§ 46-15.5-6 - Existing facilities of the Bristol County water authority.
SECTION 46-15.5-6
§ 46-15.5-6 Existing facilities of theBristol County water authority. – (a) The Bristol County water authority will continue to maintain itsreservoirs, wells and well sites, transmission lines and water treatment plantsin good, sound and safe condition in accordance with its past practices. TheBristol County water authority shall continue to take all steps necessary toprotect its legal right to withdraw water from its existing reservoirs, wellsand well sites, and shall protect the watershed surrounding said reservoirs tothe extent it has legal authority to do so and shall maintain its transmissionlines from its existing reservoirs, wells, well sites and water treatmentfacilities; provided, however, that if in order to protect its legal authorityto withdraw water from the existing reservoirs, the Bristol County waterauthority shall be required to maintain all or part of its facilities inaccordance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, 42 U.S.C. §300f et seq., the capital cost thereof shall be paid for by the state waterresources board.
(b) The Bristol County water authority in co-operation withthe water resources board shall prepare a plan to protect, enhance and improveits existing reservoirs, wells, well sites, transmission lines and treatmentplants. Upon approval of such plan, the authority shall cause to be prepareddefinitive construction plans and drawings and shall apply for and prosecute tocompletion all federal, state and local permits necessary to permit suchconstruction to be lawfully undertaken; provided, however, if at any time, theBristol County water authority shall have satisfied the limitation on itsfinancial commitment as set forth in § 46-15.5-6.1, then it shall nolonger be required to undertake such planning, design and permitting unless thewater resources board shall lawfully provide one hundred percent (100%) of thecost thereof.
(c) Upon completion of the construction authorized by suchplan, the Bristol County water authority shall utilize the existing system asso improved in the overall management of its water supply and distributionsystem in compliance with its water supply management plan approved pursuant tochapter 15.4 of this title. If, after all permits for such improvements andenhancements have been received the water resources board shall determine topurchase such existing reservoirs, wells, well sites, transmission lines, anddistribution of water treatment facilities, the Bristol County water authorityis authorized to sell or lease any one or more of such reservoirs, wells, wellsites, transmission lines, or treatment facilities to the board pursuant to theprovision of § 46-15.1-7 and the board is authorized to the extent nototherwise permitted by law to acquire such facilities and improve suchfacilities under the provisions of chapter 15.3 of this title except asspecifically provided for in this section. From and after the date of theactivation of the additional and emergency connection, the Bristol County waterauthority shall have no further obligation to expend funds for improvements toits reservoirs, pipelines connecting any one or more of such reservoirs andwater treatment facilities unless and to the extent that such funds shall beprovided by the water resources board pursuant to existing provisions of thegeneral laws or such provisions as may be hereinafter enacted.
(d) The state water resources board shall provide fundingnecessary to maintain the reservoirs, wells and well sites and pipelinesconnecting any one or more of such reservoirs, wells and well sites, and watertreatment facilities of the Bristol County water authority system so as to meetall federal standards related to safe drinking water. Notwithstanding any otherprovision of law, any amounts so expended by the state water resources boardshall be deemed eligible expenditures within the meaning of § 46-15.3-4(4).