AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY (Establishes civil penalties for extended service interruptions by water suppliers. These penalties would be in addition to other available remedies and damages.)

H7872

2026 -- H 7872
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LC005192
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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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:
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SECTION 1. Section 46-13-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-13 entitled "Public
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Drinking Water Supply" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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46-13-10. Correction of unsafe conditions.
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When the water from a public water supply system is not safe, potable, or is subject to
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contamination as determined by the director, the person maintaining the public water supply system
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shall take immediate action to correct sanitary defects, improve operation, provide necessary water
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treatment, or make any other changes or additions necessary to provide safe and potable water.
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Failure to do so, within the time limits set by the director under the rules and regulations
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promulgated by the department of health pursuant to § 46-13-18, and after the hearing provided by
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§ 46-13-12, shall result in a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).
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Each day of non-compliance shall constitute a separate violation.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 46-13 of the General Laws entitled "Public Drinking Water Supply"
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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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46-13-23. Penalties for extended service interruptions.

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Any public water supplier that fails to restore continuous service to at least ninety percent
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(90%) of affected customers within four (4) hours after an unplanned outage, unless caused by
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force majeure, shall pay a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per customer for each
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additional hour of delay, up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) per customer, per day. Said fines shall
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be deposited into the general fund and shall in no way limit recovery of other fines and recovered

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damages. The director of health may adjust or waive the civil penalty based on hardship, or
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noncompliance for reasons beyond the reasonable control of the water supplier acting in good faith.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
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This act would establish civil penalties for extended service interruptions by water
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suppliers. These penalties would be in addition to other available remedies and damages.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005192
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LC005192 - Page 3 of 3