Last week, officials from Barrington and East Providence met and discussed the ongoing odor issue plaguing a water treatment plant in Riverside.

The officials discussed the possible sources of the problem. They discussed potential ways to fix the problem. And they discussed costs associated with the work. 

Barrington blamed for Riverside smell.

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha said the meeting was a positive step, but it failed to address one of his key requests. Mr. Cunha said that he would like to have an independent contractor conduct an analysis of the sewage system to ensure that the appropriate repairs are completed. 

"I'm seeking permission from East Providence," he said, "but they are reluctant to grant permission."

Mr. Cunha said East Providence officials have already had their plant contractor, Suez, conduct an analysis which reportedly found that the strong odors emanating from the Riverside water treatment plant are being caused by Barrington's pipeline. 

The Barrington town manager said he would like to see a third party contractor without ties to either community complete an analysis.

"Barrington is a good neighbor and we will fix our problem," said Mr. Cunha. "But if part of the problem is with East Providence, they should fix it.

"I think we owe it to the taxpayers of Barrington to have an independent study done."

Mr. Cunha said negotiations are currently taking place with both towns' solicitors. He is hopeful East Providence will agree to the request. 

In the meantime, Mr. Cunha is also taking a closer look at long-term solutions to Barrington's end of the problem. He said the town could replace the sewer pipe that carries the town's wastewater to the treatment plant. He said the pipe's 24-inch diameter allows material to spend too much time in transit, which creates a greater buildup of sulfites. A smaller pipe, he said, would work better.

"That would cost about $7 million," he said. 

The town could install a liner inside the existing pipe, but that would also be expensive. 

His top choice would be to bring in a new chemical injection system. The system is used by Warwick and has been found to work well. It will likely cost the town $120,000 annually. That cost would add to the town's existing fee to send its wastewater to the East Providence plant. In 2015, Barrington paid East Providence $2 million for the service. That figure dropped to $1.84 million last year.

Mr. Cunha said something must be done, however. The town manager said Barrington was subject to a significant penalty if it does not reach a resolution on the matter — a $25,000 daily fine imposed by the state's Department of Environmental Management.

Mr. Cunha added that the town has been treating the wastewater for about eight years and will continue to take steps to remedy the issue. 

"It's prudent to make sure the solution we're seeking is efficient and effective," he said.