Will
Protect the Environment, Put People Back to Work
PROVIDENCE, RI - Governor Gina M. Raimondo marked the passage of
legislation to protect our water supplies and put people back to work with a
ceremonial bill signing at the Save the Bay Center. (H 5668 and S 369)
Many Rhode Island homes have outdated underground wastewater
systems. These systems, often cesspools, are inefficient and ineffective and
contribute to public health and environmental hazards. This legislation
replaces outdated systems at the point of sale and improves neighborhoods and
local infrastructure.
This legislation was sponsored by Senator V. Susan Sosnowski
(D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) and Representative Teresa A. Tanzi
(D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) and approved by the General
Assembly.
"Cesspools are an outdated form of handling wastewater; for
this reason, the state banned the installation of new cesspools over 40 years
ago," said Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham).
"The main advantage of the using point-of-sale approach for cesspool
phase-out is that the cost of replacing a cesspool can be taken into account in
the selling price of the home and/or the financing of the home."
"With this new law, we are taking a crucial step toward
reducing pollution and contamination of one of our state's most precious
natural resources: our water," said Representative Teresa A. Tanzi
(D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett).
"We are the Ocean State, and
because water never stops traveling, every community must be engaged in
protecting our resources. I'm proud that this law will set the wheels in motion
for the eventual removal of all remaining cesspools, and in doing so
eliminating a threat to the health of our marine economy, our environment and
the public."
"Rhode Island is a national leader in advanced septic
technology, yet there are still about 25,000 cesspools throughout the state.
Now is the time to eliminate these antiquated and substandard systems and move
forward with modern solutions," said Janet Coit, Director of the
Department of Environmental Management.
"Great strides have been made over
the past decades to reduce the discharge of pollutants into our waters,
including a dramatic improvement in our wastewater treatment efforts. I laud
the passage of the new point-of-sale requirement and will continue our
important efforts to clean up, restore and safeguard Rhode Island's precious
water resources."
