REPORT ON POLLUTION OF INTERSTATE WATERS OF THE BLACKSTONE & TEN MILE RIVERS- MASSACHUSETTS-RHODE ISLAND (SECOND SESSION) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION Northeast Region Boston Mass. MAY 1968 ------- REPORT ON POLLUTION OF INTERSTATE WATERS OF THE BLACKSTONE AND TEN MILE RIVERS MASSACHUSETTS-RHODE ISLAND (Second Session) I. INTRODUCTION On the basis of reports, surveys, or studies, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare*, having reason to believe that pollution of the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers and their tributaries caused by discharges of untreated and inadequately treated sewage and industrial vastes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island vas endangering the health or welfare of persons in these States, called a conference in the matter of pollution of the interstate waters of the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers and their tributaries (Massachusetts-Rhode Island). The conference vas held on January 26, 1965, in Providence, Rhode Island. This second session of the conference on the Blackstone and Ten Nile Rivers was called to consider progress made in abating pollution since the first session, to determine what additional steps may be necessary to protect these rivers, and to resolve discrepancies between the dates con- tained in the Water Quality Standards Implementation Plans and the first session of this enforcement conference. II. SUMMARY OF THE FIRST CONFERENCE Conferees representing the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, and the U. S. Department of Health, Educa- tion, and Welfare attended the first session of the conference. A report •"•Reorganization has transferred the water pollution control activities from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Healsth Service, to the Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration. ------- -2- vas presented on the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers and their tributaries (Massachusetts-Rhode Island) which specifically covered the sources of pollution, the types of vastes discharged, and the interferences with water uses. In the light of conference discussions the following conclusions were reached and recommendations made: 1. The conferees agreed that both the Blackstone River and the Ten Mile River are interstate streams within the meaning of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. 2. It is the position of the Federal conferee that interstate pol- lution of the Blackstone River and Ten Mile River subject to abatement under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act is occurring. The Federal report indicates that during the period of survey (March and August 196U) waste discharges from municipalities and industries in Massachusetts and Rhode Island caused deterioration of water quality of the interstate waters of the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers so as to interfere with the use of these waters for recreation and fishing, create a condition which constitutes a health hazard for water contact sports, and create an of- fensive appearance and unpleasant odors. 3. The conferee representing the State of Massachusetts stated that waste discharges affect the water quality of the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers but these discharges do not create a condition which endangers health or welfare of persons in another State. ------- -3- 4. The Rhode Island conferee stated that the Federal report shows conditions which no longer exist. The Federal conferee stated that the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers should be substantially improved because of treatment facilities put in operation after the Federal survey but that interstate pollution subject to abatement under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act still is occurring. 5. The conferees agreed that remedial measures adequate to abate i the existing pollution have not been installed. The delays in taking appropriate remedial measures are caused by municipalities and industries not meeting the pollution abatement requirements of both States. 6. At the time of the Federal survey, the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers in the region of the Massachusetts-Rhode Island State Line were considered Class D on the basis of their existing water quality, but the States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission have classified these waters as Class C for future highest use. Both States have Initiated an abatement program to put this classification into effect. Class C* waters are suitable for recreational boating, irrigation of crops not used for con- sumption without cooking, habitat for wildlife and common food and game fishes indigenous to the region, industrial cooling, and most industrial process uses. Class D* waters are suitable for transportation of sewage and industrial wastes without nuisance and for power, navigation, and certain industrial uses. *These classifications have been redefined since the first session of the conference. ------- T. The Federal conferee acknowledged the cooperation of Massachu- setts and Rhode Island in obtaining information on the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers and making it available to the Federal agencies. 8. The Massachusetts conferee presented a pollution abatement pro- gram to achieve Class C water quality. 9« The Rhode Island conferee presented a pollution abatement pro- gram to achieve Class C water quality. 10. The Federal conferee recommended that the schedules of Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island be expanded to include terminal dates for con- struction. It is the Federal position that the Regional Office be ad- vised upon completion of the various engineering studies and preliminary planning, that a schedule for construction be completed within 90 days after the completion of the studies and preliminary planning, and that all pollution abatement measures be completed by January 1, 1969. 11. It is the position of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island con- ferees that no final completion dates be set for construction, as this will delay the construction. 12. The conferees unanimously agreed to prepare a report every six months on the status of pollution abatement programs in the conference area, and they further agreed to prepare a report on the next phase of construction plans within three months after the final reports on the first phase are completed. 13• The conferees unanimously recommended that any remedial work be done as early as practicable. ------- -5- III. AREA The Blackstone River begins in the southern part of Worcester, Massachusetts, and flows in a southeasterly direction for 42 miles to Pavtucket, Rhode Island, then southerly for 7 miles to the beginning of the Seekonk River. Principal tributaries include the Mumford and West Rivers from Massachusetts and the Branch River from Rhode Island. The Ten Mile River begins in Plainville, Massachusetts, and follows an ir- regular, but generally southerly, course for a distance of 21 miles where it, too, joins the Seekonk River in Rhode Island. The crystal clear headwaters of the Blackstone River are impounded by a series of dams which form reservoirs that furnish the water supply for the City of Worcester. Below Worcester, however, the Blackstone re- ceives sanitary wastes, as well as wastes arising from such industrial operations as wool scouring, wool dyeing and finishing, pickling liquors, rubber processing, and paper coating, resulting in degradation of the river. The Branch River, the largest tributary in the Blackstone River Basin, receives industrial wastes and sewage from plant employees in Rhode Island. The Mumford River receives sewage and industrial wastes in the reach between Button, Massachusetts, and Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and the West River receives industrial wastes and sewage from plant employees in Massachusetts. The Ten Mile River receives municipal wastes, as well as plating, pickling, chemical, and textile wastes. ------- -6- IV. SOURCES OF WASTES Table 1 lists the status of water pollution abatement programs for the municipalities and industries discharging domestic wastes to the portions of the Blackstone and Ten Mile River Basins included in this conference for both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The water classifi- cations in these charts are those taken from the Water Quality Standards submission from the respective States. This listing has been modified from that of the first session by the addition of new sources of pollu- tion and by the deletion of those previous sources that have either been eliminated by connection to a municipal or regional treatment facility or whose discharges were from private dwellings which constituted an insignificant contribution to the pollution of the waters. Table 2 has similarly been modified since the last session and con- tains the industrial wastes discharged to the Blackstone in both Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island. There are a number of jurisdictions listed for which the schedule shown indicates corrective measures should have been completed. However, data confirming the completion of the correc- tive measures have not been received. Table 3 lists industrial waste discharges to the portion of the Ten Mile River Basin included in this conference. Examination of the tables shows that for the majority of the sources of pollution the time schedules contained in the Water Quality Standards submitted by the States are later than the dates recommended in the April 7, 1965, letter to the States from the Secretary of Health, Educa- tion, and Welfare. It appears that most polluters will not meet the ------- -7- compliance schedule that resulted from the first session of the enforce- ment conference. In general, the dates proposed in the Water Quality Standards are six to twenty-four months later. It should be noted that there is one industry located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, that is discharging its wastes to the Massachusetts por- tion of the Ten Mile River. It has been indicated by the Rhode Island Division of Water Pollution Control that this discharge is beyond their authority due to the out-of-State discharge. This discharge was not contained in the Massachusetts Water Quality Standards, nor was the plant listed as a source of pollution in the Rhode Island Water Quality Standards. V. WATER USES The Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers are used principally for indus- trial water supply, recreation, power production, and waste disposal. Industrial Water Supply The Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers provide process water to industry and are used for cooling, water power, and fire protection. Fishing The Blackstone River once supported a notable run of American Shad that was destroyed by the construction of dams. Presently, all fishery pursuits are severely limited by pollution. The main stem is practically uninhabitable for fish. A few fish, mostly carp and suckers, are taken from the river. When pollution is abated, the Blackstone River will be repopulated naturally by warm-water species of fish. Because of pollu- tion there are no known plans to develop a fishery. Trout, which are ------- -8- stocked in Lake Quinsigamond during the spring of each year, provide sport fishing for about 30 days after the fish are released. Fisherville Pond near FisherviLle, Massachusetts, is also reported to provide fishing. The Ten Mile River is stocked with about 800 brook trout at Plain- vllle, Massachusetts, during the spring of each year. Below this point the river is considered too polluted to be stocked. The condition of the water is such that, in all probability, a game fish population could not be supported. When pollution is abated, there is a distinct probability that varm-vater species will repopulate naturally without restocking. In both the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers, a suitable warm-water fish population would develop if gross pollution did not exist. Seining of golden shiners for bait fish is carried out on the Black- stone River from Woonsocket to Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Other Recreational Pursuits Some canoeing activity is reported for the Blackstone River. However, physical difficulties are present that require many portages. Lake Quinsigamond and other nearby ponds are used for boating, swim- ming, water skiing, and other water contact sports. Where there is suit- able water, some of the people who live near the stream and some who visit the river to enjoy being near water will swim on an unorganized basis. Hydropower The Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers have been used for power purposes since shortly after settlement began. Thirteen hydroelectric plants on the Blackstone River use 200 feet of the total fall of ^39 feet and have a total installed capacity of 6,500 kilowatts. ------- -9- VI. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended: 1. That the dates proposed by the respective States in their Water Quality Standards Implementation Plans be adopted as the compliance dates for the enforcement conference. 2. That for those industries or municipalities not listed in the Water Quality Standards a series of dates be established by the conferees which will be commensurate with those for surrounding municipalities and industries. 3. That for the industry located in Rhode Island and discharging in Massachusetts, the conferees establish a schedule for this industry to tie to the Pawtucket sewerage system at the earliest possible date but no later than January 1, 1969, and that the conferee from Rhode Island specify the pretreatment, if any, required prior to the tie-in. ------- TABLE 1 STATUS OF MATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT PROGRAM BLACKSTONE AND TEN MILE RIVERS MUNICIPAL WASTES PRESENT STATE RECOMMENDATION IN WATER QUALITY STANDARDS TIME SCHEDULE IN WATER QUALITY STANDARDS WATER WATER COMPLETE APPROPRI- ACQUISI- COMPLETE TREAT- CLASSIFI- TREAT- CLASSIFI- PRELIMINARY ATION OF TION OF FINAL MENT CATION KENT CATION REPORT FUNDS SITE PLANS CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED DATES* START COMPLETE PRELIMIN- PLANT CON STRUG- CONSTRUC- ART, OPERA- TION TION REPORT TION REMARKS Maaaachuaetta Blackstone & Ten Mile Rivera Worcester Project #1 Project HZ Auburn MUlbury Graf ton Project #1 Project #2 Northbridge Douglas Oxbridge Mlllville Blackstone Plalnville N.Attleboro Attleboro Secondary — None None Bone — Inadequate Secondary None None None None Inadeq.Indlv. Subsurface Secondary Secondary U U U U D D D D D D D C C C Secondary _ Secondary Secondary Secondary Interceptor Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary D D C D B B G B C C C B B C Complete — Conplete Complete Complete _ 4/68 4/68 - Complete 3/68 - - 9/68 _ 9/67 3/67 10/67 _ 6/68 6/68 - 11/67 5/68 - - Own _ Own Own 11/67 _ 7/68 7/68 - 3/68 7/68 - - 3/70 3/72 10/68 Conplete 2/69 2/70 4/69 4/69 - 7/69 9/65 - - 6/70 5/72 3/69 4/68 4/69 4/70 7/69 7/69 - 9/69 3/69 - - 6/72 5/73 3/70 4/69 1/71 4/72 7/70 7/70 - 9/70 3/70 - - 7/66 _ _ Complete Complete _ Complete 2/66 _ 2/66 3/66 6/65 - 1/69 _ - 1/69 V69 _ V69 1/69 1/69 1/69 1/69 V69 1/69 Expansion of Plant Additional Interceptors To Tie to Worcester Sewage Treataant Bant On Quinalganond River Required Plant Improve. On Mumford River Adequate individual Subsurface Disposal Required To Tie to N.Attleboro Sewage Treatment Bant Present Treatment Con- sidered Adequate Present Treatment Con- sidered Adequate •Recommendations made In the Secretary's letter of April 7, 1965- ------- TABLE 1 (continued) PRESENT MUNICIPAL HASTES Rhode Island Blackstone River Uoonsocket Cunberland Hanvllle (Lincoln) Albion (Lincoln) Lonsdalo (Cumberland) TREAT- MENT PrlVSec Private WATER CLASSIFIC- ATION E Discharges E None E None None E C STATE RECOMMENDATION IN VATER QUALITT STANDARDS WATER TREATi CLASSIFI- MENT CATION Rehabilitate to Secondary C Secondary C Secondary C Secondary C Secondary C COMPLETE PRELIMINARY REPORT 6/68 1/68 1/68 — TIME SCHEDULE IN WATER QUALITT STANDARDS CONPERENCE^RECOMMENDED APPROPRI- ATION 07 FUNDS 5/69 6/68 6/69 _ ACQUISI- COMPLETE TION OF FINAL SITE PLANS 7/70 6/67 5/69 4/70 8/67 START CONSTRUC- TION 12/70 11/67 9/69 11/70 1/68 COMPLETE PRELIMIN- CONSTRUC- ART TION 7/72 5/69 9/70 11/71 7/69 REPORT 3/66 Complete Complete Complete - PLANT OPERA- TION 1/69 V69 V69 V69 - REMARKS Rehabilitate to Secondary Tie To Blackstone Valley Sewer District Tie To Blackstone Valley Sewer District Tie to Blackstone i*_ i n — e__ __ nj «A ~l ^A •Recommendations made in Secretary1s letter of April 7, 1965- ------- TABLE 2 STATUS OP WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT PROGRAM BIACKSTONE RIVER PRESENT INDUSTRIAL WASTES STATE RECOMMENDATION IN TDffi SCHEDULE IN WATER QUALITY SfANDARDS CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED WATER QUALITY STANDARDS nATES WATER WATER COMPLETE COMPLETE START COMPLETE PRELIMIH- PLANT TYPE TREAT- CLASSIFI- TREAT- CLASSIFI- PRELIMINARY FINAL CONSTRUC- CONSTRUC- ARY OPERA- INDUSTRY WASTE MENT CATION MENT CATION REPORT PLANS TION TION REPORT TION REMARKS Massachusetts Mlllbury B " Sutton Grafton Northbridge n Douglas Uxbridge n Falters Co. Textile A«DJttndle Wool Company Scouring W.W.Windle " N.E. High Carbon Wire Metal Snider Bros. Matt J.jio'DonneU Textile Woolen Inc. Kupfer Bros. Paper Coating Printing Hayvard Wool dyeing Woolen Co. Finishing Hayvard- Wool Dyeing Schuster Finishing Woolen iMills Stanley Wool Dyeing Woolen iCo. Finishing Emile Bernat Wool Dyeing & Sons Co. Finishing None None None Nona None None None None None None D U U U D D D D D D Pre-Treat Secondary Secondary Pre-treat Secondary Pre-treat Pumping to Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary D D D D D B C B C B Complete 3/68 3/68 3/68 6/68 4/68 - 4/68 4/68 4/68 1/68 9/68 9/68 9/68 2/69 2/69 2/68 4/69 4/69 4/69 4/68 10/68 10/68 10/69 4/69 4/69 3/68 7/69 7/69 7/69 4/69 10/69 10/69 10/69 10/69 4/70 4/68 7/70 7/70 7/70 1/66 1/66 1/66 _ 10/65 1/66 1/66 4/66 2/66 2/66 1/69 1/69 1/69 _ 1/69 1/69 1/69 1/69 1/69 1/69 1/69 Pre-treat, Tie to Municipal Tie to Municipal, Now Discharge to Wool Shop Pond Tie to Municipal Pre-treat, tie to Municipal On QulnsigaBond, Pre-treat, Tie to Municipal To Municipal Discharge to Mumford River Tie to Municipal On Mumford River, Tie to Municipal • Recommendations made in the Secretary's letter of April 7, 1965. ------- TABLE 2 (continued) INDUSTRIAL WASTES Massachusetts Oxbridge MillviUe Blackatone . Rhode Island N.Smithfield Forestdale (N.Smithfield) Branch (N.Smithfield) Woonsocket Manvllle (Lincoln) Central Falls INDUSTRY Waueantuck Mills Blackstone Wool Co. Blackstone Potato Chip Company W&S Laundry Industrial Park Stamina Mills Branch River Wool Ten Textile Wool Finishing Plant Glass Mfg. PRESENT STATE RECOMMENDATION IN TTW WATER QUALITY STANDARDS lua> SCHEDULE IN •« QUALITY STANDARDS CONFEREHCE^REOOMMENDED WATER WATER COMPLETE COMPLETE START COMPLETE PHELDtlN- PLANT TYPE TREAT- CIASSIFI- TREAT- CIASSIFI- PRELIMIN- FINAL CONSTRUC- CONSTRUC- ARY OPERA- WASTE MENT CATION MEIIT CATION ARY REPORT PLANS TION TION REPORT TION REMARKS Wool Dyeing Finishing Scouring Potato Process Laundry Wastes Mind Wool Finishing Wool Finishing Textile Wool Finishing Silicates None None None None Secondary None Lagoons None Lagoon Coagul. & Neut. D D D D D D D E E C Secondary Equiv. To Secondary Pro-treat Secondary • Secondary Lagoons Improve Lagoons Secondary Secondary Coagul. fr Neut. C 4/69 C 6/68 C C C C 7/67 C 10/67 C C C 4/69 6/69 7/69 7/69 - 3/68 3/68 - - _ 7/69 9/69 9/69 9/69 - 6/68 6/68 - - - 7/70 9/70 9/70 9/70 - 12/69 12/69 1/68 9/70 - 2/66 9/65 2/66 2/66 - 3/66 3/66 3/66 3/66 - 1/69 V69 1/69 1/69 - 1/69 1/69 1/69 1/69 - Discharge to West ^Iver, Tie to Municipal Pro-treat, Tie to Municipal Tie to Municipal Discharges to Branch River, No Change Discharges to Branch River, Lagoons to Remove 85% BOD Prev. Discharge to Branch R. Claim no Further Discharge Due to Evap. from Lagoons. Tie to Municipal Tie to Municipal No Change * Recommendations made in Secretary's letter of April 7, 1965. ------- TABLE 3 STATUS OF WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT PROGRAM TEN MILE RIVER INDUSTRIAL WASTES TYPE INDUSTRY WASTE PRESENT STATE RECOMMENDATION IN _„_, gcugnno M y.,™ on.L1TT STAHDAHDS COBKXWC& RECOMMENDED WATER QUALITY STANDARDS TIME XfaaSl£ M W™1 ^ALITY STANDARDS ^^ . WATER WATER COMPLETE COMPLETE START COMPLETE PRELDON- PLANT TREAT- CUSSIFI- TREAT- CUSSIFI- PRELDON- FINAL CONSTRUC- CONSTRUC- ART OPERA- KENT CATION MENT CATION ARY REPORT PUNS TION TION REPORT TION REMARKS Massachusetts Plainville B " H.Attleboro • n B B B II n B B B Whiting ft Plating Davis Plainville Plating Stock Co. A&J Tool ft * rinding Co. L.G.Balfour Inorganic Corp. C.Ray Randall " Mfg. Co. Oscar A. " HlUnan ft Sons Cheever, Tweedy • ft Co. V.N.Blacklngton " STD.Metals,Inc. " R.BlacUngton * ft Co. L.S.Peterson Co." Plante Fontaine * ft Sons General Chain " Co. Quaker Silver " C.K. Grouse " None None None None B B n B B B B B B B B C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C Pre-treat B 3/68 • B " • B " n B • B B " n B " » B • B B B B 3/68 • B • B B " • B n • B " B B " B B B 9/68 12/68 B B B B B B B B B B B B B B 9/68 12/68 B B '. B B B B B H B B B B 6/69 1/66 1/69 Pro-treat, tie to Municipal B B B • • B n B it • B B • • B B B B • B B fl B • B B B B B B B B 6/69 1/66 1/69 " B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B n B B B B II B •Recommendations Bade in Secretary's letter of April 7, 1965. ------- TABLE 3 (Continued) PRESENT INDUSTRIAL WASTES TYPE INDUSTRY WASTE TREAT- MENT STATE RECOMMENDATIONS IN scHEunLE M WATER O WATER QUALITY STANDARDS TDffi SCHEDDLE ™ ATEH <* UAUTY STANDARDS CXWFERENCE^MMENDED rfATER WATER COMPLETE COMPLETE START COMPLETE PRELIMIN- PLANT CLASSIFI- TREAT- CLASSIFI- PRELIMIN- FINAL CONSTRUC- CONSTRUC- ARY OPERA- CATION MENT CATION ARY REPORT PLANS TION TION REPORT TION REMARKS Massachusetts Attleboro n • H II n n n n n n Attleboro n n Dodgeville Textile Finishing Co. Thompson Chemical Chemical Co. Shields, Inc. Inorganic Sweat Mff.Co. " Marathon Co. • Robbins Co. Chas. Thomas A Sons Antaya Bros. Bates & KLlnke 8. Ed. Cameron & Son Attleboro " Elnetro-Plate Leavens Mfg. Co. " APCO Mussberg " Co. Metal & Controls " Corporation Walton & Lonabuiy Moasberg Pressed Steel Mt.Vernon Silver R.F. Simmon Co. Ripley StGowan None " • • n n H ii n n n n it n n n n n n D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Pro-treat n H II » n H a " n n n n n n n n n n C c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c 3/68 Complete n n 3/68 » « • n it n ii n Complete 3/68 n 3/68 n n 9/68 12/68 n • " " " • it n n it n n n n n n n n n n n n n 9/68 12/68 n n n n 6/69 1/66 • • H II n n it • II n n it n it n n n n n it n n n n n 6/69 1/66 n n it n 1/69 Pre-treat,Tie to Municipal " " " a -•- it • " " • • • Ha • ii • n H • • n n it • n n n n it n it n it n n it n • n n n it n n 1/69 Pre-treat,Tle to Municipal n n n n n n •Recommendations made In Secretary's letter of April 7, 1965. ------- TABLE 3 (continued) ™" Sim S5?SSi? ™ SCHEDULE IN WATER QUALITY STANDARDS INDUSTRIAL HASTES INDUSTRY TIPE TREAT- CLASS1PI- TREAT- WASTE HENT CATION KENT CLASSIPI- PRELDON- CATION ARY REPORT FINAL CONSTRUC- CONSTRuL AM1*11011" OPERA- PLANS TION VOt Sou TOT Ma«aaehuaett« Attleboro Swank, Inc. • • Attleboro Textile Lagoona 4 Pin. None SMtenk Rhode laland Pavtuetet Pawtucket Textile Bleaching Co. D D To be Datendned Seconda^ 3/68 9/68 M/68 6/69 V66 V69 Pr*-t«»t.Ti. to HunicipU 3/66 V69 PUnt In Rhode leland Discharge In KaBBachu.ett» •Recoonendatlons made In Sacretaiy's letter of April 7, 1965. ------- |