reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 46-15.5-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.5 - Bristol County Water Supply|Section 46-15.5-7 - Connection with Providence water supply system.

§ 46-15.5-7. Connection with Providence water supply system.The provisions of § 18 of chapter 1278 of the public laws of Rhode Island, of 1915 as amended, dealing with the connection of the Bristol County water authority with the Providence water supply system are hereby amended to authorize the additional connection and the emergency connections in the manner approved by the water resources board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and with chapter 15 of this title. That § 18 is further amended by adding the City of East Providence to those cities wherein all pipelines and other water works appurtenances of the Bristol County water authority are exempt from local taxation. The City of Providence is authorized and directed to treat the additional connection as an acceptable "delivery point" pursuant to those provisions of that certain agreement dated March 28, 1986 between the Bristol County water authority and the City of Providence, subject nevertheless to the provisions of § 5 of such agreement.History of Section.P.L. 1992, ch. 134, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 243, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.5-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.5 - Bristol County Water Supply|Section 46-15.5-8 - Repealed.

§ 46-15.5-8. Repealed.
RI Gen L § 46-15.5-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.5 - Bristol County Water Supply|Section 46-15.5-9 - Administrative priority.

§ 46-15.5-9. Administrative priority.Any state agency, board, council, or commission shall give priority in terms of consideration of, and hearing on, any application made by the Bristol County water authority seeking necessary approvals to carry out the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1992, ch. 134, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.5-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.5 - Bristol County Water Supply|Section 46-15.5-10 - Transfer of functions.

§ 46-15.5-10. Transfer of functions.Notwithstanding any transfer of functions from the water resources board to the department of environmental management or any provision of law, the water resources board shall retain all jurisdiction with respect to chapter 15 of this title as in effect prior to the enactment of chapter 461 of the Public Laws of 1990, and as amended, herein shall remain in effect for purposes of implementing this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1992, ch. 134, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-1 - Short title.

§ 46-15.6-1. Short title.This chapter shall be referred to as the "Comprehensive Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 1993".History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-2 - Legislative findings, intent, and objectives.

§ 46-15.6-2. Legislative findings, intent, and objectives.(a) The general assembly hereby recognizes and declares that:(1) Water is vital to life and comprises an invaluable natural resource which is not to be abused by any segment of the state's population or its economy. It is the policy of this state to restore, enhance, and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of its waters to protect health.(2) The waters of this state are a critical renewable resource which must be protected to insure the availability of safe and potable drinking water for present and future needs.(3) It is a paramount policy of the state to protect the purity of present and future drinking water supplies by protecting the infrastructure of potable water, including treatment plants, pipes, valves, pumping stations, storage facilities, interconnections, and water mains.(4) It is imperative to provide a uniform and valid mechanism to base assistance for the construction, repair, protection, and/or improvement of potable water infrastructure replacement.(5) The decay of infrastructure and related construction due to deterioration or functional obsolescence can threaten the quality of supplies and, therefore, can endanger public health; thus it is necessary to take immediate and continuing steps to repair and replace the infrastructure used to deliver water supplies in order to restore water system facilities.(6) Failure to replace the infrastructure used to deliver water supplies may cause and probably will continue to degrade the quality of public drinking water.(7) Protection of water quality is necessary from the collection source through the point of delivery to the ultimate consumer.(8) The potable threat to public health caused by unsafe drinking water far outweighs the economic costs for the construction of the potable water infrastructure replacement.(b) That the objectives of this chapter are:(1) To establish a funding mechanism to insure that infrastructure replacement programs are carried out by each municipality and by each municipal department, agency, district, authority, or other entity engaged in or authorized to engage in the supply, treatment, transmission, or distribution of drinking water, and(2) That the plans and their execution achieve and insure that the investment of the public in such facilities is not eroded.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 340, § 53.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-3 - Infrastructure replacement program.

§ 46-15.6-3. Infrastructure replacement program.All municipalities, municipal departments and agencies, districts, authorities or other entities engaged in or authorized to engage in the supply, transmission, distribution of drinking water on a wholesale or retail basis, and which obtain, transport, purchase, or sell more than fifty million (50,000,000) gallons of water per year, shall be referred to as "water suppliers" for the purpose of this chapter. All water suppliers shall prepare, maintain, and carry out an infrastructure replacement program as described in this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-4 - Content of infrastructure replacement component.

§ 46-15.6-4. Content of infrastructure replacement component.(a) The infrastructure replacement component (hereinafter referred to as "component") shall include without limitation:(1) A detailed financial forecast of facility replacement improvement requirements for the next twenty (20) years including, but not limited to, the principal components of the water system such as reservoirs, dams, treatment plants, pipes, valves, fire hydrants, pumping stations, storage facilities, pumping and well equipment, interconnections and water mains. Each financial forecast shall analyze the condition and life expectancy of the existing facilities, prioritize needed repairs and replacements and amortize such improvement requirements on an annual basis over the next twenty (20) years in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated herein. Water suppliers which have in effect infrastructure improvement or rehabilitation programs and mechanisms for funding approved by their appropriate governing bodies may submit their existing programs for complete or partial compliance with the provisions of this section.(2) A method that establishes and maintains fiscal controls and accounting depreciation standards sufficient to ensure proper accounting for evaluation of facility requirements necessitated by this chapter in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated herein.(b) Components shall be consistent with applicable local comprehensive plans in which the service areas are or are planned to be located.(c) Proceeds from the watershed protection fund shall be usable for reimbursement of water suppliers for preparation of their infrastructure replacement components as described in this chapter up to fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the component.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-5 - Completion, filing, approval and implementation of infrastructure component.

§ 46-15.6-5. Completion, filing, approval and implementation of infrastructure component.(a) Each water supplier required by this chapter to prepare and maintain an infrastructure replacement component shall complete and adopt a component two (2) years subsequent to the date each party's water supply management plan per § 46-15.3-7.5 is due.(b) Water suppliers subject to the requirements of § 46-15.6-3 shall file a copy of all components, only to the extent the components differ from plans filed under § 46-15.3-5.1 thereto with the following: the division of drinking water quality of the department of health (hereinafter referred to as "the department").(c) A water supplier subject to § 46-15.6-3 shall review their components at least once every five (5) years and shall modify or replace their components as necessary.(d) The department shall coordinate expeditious review of components prepared by water suppliers subject to this chapter. Upon receipt of components prepared by water suppliers under this chapter, water resources board, and the division of public utilities and carriers (for those water suppliers within their jurisdiction) shall have one hundred and twenty (120) days to review the components and submit comments thereon to the department. Upon consideration of written comments by all agencies designated herein the department shall determine whether the component complies with the requirements of this chapter. This determination shall be made within eight (8) months of the initial submission. A thirty (30) day public comment period shall be included in this eight (8) month review period. Failure by the department to notify water suppliers of its determination within the prescribed time limit shall constitute approval.(e) Each water supplier shall implement the requirements of its infrastructure replacement program and component, including its infrastructure replacement fund, as mandated by this chapter in accordance to rules and regulations promulgated per § 46-15.6-7.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 103, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 37, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 340, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 288, § 9; P.L. 2009, ch. 341, § 9.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-6 - Financing infrastructure replacement.

§ 46-15.6-6. Financing infrastructure replacement.The cost of infrastructure replacement programs and indemnification as required by this chapter shall be financed as follows:(1) The cost of programs to implement infrastructure replacement shall be paid by the water users. The charges shall be limited to those necessary and reasonable to undertake the actions required by this chapter. These charges shall be based upon the annual funding requirements of the facility improvements necessitated over each successive twenty (20) year period. Interest earned on money in this infrastructure replacement fund shall be credited to this infrastructure replacement fund.(2) Each water supplier designated in § 46-15.6-3 shall establish a special account designated as the infrastructure replacement fund to be held as a restricted receipt account and to be administered by the water supplier solely to implement and carry out the replacement of infrastructure as required by this chapter.(3) Any money which may accumulate in the infrastructure replacement fund in excess of that needed to implement the annual infrastructure replacement program or in excess of that exclusively pledged to repayment of outstanding bonds or notes or loan repayments to implement the infrastructure replacement program shall revert to the rate payers of that particular system on a biannual basis.(4) Each water supplier designated in § 46-15.6-3 may, as a complete or partial alternative to direct funding of its infrastructure replacement program, finance its infrastructure replacement program through bonding. The annual debt service of each bond or bonds shall be applied and credited towards the annual requirement of the infrastructure replacement program's annual funding requirements.(5) The Rhode Island public utilities commission, as to water suppliers within its jurisdiction, shall permit an increase for just and reasonable infrastructure replacement in the portion of the water suppliers' rate structure to comply with this chapter and shall allow the water supplier to add this required funding to its rate base in accordance with this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 288, § 9; P.L. 2009, ch. 341, § 9.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-7 - Rules governing content of programs, components, review, evaluation, funding, and implementation.

§ 46-15.6-7. Rules governing content of programs, components, review, evaluation, funding, and implementation.The department with the concurrence of the water resource board, and the Rhode Island public utilities commission, as to water suppliers within its jurisdiction, shall forthwith promulgate rules and regulations for the review of components as pertains to financial forecasts of facility replacement, improvement requirements and fiscal controls and accounting depreciation standards per § 46-15.6-4(a)(1) and (a)(2). The department with the concurrence of the water resource board, and the Rhode Island public utilities commission, as to water suppliers within its jurisdiction, shall promulgate the criteria or standards which it will use to evaluate the implementation of approved components, programs and funding mechanisms.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 37, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 288, § 9; P.L. 2009, ch. 341, § 9.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-8 - Severability.

§ 46-15.6-8. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or of any rule, regulation or determination made thereunder, or the application thereof to any person, agency or circumstances, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the chapter, rule, regulation, or determination and the application of such provisions to other persons, agencies, or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. The invalidity of any section or sections of this chapter shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.6-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.6 - Clean Water Infrastructure|Section 46-15.6-9 - Excluding requirement of state mandated cost.

§ 46-15.6-9. Excluding requirement of state mandated cost.The provisions of §§ 45-13-7 — 45-13-10 shall not apply to §§ 46-15.6-1 — 46-15.6-8.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 438, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.7-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.7 - Management of the Withdrawal and Use of the Waters of the State|Section 46-15.7-2 - Definitions.

§ 46-15.7-2. Definitions.The following words and phrases shall have the meanings stated herein when used in this chapter:(1)"Board" means the Rhode Island water resources board created by chapter 15 of this title.(2)"Person" means and is defined by § 46-13-2(2).(3)"Safe yield" means a sustainable withdrawal that can be continuously supplied from a water source without adverse effects throughout a critical dry period with a one percent (1%) chance of occurrence, or one that is equivalent to the drought of record, whichever is worse.(4)"Water source" means any location at which ground or surface water may be withdrawn for any purpose, including tidal waters, harbors, estuaries, rivers, brooks, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, lakes, ponds, impoundments, diversion structures, wetlands, aquifers, recharge areas, and any others that are contained within, flow through, or border on this state or any portion thereof.(5)"Water Supply System Management Plan" means a plan, which may be an element of a local comprehensive plan, adopted and approved in accordance with chapter 15.3 of this title.(6)"Withdrawal" means taking of water from a water source for any purpose, regardless of the quantity or quality of the water taken or its eventual disposition including return to the same water source.History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 285, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.7-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.7 - Management of the Withdrawal and Use of the Waters of the State|Section 46-15.7-3 - Functions of the water resources board.

§ 46-15.7-3. Functions of the water resources board.Actions authorized or directed by this section must be taken in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.(1) The board shall adopt by rule standards and procedures for implementation of the requirements of this chapter that are consistent with applicable statutes.(2) The board shall conduct a comprehensive and detailed inventory of the water resources of this state, and shall maintain the inventory on a current and valid basis.(i) The purpose of this inventory shall be to establish the quantity of water existing in every water source, the quantity that is being used or is needed for every significant purpose, as listed in § 46-15.7-1(a)(2) preceding, and the quantity that is available to support other uses.(ii) The board shall use data available from state and federal agencies, local governments, elements of the state guide plan, water supply system management plans, persons who withdraw water, and any other valid information that contributes to accomplishing the purpose of this chapter. It is the responsibility of each water user to provide data, or the best available estimates, on their water withdrawals.(iii) The board shall gather any other information that will assist it in determining the capability of the state's water resource to support various uses and users, and the quantities of water being used to support these. All of the uses and users listed in § 46-15.7-1(a)(2) and any others that are relevant shall be included.(3) The board shall identify any water source where existing uses and users are shown to have reached or threaten to approach or exceed the safe yield of that source.History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 285, § 1.
RI Gen L § 46-15.8-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.8 - Water Use and Efficiency Act|Section 46-15.8-1 - Short title.

§ 46-15.8-1. Short title.This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Water Use and Efficiency Act."History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 288, § 3; P.L. 2009, ch. 341, § 3.
RI Gen L § 46-15.8-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.8 - Water Use and Efficiency Act|Section 46-15.8-2 - Legislative findings.

§ 46-15.8-2. Legislative findings.(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:(1) Rhode Island is fortunate to have sufficient precipitation to meet Rhode Island's water needs, if that water is not wasted and if it is well and fairly managed. With scarcity of water a growing concern for many southern and western states, Rhode Island's adequate water supply can and should be an economic advantage for our state;(2) Water is a renewable but a limited resource essential to the survival of all living things. The mission of the water supply profession is to provide a reliable supply of high quality water for the protection of public health, safety and welfare, and to ensure a sustainable balance between human and ecological water needs. Environmental stewardship and integrated water resource management, including land conservation, wetlands protection, and protecting the ecological integrity of water resources, are core values of the water supply profession and are essential to sustaining this mission;(3) Efficient and equitable management of our shared water resources allows us to make water available to new economic development as well as meet existing water needs, both of which support our state's economic vitality and the quality of life of our communities;(4) Good management allows us to provide water for necessary residential use as well as economic growth, at the same time that we preserve and protect the natural resources that make Rhode Island such an attractive place to live, and that support important economic activity that depends upon a healthy environment, such as fisheries, farming and tourism;(5) Rhode Island is currently consuming large amounts of water for inefficient outdoor non-agricultural summer landscape irrigation.(6) More efficient use of our shared water supply, especially by residential users, makes more water available for economic activity and for replenishment of stream flow, and is usually the most cost-effective and quickest way to maximize available water supply. Conservation must be a priority for successful water management.(7) Rhode Island's water supply infrastructure must be maintained if it is to continue to supply the state with clean water sufficient to meet our needs; it is far cheaper to "pay as you go" than to defer infrastructure maintenance, which will result in it being far more expensive in the future.(8) Municipalities should consider the water available for human use and likely water needs at build out in making planning decisions.(9) The Rhode Island Water Resources Board, as an independent water supply agency, is vital to the success of this legislation and will provide necessary balance in working toward the sustainability of Rhode Island's water resources.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 288, § 3; P.L. 2009, ch. 341, § 3.
RI Gen L § 46-15.8-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 46 - Waters and Navigation|Chapter 46-15.8 - Water Use and Efficiency Act|Section 46-15.8-3 - Purposes.

§ 46-15.8-3. Purposes.The purposes of this act are:(a) To help assure reasonable, needed and adequate future water supplies by:(1) Managing demand;(2) Reinvesting in water supply infrastructure and water supply resources; and(3) Protecting and preserving the health and ecological functioning of the water resources of the state.(b) To strengthen water resources and supply planning by implementing, effectively and efficiently, water rates and water supply system management plans that are designed to achieve appropriate infrastructure reinvestment and demand management.(c) To increase the efficient and effective administration of government responsibilities by establishing municipal water departments, boards, and authorities as self-sustaining enterprise funds.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 288, § 3; P.L. 2009, ch. 341, § 3.