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Bryant University

Staff and Faculty Journal Articles

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The Battle Over Wastewater Between Woonsocket And North Smithfield, Melissa Prosky Jun 2020

The Battle Over Wastewater Between Woonsocket And North Smithfield, Melissa Prosky

Staff and Faculty Journal Articles

From 2012-2017, the communities of Woonsocket and North Smithfield engaged in a protracted dispute concerning wastewater disposal. For thirty years, the two jurisdictions had maintained a signed service agreement. Following its expiration, however, Woonsocket imposed a new host fee on North Smithfield. Woonsocket needed to upgrade the facility in order to comply with mandates from the RI Department of Environmental Management. Over the next five years, leaders from both jurisdictions vociferously fought over the new fee. At the same time, leaders within communities experienced their own divisions. This case study highlights the challenges that decision makers faced in both communities. …