New Shoreham WWTF - Block Island, Rhode Island Wastewater Treatment Plant

New Shoreham WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in New Shoreham (Block Island), Rhode Island, United States. The plant serves a small population of 750 residents and operates with secondary treatment, a standard level for coastal communities under the US Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,135.62 thousand cubic meters and an annual discharge volume of 416.40 thousand cubic meters. As a coastal facility within 10 km of the Atlantic Ocean, it is subject to stringent National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that regulate effluent quality to protect marine ecosystems. The treated effluent is discharged into the waters surrounding Block Island, which ultimately drain into the Atlantic Ocean. The local watershed supports diverse marine life and is an important ecological area for fisheries and migratory species. Proper treatment is critical to prevent nutrient loading and protect water quality in this sensitive coastal environment.

The plant discharges into the coastal waters of Block Island, part of the Atlantic Ocean basin. This area supports diverse marine habitats, including eelgrass beds and shellfish populations, and serves as a migratory corridor for fish and birds. Nutrient and pathogen control from the plant is essential to maintain water quality and ecosystem health in this island environment.