Title 46
Waters and Navigation

Chapter 15.8
Water Use and Efficiency Act

R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-15.8-5

§ 46-15.8-5. Duties of state agencies.

In order to accomplish the purposes of this chapter:

(1) The water resources board shall establish and maintain no later than July 31, 2010, targets for non-agricultural demand management and water use, and for non-billed water which shall include the goal of reducing leakage to no more than ten percent (10%) of water supplies in public water supplies subject to the provisions of § 46-15.3-5.1;

(2) The statewide planning program shall incorporate, by July 1, 2011, such amendments as may be necessary into state guide plan elements to require:

(i) The use of water availability estimates developed by the water resources board and the department of environmental management and other relevant information sources in local comprehensive plan elements and the review of major land development and subdivision reviews;

(ii) The incorporation of the executive summaries of the water supply system management plans, as appropriate, into the services and facilities element and the land use element of local comprehensive plans;

(3) The public utilities commission shall assure, in accordance with provisions of chapter 15.1 of title 39, that the rates of water suppliers subject to its jurisdiction are adequate to implement capital improvement plans, water supply system management plans, and demand management plans and to cover system costs when revenues decline as a result of decreased demand.

(4) State agencies need to become advocates for positive solutions by removing overlapping and burdensome planning and regulatory requirements.

History of Section.
P.L. 2009, ch. 288, § 3; P.L. 2009, ch. 341, § 3.