How Green are We?

(page 6 of 11)

Water

First the good news: The National Rural Water Association ranked our Department of Health number two nationwide for providing safe drinking water.

Now the bad: We’re a water-rich state, but experts warn our high usage may not be sustainable, a problem heightened by our increasing reliance on one source, the Scituate Reservoir. What’s the biggest residential guzzler? Lawn watering.

And now the worst: Narragansett Bay’s health continues to decline. 2.2 billion gallons of untreated sewage are released into the bay annually. The sewage increases nitrogen levels, harming fish and important microorganisms, and closing beaches and shellfishing beds. The future does look less murky. In 2006, a 16,000-foot-long tunnel was completed, part of a large project that will divert waste from overflowing sewers.

The State of the Bay

Seven years ago, Save The Bay rated Narragansett Bay, giving it a 4.5 out of 10, 10 being the healthiest bay imaginable, 1 being the most polluted. In 2006, it scored even lower at 4.3. These two reports used ten indicators to evaluate the bay. Here are some of the highs and lows. The bottom line: our state’s most defining landmark still needs saving.

HIGHS
Toxic Substances 2000: 6 2006: 7
Toxics, ranging from heavy metals (like mercury and lead) and chemicals (like pesticides and PCBs) discharged from wastewater plants and other industries have been reduced from high levels in the 1940s
and ’50s by more than 90 percent.

Salt Marshes/Coastal Wetlands
2000: 4 2006: 5
These serve as nursery and spawning grounds for sixty-three species of fish, as well as stabilizing the shoreline and helping to filter pollution runoff. More than 70 percent of the historic acreage has been lost,
but several restoration projects have been completed since 2000.

LOWS
Bottom Fish 2000: 2 2006: 2
Stocks of fish like winter flounder and cod are still very low compared to historic levels. Overfishing, increased water temps, nutrient pollution (sewage) and loss of spawning habitat are all to blame.

Migratory Fish 2000: 6 2006: 2
Alewives and blueback herring declined 95 percent since 2000, due to increased water temps, nutrient pollution and overfishing. But striped bass and bluefish made a comeback thanks to improved local management.

Shellfish/Crustaceans 2000: 6 2006: 4
Shellfish stocks sharply declined between 2000 and 2006. Lobster landings decreased by 66 percent, most likely due to low juvenile populations in the ’90s, overfishing, shell disease and several oil spills.

See the complete“State of the Bay”report at www.savebay.org/advocacy_sotb06.asp

Testing theWaters

The Department of Health tests the drinking water supply for coliform, lead and copper, and various other contaminants including microorganisms, organic and inorganic chemicals and radioactive substances.