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:

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

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

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     46-15.5-2. Legislative declaration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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finds and declares that:

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

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

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

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to Bristol County;

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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Providence connection, so-called, and

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

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

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

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flow in either direction is a public necessity.

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

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

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of a new raw water transmission line.

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     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

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Authority.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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