§ 46-15.5-2. Legislative declaration. Recognizing the importance of protecting, maintaining and utilizing all sources of potable water and recognizing that with the continued demands on the Scituate Reservoir, the existing Bristol County water supplies will remain an important source of water for Bristol County in the future (there being no other logical recipient of this water), it is the intent of the legislature that the existing sources, transmission lines and treatment facilities be maintained and/or upgraded to conform to federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq., irrespective of whether ownership and control is maintained by the Bristol County water authority or is turned over to the state water resources board or its successor. Accordingly, this general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) The citizens of Bristol County lack an adequate and secure supply of potable water;

(2) Heretofore acting through the Bristol County water authority, the citizens of Bristol County have presented a proposal for the construction to bring water from the Scituate Reservoir to Bristol County;

(3) The state and its citizens would be better served and the environment enhanced by the construction of an additional connection connecting Bristol County to the Scituate Reservoir; and

(4) The need for water in Bristol County is critical and requires immediate and prompt action on the part of the state, its agencies, boards and commissions.

(5) Bristol County will require an alternate source of supply in order to construct the improvements to its existing system of reservoirs, wells, and treatment plants,

(6) The alternatives authorized by this chapter will be less expensive than the East Providence connection, so-called, and

(7) Reliance by citizens of East Providence and Bristol County on a single connection would create a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of East Providence and Bristol County, and, therefore, the construction of an emergency connection which shall permit water to flow in either direction is a public necessity.

(8) The state is mandated to upgrade the current Bristol County water system of reservoirs, wells, treatment plant, and transmission lines, with the first priority being given to the construction of a new raw water transmission line.

History of Section. (P.L. 1992, ch. 134, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 243, § 1.)