Sewage Discharged Tuesday Into Pawtuxet River: DEM

WEST WARWICK — Partially treated sewage was accidentally discharged into the Pawtuxet River on Tuesday morning, the state Department of Environmental Management said. According to a press release, DEM said the West Warwick wastewater treatment plant experienced a power failure this morning around 12:30 a.m. The power failure interrupted the last step of the treatment process, which is the disinfection. As a result, about 180,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater was released, DEM said.

The DEM has issued an advisory to stay away from "contact recreation" in the Pawtuxet. People should wash their hands before eating and drinking, if they had contact with the river downstream of the plant.