Home / Water Pollution Control / WPC Capital Improvement Projects / Bellevue Avenue and Rejects Beach Drainage Improvements
WPC Capital Improvement Project
Bellevue Avenue and Rejects Beach Drainage Improvements
Final Design & Permitting
Project Type
Catch Basin Disconnection and Green Infrastructure
Current Phase
Final Design & Permitting
Approved Budget
$800,000
Funding
$400,000 RIDEM grant and $400,000 WPC match
Project Overview
The project will disconnect four City catch basins from the combined sewer system along Bellevue Avenue and Ledge Road. Runoff will be redirected through a new separated storm drain to two underground infiltration facilities and a bioretention cell. Flow above the facilities’ storage capacity will use the existing stormwater outfall at Rejects Beach.
The work reduces wet weather inflow to the combined sewer, treats and infiltrates runoff near its source, and adds erosion protection at the existing outfall.
The core purpose is to keep stormwater out of the combined sewer. This reduces wet weather loading on the collection and CSO treatment systems while providing treatment for runoff that reaches Rejects Beach.
Scope of Work
The scope is based on the July 10, 2026 draft 90 percent design documents and remains subject to permit conditions, final design, and bidding:
- Disconnect four catch basins from the combined sewer system
- Install separated storm drain piping, catch basins, and manholes
- Construct two underground infiltration facilities
- Construct a bioretention cell with runoff pretreatment
- Install outfall energy dissipation and erosion protection
- Restore pavement, bluestone sidewalk, landscaping, and disturbed areas
- Complete preconstruction and postconstruction water quality monitoring
Add Alternate 1
Add Alternate 1 covers optional surface and landscape improvements near the Bellevue Avenue entrance. It is separate from the core drainage work and may be included or omitted based on final design, permitting, bid pricing, and available funding.
Schedule and Current Status
- March 1, 2025: State Purchase Order for the RIDEM grant became effective
- April 1, 2026: Coordination meeting held with RIDEM, RIDOH, Save The Bay, and Jacobs
- July 10, 2026: Draft 90 percent design plans issued
- July 14, 2026: CRMC assent application package dated
- Current: Final design and permitting
- Construction: Start date will be set after permits and competitive procurement
- September 30, 2027: Grant performance period deadline for completion of project work
No construction start date is committed at this time. The schedule will be updated after permit decisions, final bid documents, and contractor award.
Funding
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management awarded the City a $400,000 Narragansett Bay and Watershed Restoration Fund grant, BWRF-2024-7. The grant requires a $400,000 City match from the Water Pollution Control enterprise fund, establishing an $800,000 approved project budget.
City Council approved the grant agreement on May 14, 2025. State Purchase Order SC-1000005033 is effective March 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027. Final construction cost will be established through competitive bidding. If bids exceed the approved budget, the City must revise the scope, identify additional funding, or obtain required approvals before award.
Monitoring
RIDOH and Save The Bay beach monitoring data will serve as the primary preconstruction baseline, supplemented by targeted outfall samples when active flow can be captured. Postconstruction monitoring is planned after the improvements are complete. The final grant report will summarize monitoring results, treated stormwater volume, and estimated pollutant reductions. Ongoing receiving water monitoring is reported on the Water Quality Monitoring page.
What This Means for the Public
No planned interruption to water or sewer service is anticipated. Construction will require temporary traffic, parking, sidewalk, and access controls on Bellevue Avenue and Ledge Road and near the Rejects Beach and Cliff Walk entrance. The City will publish specific impacts and contractor schedules before work begins.
The project is expected to reduce wet weather inflow to the combined sewer and improve treatment of stormwater reaching Rejects Beach. It will not eliminate all beach water quality risks because bacteria can result from multiple wet weather and dry weather sources.
Project Partners
- Design consultant and Engineer of Record: Jacobs
- Grant and funding agency: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Narragansett Bay and Watershed Restoration Fund
- Water quality coordination: Rhode Island Department of Health and Save The Bay
- Community coordination: Spouting Rock Beach Association and Almy Pond Watershed Protectors
- Owner and project manager: City of Newport Department of Utilities, Water Pollution Control Division
Last updated July 29, 2026. This page summarizes a capital project and will be revised as permitting, bidding, and construction milestones are reached. For questions, please contact the Newport Department of Utilities at 401-845-5600.
