After 3 Decades, Narragansett CSO Project Nears Completion

A 30-year clean-up in Rhode Island hit an important milestone with the completion of a 2.2-mile tunnel to transport combined sewer and stormwater. The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) began work on the monumental project known as RestoredWaters RI back in 1993 to address long-standing pollution issues in Narragansett Bay. This initiative, which is part of a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Abatement Program, has the ongoing aim of improving water quality, supporting marine life, and boosting Rhode Island's economy.

In the decades since the project’s inception, NBC ratepayers have invested close to $2 billion to bolster the health of the bay. In addition to improving the waterways, the project has created more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, benefiting industries like fishing and tourism.