DEM Shuts Down Shellfishing Due to Sewage Spill

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has closed the Conimicut Triangle and Area A of Upper Narragansett Bay to shellfishing due to a sewage spill in Pawtucket. 

The closure went into effect at noon today. 

According to DEM, a significant, but unknown quantity of raw sewage entered the Seekonk River from a sewage overflow from the Narragansett Bay Commission’s wastewater collection system in the area of Berry Spring Street and School Street in Pawtucket. 

Officials from the Narragansett Bay Commission discovered the overflow from the Bucklin Point sewer system this morning and began emergency disinfection with chlorine, alerted DEM, and cleared the blockage, ending the bypass.

DEM plans to reopen Conimicut Triangle and Area A of Upper Narragansett Bay to shellfishing at sunrise on Tuesday, March 6.  

The Conimicut Triangle and Area A of Upper Narragansett Bay are located north of Prudence Island. To view the areas affected and a map of this location, click here.

East Providence officials haven't closed off access to any of the city's waterfronts.

DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing hotline with recorded updated information on shellfish closure areas. That number is 222-2900.