

The proposed remediation includes that all lead impacted soil identified as hazardous waste will be excavated and disposed of off-site at a licensed hazardous waste facility and all soil identified to contain lead at a concentration exceeding the Method 1 Residential Direct Exposure Criteria (RDEC) of 150 mg/kg will be excavated and disposed of at a licensed facility. Upon completion of the excavation, post excavation soil samples will be collected from the remaining soils to confirm that all soil that exceeds RDEC has been excavated. Subsequent to receiving satisfactory confirmatory sampling results, the excavations will be backfilled and compacted with clean fill.

The Site Investigation Report and related documents can be reviewed at record depositories at the North Kingstown Town Hall, 80 Boston Neck Road  (Director of Water Supply’s Office), the North Kingstown Free Library and the RIDEM Offices (Office of Waste Management) at 235 Promenade Street, Providence.    

The public is welcome to provide written comment during this period to the Office of Waste Management at the following address:

Ashley L. Blauvelt, Engineer
Office of Waste Management
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02908

For more information regarding this notice or this investigation please contact Thomas B. Nicholson, P.E. of C&E Engineering Partners, Inc., engineers for the project, at 401-762-1711 or tnicholson@ceengineer.com or Susan Licardi, Water Director for the Town of North Kingstown at 401- 268-1520 or slicardi@northkingstown.org.  To make arrangements to review RIDEM records pertaining to these properties, call Ashley L. Blauvelt at RIDEM at (401) 222-2797 ext. 7026 or ashley.blauvelt@dem.ri.gov.

CODE RED
COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION PROGRAM

WHAT IS IT: Code Red is a highspeed emergency notification program that allows us to record and send personalized voice messages.

WHEN IS IT USED: The North Kingstown Water Department has used this system to notify customers about situations that may affect their water service.  Most often it has been used to notify customers about water main breaks.  These are unanticipated breaks in water lines that result in low or no water pressure in a wide spread area and require that valves be closed (water be turned off) in order to repair the pipe.
***It is important for customers to realize that the calls are made to available phone numbers in a geographic area.  This inevitably results in calls being made to people who are not at all affected by the break. Follow up phone calls are not typically made. In these situations Water Department staff remain on site working until water service is restored. 
 
To sign up for Code Red notifications visit the North Kingstown Public Safety web site and submit your phone contact information.

 NORTH KINGSTOWN DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY

The North Kingstown Department of Water Supply is a municipal owned and operated utility. The Department of Water Supply is also responsible for administering the Town's Wastewater Management Program. Water Department policies and rates are set by the North Kingstown Town Council. The water supply for the Town comes from 11 gravel packed groundwater wells. On average the Town wells pump 3 million gallons (MGD) of water per day or one billion gallons per year. The peak summer demand can be as high as 8 MGD. The Water Department has an annual budget of just over $2 million dollars. All funds come from user fees. No tax dollars support the Water Department. The department employs 13 full time and one part-time employee. The water system consists of more than 9,000 service connections serving 94% of North Kingstown.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE NORTH KINGSTOWN LAWN AND LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION REGULATIONS

Lawn watering restricted to twice per week during July and August North Kingstown has at times experienced a water supply shortfall under maximum summer day water demand conditions. In other words, we do not have adequate pumping capacity to consistently meet the highest water demands we have experienced. We have at times exceeded pumping capacity. Our ability to provide municipal water and fire service is dependent on promulgating effective policies to reduce peak demand and other wasteful uses of our potable water supply. In the interest of protecting public health and safety and after considerable public discussion, the North Kingstown Town Council adopted an amendment to the North Kingstown Utilities Ordinance that restricts the irrigation of lawns and landscaping for properties using irrigation (sprinkler) systems to two (2) days per week. Duration of restrictions for lawn and landscape irrigation Irrigation of lawns and landscaping for properties using sprinkler systems is restricted to twice per week from July 1 through September 1 on an annual basis or until such time as this section is repealed rescinded or superseded. Schedule of irrigation of lawns and landscaping Irrigation of lawns and landscaping is restricted from July 1 through September 1 in accordance with the following: IRRIGATION DISTRICT 1- (SPRINKLER USE ALLOWED ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY ONLY) All North Kingstown Water customers located to the east of Route 1/Post Road/Tower Hill Road. IRRIGATION DISTRICT 2 - (SPRINKLER USE ALLOWED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY ONLY) All North Kingstown Water customers located to the west of Route 1/Post Road/Tower Hill Road. No sprinkler operation will be permitted in any district between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM or on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; however, hand watering of flowers and/or vegetable gardens is permitted at anytime. Click on the link below to see a copy of the North Kingstown Irrigation Districts Map