The city's new seaweed harvester is one reason that Easton's Beach has remained open this year
NEWPORT, R.I. – The city’s commitment to pursuing a UV filtration system has been a major factor in the state’s decision not to recommend closures at Easton’s Beach this season, despite heavy rains, according to City Manager Edward F. Lavallee.
“One of the reasons the beaches haven’t been closed is because the Department of Health is extremely impressed by the city’s commitment it has shown to taking measures to address the problem,” Lavallee told councilors on Wednesday. Measures like the delivery of the city’s one-of-a-kind seaweed harvester, for example.
In fact, according to Lavallee, during the recent spat of rain, there have been isolated instances in portions of the beach where bacteria levels have tested above the state limit but the beach was kept open.
“(Beach Manager) Ray Fullerton got DOH to change their protocol,” he said. In past years, he said as a policy, the state would issue a no-swim order during any event that produced more than 1 inch of rain at the beach.
However, even with almost daily rain, “It’s the UV commitment that’s kept the beaches open,” said Lavallee.
But while the state has yet to close Easton’s Beach, it has closed neighboring Atlantic Beach in Middletown twice this year – once on June 16th and most recently on July 8th. Further, citing the possibility of high bacteria counts, the Department of Health discourages swimming, surfing and other full body contact activities at Easton’s Beach for a minimum of 24-hours after heavy rainfall.
Should the city follow through on its desire to construct a UV filtration system, it is expected to cut down on bacterial contamination flowing onto the beach by up to 99 percent.
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Newport, RI
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Follow thru? This is virtually a done deal! The really amazing part, is that the designers and engineers of this yet to be tried effort, cannot guarantee that the waters will be safe.
Middletown will continue to contaminate Easton Bay with their runnoff,which makes Newports’ efforts a waste of time.
Unless city officials meet and coordinate this prodject with middletown it is like sticking your head in the sand.(oh yes, more than likley it’s polluted sand!)
Ask your representatives to show you the guarantees for this. Ask them if this has EVER been done before,ANYWHERE! You may be surprised with the answers!
Sounds like Metcaff & Eddy is expanding…..another first for Newport, the first place to try this system with our money not theirs…..this has to stop
Please attend the public hearing on the UV plant next Thursday, November 19, at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers. This may be the last opportunity to influence the decision to spend 4-5 million dollars on a system unproven on a salt water barrier beach. Take the time this evening to look at the site which is almost flooded by the extremely high tides pouring salt water into the moat from Easton’s Bay. The UV plant alone, even if it works perfectly, will not stop the pollution of the beaches. Storage of rainwater runoff is the preferred method–one that is operating successfully in Providence and Fall River. Why is Newport experimenting with our tax dollars?
storing water like Providence is the way to go