Water Pollution Control Division

WPC operates and maintains approximately 100 miles of gravity and force main sewer collection pipe delivering domestic, commercial, and industrial waste to a Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) on JT Connell Highway. In addition to the sewer collection pipes, WPC also owns and operates 15 sanitary pump stations to assist in conveying flows to the WPCP for treatment and over 1,800 sanitary sewer manholes. WPC also receives wastewater flow from the Town of Middletown, Naval Station Newport, and privately owned and operated sanitary collection systems primarily located in the Newport Neck area. The facility treats an average of 8.4 million gallons of wastewater daily, serving over 40,000 customers.

The City's sanitary sewer system dates back to the 1870s and was originally designed to convey both sewer and storm drainage, as was standard in older northeast cities. During dry weather, sanitary sewer flows are conveyed to the Newport WPCP. All dry weather flows receive secondary treatment and disinfection at the WPCP prior to discharge into Newport Harbor. During wet weather, despite the sewer separation projects that have been completed, large quantities of stormwater enter the Newport combined sewer system and can overload the system. Relief points in the system divert the excess flow and allow it to discharge to Newport Harbor. These discharges are called Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). ​WPC currently has 2 permitted CSO outfalls, each served by one of the 2 CSO treatment facilities providing treatment and disinfection before flow is discharged to the harbor. Please visit the CSO Control Program page to learn more about what the City is doing to reduce CSOs. 

Stormwater System:

In addition to the operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system, WPC is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the stormwater system. Large portions of the stormwater system were installed in the 1970s to support the City's sewer/storm separation program. WPC's storm drainage system includes 50 miles of storm drains, over 1,200 storm drain manholes, over 2,500 catch basins, tide gates, swales, and 161 outfalls. Swales direct stormwater runoff to catch basins where flow is collected and directed through our system of drainage pipes before being discharged at one of the systems outfalls. Tide gates provide flood control, protecting property and infrastructure from flooding casued by extreme tides and storm surges. At Easton's Pond Dam and Moat, the Department operates an ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection system to reduce bacteria loading from the moat prior to the outfall at Easton's Beach.

Catch basins and storm drains lead directly to local waters, with the exception of the Easton's Beach outfall; there are NO filters and NO treatment. Pollutants that enter storm drains wind up in our drinking water supply reservoirs, beaches, and/or Newport Harbor. WPC kindly asks the community to do their part in reducing pollutants in the City by properly disposing of waste. WPC has a Solution to Pollution brochure to explain the importance of stormwater management and how individual homeowners can help. 

Review our Annual Reports for more information about our stormwater management practices, public education initiatives, and pollution prevention measures implemented within the system.