RIDEM warns of 10 million gallons of partially-treated wastewater released into Mt. Hope Bay

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management announced that 10 million gallons of partially-treated wastewater was released into Mount Hope Bay overnight.

Officials said Sunday, the City of Fall River notified DEM that a circuit breaker at the city’s wastewater facility shorted around midnight.

The short resulted in wastewater bypassing the plant’s pumps, causing a sanitary sewer overflow. Fall River officials said the issue has since been fixed.

The DEM said in response to the incident, they closed a section of the Kickemuit River and Mount Hope Bay.

The RIDEM shared these maps of areas affected by the sewage release in Fall River.

The department further stated they do not expect any other additional shellfish closures beyond the already marked areas.

Updates on the condition of the affected areas are expected in the coming days.