Rhode Island § 46-15-13 - Water Resources Management

§ 46-15-13. Water supply planning.

The division of planning shall study and evaluate the needs of the state for current and future water supply and shall have the following powers:

(1) To formulate and maintain a long range guide plan and implementing program for development of major water resources and transmission systems needed to furnish water to regional or local public water systems as part of the state guide plan adopted pursuant to § 42-11-10.

(2) To provide for cooperative development, conservation, and use of water resources by the state, municipal agencies or departments, water resources board, and public water systems, including special water districts and privately owned public water systems, the division of planning may:

(i) Divide the state into areas for the purpose of providing water supply facilities;

(ii) Designate municipal water departments or agencies, special districts, or privately owned public water systems to perform area-wide water supply operations within each area.

(3) To review all plans and proposals for construction or installation of facilities for water supply for conformance with the state guide plan in accordance with § 46-15-2 and report its findings to the water resources board.