Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 150 - Water Resources › Subchapter 10 - Wastewater And Storm Water › Part 6 - Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems › Section 250-RICR-150-10-6.42 - Critical Resource Areas - General

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Areas have been
				  identified as critical resource areas which are deemed to be particularly
				  sensitive to the detrimental effects of nutrients, pathogenic organisms,
				  organic chemicals and other substances that may be present in effluent from
				  OWTSs. These areas are in need of special protection from such effects due to
				  the unique and irreplaceable value of the resource as a public water supply,
				  fisheries habitat or public recreation area.
B. Standards for siting and design of OWTSs
				  in these §§
										6.42,
				  6.43, and
				  6.44 of this Part are
				  established to enhance the treatment capability of OWTSs and thereby reduce the
				  potential for adverse effects to critical resources. In areas designated as
				  critical resources, the standards of §§
										6.42,
				  6.43, and
				  6.44 of this Part shall
				  supersede minimum standards wherever applicable.
C. Designation - Areas designated as critical
				  resource areas are defined below in §§
										6.42(C)(1) through
				  (3) of this Part. If the applicant disputes a
				  delineation in §§
										6.42(C)(1) through
				  (3) of this Part, the applicant may submit
				  information on groundwater or surface water flow to demonstrate to the Director
				  by a preponderance of clear and scientifically valid evidence that the
				  delineation in question is incorrect.
1. Salt
				  Pond Critical Resource Area: The watersheds, or portion thereof, to the salt
				  ponds of Charlestown, Narragansett, South Kingstown, and Westerly as determined
				  by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council's Salt Ponds Region
				  Special Area Management Plan (See §
											6.86 of this Part, Figure
				  28), unless a determination of the groundwater recharge area to the salt ponds
				  has been adopted by the Department and the Coastal Resources Management
				  Council. The Salt Pond Critical Resource Area includes the watersheds, or
				  portion thereof, to the following: Maschaug Pond, Winnapaug Pond, Quonochontaug
				  Pond, Ninigret Pond, Green Hill Pond, Trustom Pond, Cards Pond, Potter Pond,
				  and Pt. Judith Pond.
2. Narrow
				  River Critical Resource Area: The Narrow River watershed, or portion thereof,
				  as determined by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council's Narrow
				  River Special Area Management Plan (See §
											6.87 of this Part, Figure
				  29), unless a determination of the groundwater recharge area to the Narrow
				  River has been adopted by the Department and the Coastal Resources Management
				  Council.
3. Drinking Water Supply
				  Watersheds: Watersheds of public water system drinking water supply reservoirs,
				  unless a determination of the groundwater recharge area to the reservoir has
				  been adopted by the Department. The public water systems include the following
				  and any other public water system with a drinking water supply reservoir
				  approved by the Rhode Island Department of Health (See §§
											6.88 through
				  6.91 of this Part, Figures
				  30-33) : Cumberland (town of), Eleanor Slater Hospital/Zambarano Unit,
				  Jamestown (town of), New Shoreham (town of), Newport (city of), Pawtucket Water
				  Supply Board, Providence Water Supply Board, Stone Bridge Fire District,
				  Woonsocket (city of), and Yawgoog Scout Reservation.