Do not be surprised to see Bison at three of Barrington's sewer pumping stations in the near future.

Well, not actual bison. 

The town has decided to install a new sewage treatment system called Bison at three of its pumping stations in an effort to reduce sulfides in the sewage. Fewer sulfides in the sewage, said officials, will help to eliminate an odor problem that has surfaced at a Riverside wastewater treatment facility.

For the last few months, officials in East Providence have been blaming Barrington for the bad smell surrounding the Riverside facility. East Providence's acting city manager Tim Chapman said at a council meeting "the smell is coming from Barrington.”

Town could have faced a $25,000 per day fine.

Officials from both towns met with local legislators and representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to hatch out a solution, and according to Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha, the Bison 220 system could be that solution.

Mr. Cunha said other communities, including Warwick, have used the Bison and found promising results. He said the Bison has been shown to reduce sulfides in the wastewater, which can sometimes lead to erosion of sewer pipes.

There will be a $1,000 up-front cost to installing the Bison at the Brickyard Pond, Walnut Road and Bay Springs pumping stations, the manager added.

"It will be a 60-day trial period," Mr. Cunha said. 

If the system works, said the manager, the town will enter into a contract with Bison at a cost of $10,000 per month. Bison is also conducting an analysis of the current sewer system and water treatment plant, said Mr. Cunha. East Providence officials have said that the company contracted to run the wastewater treatment facility already conducted an analysis that specified Barrington as the source of the problems. Barrington officials have countered, stating that the analysis needs to conducted by an independent third-party.

"I truly believe that Barrington is part of the problem," said Mr. Cunha. "But I am not convinced that we are the only part of the problem… I think East Providence has a problem too."

While many East Providence officials point toward Barrington as the source of the smell, officials in this town have argued that they have been treating Barrington sewage for a long time. 

Mr. Cunha said installation of the Bison system will occur within the next few weeks. 

Barrington residents paid $2 million in sewer fees to East Providence in 2015. That figure fell to $1.84 million in 2016.