KINGSTON, R.I. — December 6, 2004 — The relationship between land use and drinking water quality is the subject of a public workshop for municipal officials and other community leaders on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at the North Smithfield Municipal Annex.

This free workshop is hosted by the North Smithfield Planning Board and features speakers from the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension and the R.I. Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water Quality.

“We’ll focus our discussion on how changing land use alters the natural hydrology and increases the risk of contaminating groundwater aquifers and surface waters,” said Lisa Philo, a URI Cooperative Extension educator who is organizing the workshop with colleague Lorraine Joubert. “Using the actual results of the recent Source Water Assessment conducted in North Smithfield, we’ll summarize current practices and recommendations for controlling development impacts, focusing mostly on large scale commercial development.”

Among the topics discussed will be alternative pavement options designed to reduce roadway run-off.

For more information about the workshop, contact Philo at 401-874-5687 or lphilo@mail.uri.edu. Advanced registration is recommended.