2025 -- H 5845

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LC001344

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

SYSTEM PROTECTION

     Introduced By: Representatives Read, Noret, Nardone, Serpa, Santucci, Shallcross Smith,
Solomon, McNamara, Paplauskas, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 46-15.3 of the General Laws entitled "Public Drinking Water Supply

System Protection" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     46-15.3-5.2. Water supply systems flood resilience plans.

     (a) Effective January 1, 2026, all parties involved in the supply, transmission, and/or

distribution of drinking water shall prepare, maintain, and carry out a water supply resilience plan

as described by this section. The purpose of the resilience plan is to identify risks and provide

assessments and emergency response plans to address the resilience of water supply systems to

natural hazards and environmental related impacts. This requirement applies, without limitation,

to:

     (1) All municipalities, municipal departments and agencies, districts, authorities or other

entities engaged in or authorized to engage in the supply, treatment, transmission, or distribution

of drinking water on a wholesale or retail basis, referred to herein as "water suppliers" or "water

supplier", and which obtain, transport, purchase, or sell more than fifty million (50,000,000) gallons

of water per year.

     (b) The initial risk assessment required pursuant to this section shall be completed no later

than July 1, 2026, and the results of the assessment shall be provided to the governor, speaker of

the house, president of the senate, the director of the department of health and the director of the

department of environmental management. The assessment shall include without limitation:

     (1) The risk to the water supply system from natural hazards and environmental related

impacts including, but not limited to, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes;

     (2) The resilience of the pipes and constructed conveyances, physical barriers, source

water, water collection, intake, pretreatment, treatment, storage and distribution facilities, and

electronic, computer, or other automated systems (including the security of such systems) which

are utilized by the water supplier to address and mitigate natural hazards;

     (3) The financial infrastructure of the water supplier;

     (4) The use, storage, and handling of chemicals by the water supplier and the vulnerability

of such chemicals to natural disasters; and

     (5) The operational monitoring and maintenance practices and procedures of the water

supplier.

     (c) The assessment required by this section shall also include an evaluation of capital and

operational needs to address risk and resilience management for the water supplier, and anticipated

sources of funds shall be identified.

     (d) The resilience plans of water suppliers shall document that coordination has been

accomplished with other water suppliers in the vicinity and with operators of wastewater treatment

and disposal facilities serving all or part of the same area or that a good faith effort to do so has

been made. Plans shall be consistent with applicable local comprehensive plans and shall be

integrated into the water supply plans of the municipality or municipalities in which the service

area is located.

     (e) Water supplier resilience plans shall designate the person or organization responsible

for taking each necessary action, others who must participate, and the time period in which each

action is to be taken.

     (f) Water suppliers shall utilize methods to implement measures necessary to achieve the

objectives of this section. A water supplier shall be required to document the validity or

effectiveness of any measure, implementation method, or other provision or action included in its

plan.

     (g) Within six (6) months of any assessment required pursuant to subsection (b) of this

section, every water supplier governed by this section shall provide the director of the department

of health and the director of the department of environmental management with a response plan to

address the issues raised in the assessment.

     (h) The assessment and response plan required pursuant to this section shall be updated

every three (3) years from the initial assessment pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, with a

report on the updated assessment delivered to the governor, speaker of the house, senate president,

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and director of the department of health.

     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 -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

SYSTEM PROTECTION

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     This act would require Rhode Island water suppliers to prepare a resilience assessment and

a response plan for the risk of natural hazards.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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