The Water Pollution Control Department is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the town sewer systems, plant, and the compost facility.
Compost
Learn more about Bristol’s Compost Facility, yard waste collection, and pick up instruction.
Yard Waste Collection
Learn more about acceptable items, acceptable containers, unacceptable items, and unacceptable containers.
Industrial Pretreatment Program
Learn more about Bristol’s non-sanitary water discharge requirements for commercial/industrial businesses.
Septic Systems Records & Resources
Over 35% of homes and businesses in Rhode Island are served by on-site wastewater treatment (septic) systems. To help enhance customer service and streamline processes, RIDEM offers several tools and resources for septic system permitting information.
FAQs and Helpful Resources
Inadmissible Discharges
Inadmissible discharges to the sewer system, as stated in the Sewer Use Ordinance, include (but not limited to):
- Cooking Grease, Fats, Oils
- Ground Water
- Roof Drains
- Storm Water
- Sump Pump Discharges
- Yard Drainage
Any discharges of the first 5 items listed above will surcharge the sewer system, causing drains from your residence to become sluggish.
Discharges of cooking grease, fats and oils will create a blockage within the sewer lines and cause sewage to back up into homes, making for an unsanitary situation. Dispose of cooking grease, fats, and oils with your trash for weekly pick-up by the Town.
If you have any questions, please call the Water Pollution Control Department and 401-253-8877.
Cesspool Cleaning Reimbursement
In accordance with Section 22-109 of the Town Code, every owner and resident of the Town is entitled to partial reimbursement for biannual pumpings or cleanings of residential private sewer disposal systems.
Please provide a copy of your bill/invoice with the completed form below.
Public Notices
Sump Pump
The Town of Bristol regularly experiences sewage overflows during wet weather. The sewage overflows have negative impacts on Bristol Harbor and the Kickemuit River.
Sump pumps connected to the Town’s sewer system are a major cause of these overflows. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has ordered the Town of Bristol to institute a program to remove sump pump discharges from entering the sewer system. It is illegal to have a sump pump connected to the sewer system.
Water Pollution Penalty Schedule
Penalties may be calculated according to the following penalty matrix for violation of permits and Orders issued pursuant thereto. Penalties are assessed for each day of noncompliance.
Contact Us
Water Pollution Address: 2 Plant Avenue, Bristol, RI 02809
Hours of Operation: By Appointment
Phone: (401)-253-8877
Jose Dasilva
Water Pollution Control Superindendent