R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-5.3

Current through 2024 Public Law 457

Section 23-1-5.3 - Duties of the office of private well water contamination

The office of private well water contamination shall:

(1) Coordinate the response of all state agencies to instances of private well water contamination;

(2) Inform public officials of private well contamination events occurring within their jurisdictions and advise them of any actions proposed by the department of health or other state agencies;

(3) Advise private well owners, public officials and others on applicable federal and state policies, regulations, and standards relative to private well water contamination;

(4) Develop educational materials describing drinking water quality standards for private wells, private well testing requirements, groundwater contamination and existing programs and procedures for its abatement and prevention;

(5) Develop regulations establishing procedures for providing emergency response to private well water contamination including the provision of bottled water and/or water filters where appropriate;

(6) Develop and promulgate any rules and regulations that are necessary to establish drinking water quality standards for private wells, and shall be subject to the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42. As a minimum, these rules and regulations shall:

(i) Specifically identify all contaminants to be tested, as well as the acceptable level for each contaminant;

(ii) Require testing for coliform bacteria, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and turbidity of all new private wells prior to being placed into service as a source of drinking water;

(iii) Require testing for coliform bacteria, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and turbidity of all private wells currently in service, or capable of being placed in service, as a source of drinking water, prior to sale of a property upon which they are located or serviced;

(iv) Require the property owner to disclose the results of any previous well water testing prior to sale or lease of a property upon which the well(s) are located or serviced;

(v) Establish minimum qualifications for professionals engaged in sampling private water wells and preparing opinions relating to the quality of the water;

(vi) Establish requirements and procedures for reporting the results of all private well testing to the director of health and municipal building officials;

(vii) Establish specific guidance for municipal building officials as to what constitutes "potable" water for a private well, and contaminant levels which constitute a public health concern with regard to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy and recommendations for further testing beyond that required in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) of this subdivision; and

(7) Establish and maintain a database showing known areas where there are contaminants of concern to public health and make these results available to the public through the website of the department of health.

R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-5.3

P.L. 1988, ch. 634, §1; P.L. 2002 , ch. 161, § 1; P.L. 2002 , ch. 162, § 1.