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Salt Water Intrusion:
As sea level rises, ground water levels are also
likely to rise. Given Block Island's geology this
rise would reduce the distance between existing
sewage disposal facilities and groundwater.
Town Sewerage:
The Town sewerage collects 200,000 gallons per
day (gpd) of the sewage disposed on the Island.
This is only a quarter of the 800,000 gpd in peak
periods placing a tremendous burden on the upkeep
of Independent Sewage Disposal Systems (ISDS).
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ISDS (Independent Sewage
Disposal Systems): Over a three year period, four
septic system failures have come to the Town's attention,
and all have been remedied before advancing to DEM notification
stages. With a grant from the EPA the town is currently
working in conjunction with The University of Rhode
Island on an initiative to eliminate ISDS nitrate pollution
through the use of new septic system technology.
Click here for more information. (Dorothy McClusky,
personal communication, 2001)
Surface Water Contamination:
The groundwater aquifer is unconfined and therefore
highly susceptible to contamination. The aquifer is
integrally connected with surface waters, streams, wetlands,
the coastal ponds and the Island's limited potable water
supply. Therefore, much of the Island's use of the Great
Salt Pond as a location for water recreation and boat
docking poses a threat to its groundwater. Additionally,
the Island's water supply is already experiencing problems
with salt water intrusion.
Wellhead
Survey Data: link here for information on individual
wells on Block Island provided by Clay Commons at the
Rhode Island Department of Health. The spreadsheet shows
the location of the well, well depth, and most importantly,
potential nearby contaminants within a 200 meter wellhead
protection radius.
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