| Chapter 094 |
| 2021 -- S 0656 Enacted 07/01/2021 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- BRISTOL COUNTY WATER SUPPLY |
Introduced By: Senators Coyne, and Seveney |
| Date Introduced: March 18, 2021 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 46-15.5-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-15.5 entitled "Bristol |
| County Water Supply" is hereby repealed. |
| 46-15.5-6. Existing facilities of the Bristol County water authority. |
| (a) The Bristol County water authority will continue to maintain its reservoirs, wells and |
| well sites, transmission lines and water treatment plants in good, sound and safe condition in |
| accordance with its past practices. The Bristol County water authority shall continue to take all |
| steps necessary to protect its legal right to withdraw water from its existing reservoirs, wells and |
| well sites, and shall protect the watershed surrounding said reservoirs to the extent it has legal |
| authority to do so and shall maintain its transmission lines from its existing reservoirs, wells, well |
| sites and water treatment facilities; provided, however, that if in order to protect its legal authority |
| to withdraw water from the existing reservoirs, the Bristol County water authority shall be required |
| to maintain all or part of its facilities in accordance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, |
| 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq., the capital cost thereof shall be paid for by the state water resources board. |
| (b) The Bristol County water authority in co-operation with the water resources board shall |
| prepare a plan to protect, enhance and improve its existing reservoirs, wells, well sites, transmission |
| lines and treatment plants. Upon approval of such plan, the authority shall cause to be prepared |
| definitive construction plans and drawings and shall apply for and prosecute to completion all |
| federal, state and local permits necessary to permit such construction to be lawfully undertaken; |
| provided, however, if at any time, the Bristol County water authority shall have satisfied the |
| limitation on its financial commitment as set forth in § 46-15.5-6.1, then it shall no longer be |
| required to undertake such planning, design and permitting unless the water resources board shall |
| lawfully provide one hundred percent (100%) of the cost thereof. |
| (c) Upon completion of the construction authorized by such plan, the Bristol County water |
| authority shall utilize the existing system as so improved in the overall management of its water |
| supply and distribution system in compliance with its water supply management plan approved |
| pursuant to chapter 15.4 of this title. If, after all permits for such improvements and enhancements |
| have been received the water resources board shall determine to purchase such existing reservoirs, |
| wells, well sites, transmission lines, and distribution of water treatment facilities, the Bristol County |
| water authority is authorized to sell or lease any one or more of such reservoirs, wells, well sites, |
| transmission lines, or treatment facilities to the board pursuant to the provision of § 46-15.1-7 and |
| the board is authorized to the extent not otherwise permitted by law to acquire such facilities and |
| improve such facilities under the provisions of chapter 15.3 of this title except as specifically |
| provided for in this section. From and after the date of the activation of the additional and |
| emergency connection, the Bristol County water authority shall have no further obligation to |
| expend funds for improvements to its reservoirs, pipelines connecting any one or more of such |
| reservoirs and water treatment facilities unless and to the extent that such funds shall be provided |
| by the water resources board pursuant to existing provisions of the general laws or such provisions |
| as may be hereinafter enacted. |
| (d) The state water resources board shall provide funding necessary to maintain the |
| reservoirs, wells and well sites and pipelines connecting any one or more of such reservoirs, wells |
| and well sites, and water treatment facilities of the Bristol County water authority system so as to |
| meet all federal standards related to safe drinking water. Notwithstanding any other provision of |
| law, any amounts so expended by the state water resources board shall be deemed eligible |
| expenditures within the meaning of § 46-15.3-4(4). |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002434 |
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