2021 -- H 5059

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LC000367

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- BRISTOL COUNTY WATER SUPPLY

     Introduced By: Representative Jason Knight

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2021

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 46-15.5-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-15.5 entitled "Bristol

County Water Supply" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     46-15.5-2. Legislative declaration.

     Recognizing the importance of protecting, maintaining and utilizing all sources of potable

water and recognizing that with the continued demands on the Scituate Reservoir, the existing

Bristol County water supplies will remain an important source of water for Bristol County in the

future (there being no other logical recipient of this water), it is the intent of the legislature that the

existing sources, transmission lines and treatment facilities be maintained and/or upgraded to

conform to federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq., irrespective of

whether ownership and control is maintained by the Bristol County water authority or is turned

over to the state water resources board or its successor. Accordingly, this general assembly hereby

finds and declares that:

     (1) The citizens of Bristol County lack an adequate and secure supply of potable water;

     (2) Heretofore acting through the Bristol County water authority, the citizens of Bristol

County have presented a proposal for the construction to bring water from the Scituate Reservoir

to Bristol County;

     (3) The state and its citizens would be better served and the environment enhanced by the

construction of an additional connection connecting Bristol County to the Scituate Reservoir; and

     (4) The need for water in Bristol County is critical and requires immediate and prompt

action on the part of the state, its agencies, boards and commissions.

     (5) Bristol County will require an alternate source of supply in order to construct the

improvements to its existing system of reservoirs, wells, and treatment plants,

     (6) The alternatives authorized by this chapter will be less expensive than the East

Providence connection, so-called, and

     (7) Reliance by citizens of East Providence and Bristol County on a single connection

would create a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of East Providence and Bristol

County, and, therefore, the construction of an emergency connection which shall permit water to

flow in either direction is a public necessity.

     (8) The state is mandated to upgrade the current Bristol County water system of reservoirs,

wells, treatment plant, and transmission lines, with the first priority being given to the construction

of a new raw water transmission line.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- BRISTOL COUNTY WATER SUPPLY

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     This act would delete a portion of the enabling statute for the Bristol County Water

Authority.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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