Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H7872 2026 -- H 7872 ======== LC005192 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Cotter, and Azzinaro Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Corporations It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 46-13-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-13 entitled Public 2 Drinking Water Supply is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 46-13-10. Correction of unsafe conditions. 4 When the water from a public water supply system is not safe, potable, or is subject to 5 contamination as determined by the director, the person maintaining the public water supply system 6 shall take immediate action to correct sanitary defects, improve operation, provide necessary water 7 treatment, or make any other changes or additions necessary to provide safe and potable water. 8 Failure to do so, within the time limits set by the director under the rules and regulations 9 promulgated by the department of health pursuant to § 46-13-18, and after the hearing provided by 10 § 46-13-12, shall result in a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). 11 Each day of non-compliance shall constitute a separate violation. 12 SECTION 2. Chapter 46-13 of the General Laws entitled Public Drinking Water Supply 13 is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 14 46-13-23. Penalties for extended service interruptions. 15 Any public water supplier that fails to restore continuous service to at least ninety percent 16 (90%) of affected customers within four (4) hours after an unplanned outage, unless caused by 17 force majeure, shall pay a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per customer for each 18 additional hour of delay, up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) per customer, per day. Said fines shall 19 be deposited into the general fund and shall in no way limit recovery of other fines and recovered 1 damages. The director of health may adjust or waive the civil penalty based on hardship, or 2 noncompliance for reasons beyond the reasonable control of the water supplier acting in good faith. 3 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC005192 ======== LC005192 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY *** 1 This act would establish civil penalties for extended service interruptions by water 2 suppliers. These penalties would be in addition to other available remedies and damages. 3 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC005192 ======== LC005192 - Page 3 of 3
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