Rhode Island’s Water and WasteWater Challenge

In District 36, we talk about the ocean a lot and for good reason. It shapes our landscape, drives our economy, and draws visitors from all over. But what’s happening beneath our feet is just as important as what’s happening offshore.

Our water and wastewater systems are aging, strained, and in some places, near a breaking point. The quiet crisis below ground could soon become the biggest issue above it.

Each summer, Veolia, the company that supplies water to much of Narragansett and South Kingstown, imposes restrictions to conserve supply.

Residents brace for bans that limit outdoor watering, and businesses adapt as pressure dips. These aren’t just seasonal inconveniences. They’re warning signs that the system can’t keep up with modern demand.

When the water slows, so does everything else: public safety, local business, and coastal health.

The wastewater side tells a similar story. Near Scarborough Beach, the regional treatment plant is nearing capacity and strains to meet our needs. Even worse, odors being emitted from the plant make neighborhoods surrounding it difficult to live-in.

What was once more than sufficient now struggles to handle the seasonal surge of visitors, new development, and the natural growth of our community. The infrastructure that quietly supported us in the past is showing its age, and every delay makes the next fix more expensive.

Other communities have shown us what’s possible.

North Kingstown and Block Island, both facing their own seasonal water stress, have taken smarter steps: structured irrigation limits, conservation education, and investment in storage and efficiency. Instead of reacting to shortages, they plan ahead.

Instead of emergency bans, they have predictable conservation rules that make sense for everyone. It’s not magic. It’s management.

Turning the tide on infrastructure starts with treating water systems as the lifeblood they are, not just background utilities. That means modernizing outdated pipes, expanding treatment capacity, and using technology to track leaks before they become disasters.

It also means exploring regional collaboration, where towns can share data, funding, and even water sources during peak demand. In the Ocean State, working together just makes sense.

The financial hurdle is real. Infrastructure projects are expensive, but inaction costs more.

Federal infrastructure funds, state clean-water bonds, and local investment can combine to make meaningful upgrades without crushing ratepayers. What’s missing is leadership that views this not as maintenance, but as a foundation for growth.

If we want to build housing, attract employers, or sustain tourism, we need reliable water systems first.

We can also be smarter about conservation. Outdoor watering schedules, drought-tolerant landscaping, and simple incentives for efficient appliances can make a measurable difference.

Education and local ordinances that encourage conservation without punishing families are part of the solution.

The goal isn’t restriction — it’s reliability.

The good news is that Rhode Islanders understand stewardship better than most. We already protect our coastline and cherish our environment.

Extending that care to our infrastructure is a natural next step. Water defines our way of life; now it’s time to defend the systems that make it flow.

When water systems fail, public safety, local business, and coastal health are all at risk. But when they succeed, everyone benefits -- from homeowners and small businesses to beachgoers and fishermen.

The next generation deserves to inherit not just clean beaches, but strong pipes, smart planning, and a reliable supply of something we can’t live without.

This isn’t a story about shortages. It’s a story about opportunity.

We have the chance to turn the tide on infrastructure before the tide turns on us.