Narragansett Bay Commission
Narragansett Bay Commission is a Rhode Island quasi-government wastewater utility that collects and treats sewage for roughly 360,000 residents and 8,000 businesses across ten municipalities, operating the Field's Point and Bucklin Point treatment facilities and an extensive CSO abatement program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1901
- HeadquartersProvidence, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Narragansett Bay Commission does
Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is a Rhode Island quasi-government commission that provides wastewater collection and treatment services to approximately 360,000 residents and 8,000 businesses across ten municipalities including Providence, North Providence, Johnston, Central Falls, Lincoln, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Cranston, Smithfield, and East Providence. NBC is governed as a public utility, with the state commission charter conferring exclusive service-territory authority and rates subject to regulatory approval; revenue is generated through recurring monthly user charges billed via a Paymentus-integrated customer portal to an essentially captive customer base. The agency's $302M annual budget is overseen by Executive Director Laurie Horridge and CFO Kevin McDonald, who joined in 2025 with prior senior roles at the US Army Corps of Engineers Water Infrastructure Financing Program and the USEPA WIFIA program.
NBC's core product is wastewater treatment delivered through two Rhode Island facilities — Field's Point (Providence, operating since 1901, the state's largest and one of the oldest in the country, recognized by the EPA among the best-operated and maintained) and Bucklin Point (East Providence, the state's second largest). Service delivery is anchored by approximately 110 miles of owned sewer pipe ranging from 8 to 110 inches in diameter, eight remote pump stations, 64 active combined sewer overflow (CSO) pipes, and a 4.19-mile deep rock tunnel with tunnel pump station built under the multi-decade CSO Abatement Program (final phase underway as of 2026). NBC operates an on-site laboratory, a real-time CSO alarm map, a research vessel (R/V Data Stream), fixed-site monitoring buoys at Phillipsdale and Bullock Reach, and an industrial pretreatment program monitoring 1,500 permitted commercial users. Adjacent programs include the Watershed Explorers K-12 environmental education initiative (partnered with Save The Bay RI, Audubon societies, Mystic Aquarium, Roger Williams Park Zoo, and others), the Stormwater Mitigation and FOG Environmental Results Programs, a Shellfish Transplant Program, a Chairman's River Restoration grant program, a Renewable Energy program, and the 31-year Environmental Merit Awards compliance-recognition program.
Narragansett Bay Commission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Narragansett Bay Commission
- Legal name
- Narragansett Bay Commission
- Website
- https://narrabay.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1901
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Narragansett Bay Commission is a Rhode Island quasi-government wastewater utility that collects and treats sewage for roughly 360,000 residents and 8,000 businesses across ten municipalities, operating the Field's Point and Bucklin Point treatment facilities and an extensive CSO abatement program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Narragansett Bay Commission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wastewater Treatment Utility Services
- NAICS
- Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)
- SIC
- Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Decentralized/Package Wastewater Systems (Small/Remote) (EUANADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Treatment & Wet-Weather Capacity (EUANADAF), Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control & Compliance (Storage, Separation, Treatment) (EUANAEAG), Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA), Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)
Keywords
Where Narragansett Bay Commission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Providence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Narragansett Bay Commission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Wastewater Treatment Services: NBC generates revenue through rates charged to approximately 360,000 residential customers and 8,000 businesses for wastewater collection and treatment services. Revenue is collected via billed services based on property usage and applicable rates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard utility service rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Narragansett Bay Commission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Narragansett Bay Commission operates a unified wastewater treatment utility that collects and treats wastewater for approximately 360,000 residents and 8,000 businesses across ten Rhode Island communities through two major facilities (Field's Point and Bucklin Point), 110 miles of sewer pipe, 8 pump stations, and a 4.19-mile deep tunnel for CSO abatement. The agency also delivers industrial pretreatment permitting, real-time water quality monitoring, laboratory services, environmental education programs, and river restoration grants as integral components of its clean-water mission.
Product overview
The Narragansett Bay Commission is a public utility organization operating a unified wastewater treatment infrastructure. The core offering consists of wastewater treatment services delivered through two major facilities - Field's Point (Providence, RI) and Bucklin Point (East Providence, RI) - serving approximately 360,000 people and 8,000 businesses. Supporting the core treatment infrastructure are environmental monitoring programs (Snapshot of the Bay, Research Buoys, Fixed-Site Monitoring), CSO management systems, pretreatment permitting, laboratory services, and environmental education initiatives. The organization does not operate a software platform but provides physical infrastructure and environmental services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wastewater Treatment Services Core service collecting and treating wastewater from approximately 360,000 residents and 8,000 businesses across ten Rhode Island communities through Field's Point (Providence) and Bucklin Point (East Providence) facilities before returning clean effluent to Narragansett Bay.
- Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Abatement Program Multi-decade infrastructure program that reduces wet-weather sewage overflows into urban rivers and Narragansett Bay through real-time CSO alarm mapping, deep rock tunnel storage, and pump station operations.
- Industrial Pretreatment Program Permitting and compliance program for approximately 1,500 permitted industrial and commercial users that establishes discharge limitations, grease control requirements for food service establishments, dental program rules, and applications for regulated wastewater discharges into NBC's system.
- Environmental Monitoring (Snapshot of the Bay) Comprehensive water quality monitoring program providing real-time data and historical analysis for Narragansett Bay and tributary waters, including fixed-site monitoring buoys, nutrient monitoring, bacteria monitoring, phytoplankton monitoring, water clarity measurements, and modeling project outputs.
- Fixed-Site Monitoring Buoys Fixed-site research buoys at Phillipsdale and Bullock Reach in the Providence River providing real-time water quality measurements including dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, temperature, salinity, and pH, plus public fixed-site graphs and data export tools as part of the Rhode Island Fixed-Site Network.
- Laboratory Services On-site laboratory providing water quality testing and analysis in support of environmental monitoring programs, including nutrient sampling, bacteria analysis, and phytoplankton identification for internal operations and published water quality reports.
- CSO Alarm Map Real-time interactive map tracking combined sewer overflow events across 64 active CSO pipes in urban rivers, providing public access to current overflow status during rain events.
- Permitting Services Permitting services for wastewater discharge, industrial pretreatment, and other regulated activities within the NBC service district, including applications, forms, and discharge limitation documentation.
- Environmental Education Programs Educational initiatives including the Watershed Explorers Program (operating 23 years) for students, annual student poster contests, virtual and in-person tours of treatment facilities, RI Clean Water Week open houses, and career day outreach.
- Chairman’s River Restoration Program Restoration initiative supporting river cleanup and beautification projects, including the Earth Day River Restoration Grants program offering $250-$1000 grants to community organizations for clean-ups and restoration.
Quantifiable outcome
- Today the Bay is cleaner than it has been in 150 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Narragansett Bay Commission
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Narragansett Bay Commission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Narragansett Bay Commission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Save The Bay RIcoreNBC partners with Save The Bay RI for the Watershed Explorers program, participating in end-of-year celebrations and educational activities to promote environmental stewardship among students.
- Rhode Island Audubon SocietyminorPartner in Watershed Explorers program educational activities, contributing to environmental education outreach in local communities.
- Mass AudubonminorPartner in Watershed Explorers program educational activities.
- Mystic AquariumminorPartner in Watershed Explorers program educational activities.
- Norman Bird SanctuaryminorPartner in Watershed Explorers program educational activities.
- Watershed Restoration Coalition (WRWC RI)minorPartner in Watershed Explorers program educational activities.
- Roger Williams Park ZoominorPartner in Watershed Explorers program educational activities.
- 15 Minute Field TripsminorPartner in Watershed Explorers program educational activities.
- Bay CraneminorAssisted NBC with removal of a screw lift pump at Field's Point facility, successfully completing the operation.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Narragansett Bay Commission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): Municipal authority running New York City's water and wastewater system, including 14 wastewater treatment plants and active CSO programs — a much larger incumbent with overlapping wastewater, water-quality monitoring, and CSO compliance functions relevant to NBC.
Direct peers
- Philadelphia Water Department: Municipal water and wastewater utility operating the combined sewer system in Philadelphia with ongoing EPA consent-decree CSO long-term control plans — comparable to NBC in combining aging infrastructure, combined sewers, and large capex programs.
- Boston Water and Sewer Commission: Independent quasi-municipal water and sewer utility serving Boston with a comparable mandate for wastewater treatment, collection system ownership, and rate-based infrastructure investment in a dense New England service territory.
- Clean Water Services (Washington County, Oregon): Public utility providing wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and water-quality programs in the Tualatin River basin — a comparable quasi-governmental agency with a strong environmental monitoring and watershed-protection mandate similar to NBC.
- Hampton Roads Sanitation District: Regional political subdivision operating large wastewater treatment plants and interceptors across the Hampton Roads region of Virginia — comparable to NBC in scale, multi-facility operations, and public-utility governance.
- DC Water (District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority): Quasi-governmental water and wastewater authority serving the District of Columbia with combined sewer system challenges, deep tunnel storage, and large-scale CSO mitigation programs — directly comparable to NBC's mandate, infrastructure, and regulatory profile.
- Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago: Independent government agency operating large-scale wastewater treatment and CSO management (including deep tunnels — TARP) in the Chicago region; comparable scale, mandate, and tunnel-based CSO abatement approach to NBC's deep rock tunnel program.
- Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District: Regional government sewerage district serving the Milwaukee area with combined sewer overflow management, deep tunnel storage, and water-quality initiatives — closely analogous to NBC in scope, governance model, and CSO mandate.
Emerging players
- Veolia Water (Veolia North America): Privately-operated water and wastewater services company that frequently operates municipal treatment plants under contract; an O&M counterpart whose service contracts compete for the same municipal outsourcing opportunities NBC currently performs in-house.
Regional players
- Providence Water Supply Board: Adjacent public water utility serving the same Providence-area customer base with drinking water supply — directly comparable service territory and customer overlap, but focused on potable water rather than wastewater treatment.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Narragansett Bay Commission social profiles
Digital presenceNarragansett Bay Commission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Narragansett Bay Commission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Narragansett Bay Commission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Narragansett Bay Commission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Narragansett Bay Commission
What does Narragansett Bay Commission do?
Narragansett Bay Commission operates a unified wastewater treatment utility that collects and treats wastewater for approximately 360,000 residents and 8,000 businesses across ten Rhode Island communities through two major facilities (Field's Point and Bucklin Point), 110 miles of sewer pipe, 8 pump stations, and a 4.19-mile deep tunnel for CSO abatement. The agency also delivers industrial pretreatment permitting, real-time water quality monitoring, laboratory services, environmental education programs, and river restoration grants as integral components of its clean-water mission.
Is Narragansett Bay Commission a public or private company?
Narragansett Bay Commission is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Narragansett Bay Commission founded?
Narragansett Bay Commission was founded in 1901. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Narragansett Bay Commission based?
Narragansett Bay Commission is headquartered in Providence, United States, in the North America region.
How does Narragansett Bay Commission make money?
One revenue line is on record: wastewater Treatment Services.
Who are Narragansett Bay Commission's main competitors?
NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Philadelphia Water Department, Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Clean Water Services (Washington County, Oregon), Hampton Roads Sanitation District, DC Water (District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority), Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. Veolia Water (Veolia North America) is listed as an emerging player. Providence Water Supply Board is listed as a regional player.
Does Narragansett Bay Commission have an API?
No public API is recorded for Narragansett Bay Commission.
What industry is Narragansett Bay Commission in?
Narragansett Bay Commission's product category is Wastewater Treatment Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANADAE, Decentralized/Package Wastewater Systems (Small/Remote), with a secondary code of EUANADAF, Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Treatment & Wet-Weather Capacity. Its NAICS code is 22132 and its SIC code is 4950.