Chapter
580
2006 -- S 2974 AS AMENDED
Enacted 07/14/06
A N A
C T
RELATING TO HEALTH
AND SAFETY -- RESIDENTIAL SANITARY SEWER
CONNECTIONS
Introduced By: Senators
Ciccone, Ruggerio, Connors, Lanzi, and Badeau
Date Introduced: March 23,
2006
It is
enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION
1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is
hereby
amended
by adding thereto the following chapter:
CHAPTER 19.3.1
RESIDENTIAL SANITARY SEWER CONNECTIONS
23-19.3.1-1.
Purpose. – The purpose of this chapter is: (1) to prevent the
backflow of
untreated
sewage into residences which can cause damage to property, render the residence
temporarily
unfit for habitation and increase the risks to public health; and (2) to
require new
residential
construction or substantially altered sewer connections to have check valves
installed
at
the time of construction or alteration as a reasonable means of protecting
public health and
safety.
23-19.3.1-2.
Definitions. – As used in this chapter:
(a) "Check valve" means a mechanical valve that permits gases and
liquids to flow in
only
one direction, preventing process flow from reversing.
(b)
"Dwelling unit" means a structure or portion of a structure providing
complete,
independent
living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for
living,
sleeping,
eating, cooking, and sanitation, and containing a separate means of ingress and
egress as
defined
in subsection 45-24-31(24) of the Rhode Island general laws.
(c)
"New residential construction" means new buildings or portions
thereof to be
occupied
as dwelling units or buildings and portions thereof changed for residential
occupancy.
(d)
"'Substantially altered sewer connections" means any existing sewer
connection that
is
replaced or expanded for use by a dwelling unit.
23-19.3.1-3.
Mandatory installation of check valves. – All new residential
construction
that
will connect to a sanitary sewer system and any residential construction where
the existing
sewer
connection will be substantially altered shall have a check valve installed,
that is
automatically
activated, on the main building sewer line for purposes of protecting residents
from
the
possible backflow of, and exposure to, untreated sewage.
23-19.3.1-4.
Enforcement. – The local building official is authorized to enforce
the
provisions
of this chapter pursuant to those enforcement duties in section 23-17.3-108.1
and shall
approve
the connection to the sanitary sewer system only if a check valve has been
installed.
Such
approval shall be consistent with the rules and regulations promulgated by the
state building
code
standards committee in accordance with section 23-19.3.1-5.
23-19.3.1-5.
Rules and regulations. – The state building code standards committee
shall
adopt
rules and regulations that will incorporate the standards in sections
23-19.3.1-3 and 23-
19.3.1-4
into the state building code as established in section 23-27.3 of the Rhode
Island general
laws.
SECTION
2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC02833
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