NORTH SMITHFIELD – Residents with concerns about their drinking water will have two separate opportunities in the coming weeks to participate in discussions on the topic, with community meetings focused first on garnering feedback, and then on educating the public about potential contaminants.
Those with private wells throughout northern Rhode Island are particularly encouraged to attend the second event, where they can learn about resources available to protect their homes.
First, the Groundwater Protection Committee will host a community discussion Wednesday, May 14, where the volunteer town board will look for public input regarding the group’s strategic planning.
“The task of the GPC is to educate all age groups and stakeholders – residential and business – about the importance of protecting our drinking water resources; to promote public interest in and understanding of groundwater protection; and to act in an advisory capacity to the Town Council in matters related to groundwater, water supply, surface water, and the North Smithfield Water Supply Protection Overlay District,” noted a release on that meeting.
The GPC is inviting residents to take part in the discussion as part of an effort to engage the community and garner feedback at the event, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. May 14 at Town Hall at 83 Green St.
The GPC notes that all of their meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend and participate.
At a separate event on Monday, May 19, officials with the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will visit North Smithfield High School for a community meeting on the topic if PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. A joint release from the agencies notes that PFAS are a large group of manmade chemicals that repel oil and water, and do not break down naturally in the environment.
Known as forever chemicals, PFAS can contaminate the environment, the agencies note, and get into drinking water – and some of the chemicals contribute to health problems.
A presentation will cover how PFAS get into water, what public water systems are doing and resources for private well owners, including RIDEM’s targeted PFAS testing program.
The event is not specific to North Smithfield residents and aims to inform those throughout the northern part of the state about a emerging contaminant grant program and opportunities to take part.
“PFAS is an emerging contaminant,” notes the release. “As part of the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant awarded to both RIDOH and RIDEM by EPA the main goals of the meeting are as follows: 1) work on protecting source water, 2) addressing private wells that are vulnerable to PFAS contamination, and 3) providing information to the meeting attendees on what public water systems are doing to address PFAS statewide.”
The agencies are seeking participation from private well owners in towns like North Smithfield and surrounding areas, where such wells are common, so that they can be tested and remediated if necessary. Both sampling and remediation are funded by the EPA grant and will not cost anything for the private well owners.
The May 19 meeting will feature three presentations – two from RIDOH including one on private well basics and one on public water systems – and one from RIDEM on their private well grant program. RIDEM reportedly plans to begin sampling water in North Smithfield later this month.
“This information will be presented as a means of educating the public on the steps that public water utilities are taking to be in compliance with state and federal PFAS regulations as well as addressing the funding that is available for private wells,” noted the release.
The event is part of a series, with additional meetings on the topic to be held in other parts of the state later in the spring and summer.
The PFAS meeting will take place in the auditorium of the school at 412 Greenville Road from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will include a question and answer session.
No registration is needed to attend either of the two meetings.
