§ 46-15.8-2 Legislative findings. –(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Rhode Island is fortunate to have sufficientprecipitation to meet Rhode Island's water needs, if that water is not wastedand if it is well and fairly managed. With scarcity of water a growing concernfor many southern and western states, Rhode Island's adequate water supply canand should be an economic advantage for our state;
(2) Water is a renewable but a limited resource essential tothe survival of all living things. The mission of the water supply professionis to provide a reliable supply of high quality water for the protection ofpublic health, safety and welfare, and to ensure a sustainable balance betweenhuman and ecological water needs. Environmental stewardship and integratedwater resource management, including land conservation, wetlands protection,and protecting the ecological integrity of water resources, are core values ofthe water supply profession and are essential to sustaining this mission;
(3) Efficient and equitable management of our shared waterresources allows us to make water available to new economic development as wellas meet existing water needs, both of which support our state's economicvitality and the quality of life of our communities;
(4) Good management allows us to provide water for necessaryresidential use as well as economic growth, at the same time that we preserveand protect the natural resources that make Rhode Island such an attractiveplace to live, and that support important economic activity that depends upon ahealthy environment, such as fisheries, farming and tourism;
(5) Rhode Island is currently consuming large amounts ofwater for inefficient outdoor non-agricultural summer landscape irrigation.
(6) More efficient use of our shared water supply, especiallyby residential users, makes more water available for economic activity and forreplenishment of stream flow, and is usually the most cost-effective andquickest way to maximize available water supply. Conservation must be apriority for successful water management.
(7) Rhode Island's water supply infrastructure must bemaintained if it is to continue to supply the state with clean water sufficientto meet our needs; it is far cheaper to "pay as you go" than to deferinfrastructure maintenance, which will result in it being far more expensive inthe future.
(8) Municipalities should consider the water available forhuman use and likely water needs at build out in making planning decisions.
(9) The Rhode Island Water Resources Board, as an independentwater supply agency, is vital to the success of this legislation and willprovide necessary balance in working toward the sustainability of RhodeIsland's water resources.
§ 46-15.8-2 Legislative findings. –(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Rhode Island is fortunate to have sufficientprecipitation to meet Rhode Island's water needs, if that water is not wastedand if it is well and fairly managed. With scarcity of water a growing concernfor many southern and western states, Rhode Island's adequate water supply canand should be an economic advantage for our state;
(2) Water is a renewable but a limited resource essential tothe survival of all living things. The mission of the water supply professionis to provide a reliable supply of high quality water for the protection ofpublic health, safety and welfare, and to ensure a sustainable balance betweenhuman and ecological water needs. Environmental stewardship and integratedwater resource management, including land conservation, wetlands protection,and protecting the ecological integrity of water resources, are core values ofthe water supply profession and are essential to sustaining this mission;
(3) Efficient and equitable management of our shared waterresources allows us to make water available to new economic development as wellas meet existing water needs, both of which support our state's economicvitality and the quality of life of our communities;
(4) Good management allows us to provide water for necessaryresidential use as well as economic growth, at the same time that we preserveand protect the natural resources that make Rhode Island such an attractiveplace to live, and that support important economic activity that depends upon ahealthy environment, such as fisheries, farming and tourism;
(5) Rhode Island is currently consuming large amounts ofwater for inefficient outdoor non-agricultural summer landscape irrigation.
(6) More efficient use of our shared water supply, especiallyby residential users, makes more water available for economic activity and forreplenishment of stream flow, and is usually the most cost-effective andquickest way to maximize available water supply. Conservation must be apriority for successful water management.
(7) Rhode Island's water supply infrastructure must bemaintained if it is to continue to supply the state with clean water sufficientto meet our needs; it is far cheaper to "pay as you go" than to deferinfrastructure maintenance, which will result in it being far more expensive inthe future.
(8) Municipalities should consider the water available forhuman use and likely water needs at build out in making planning decisions.
(9) The Rhode Island Water Resources Board, as an independentwater supply agency, is vital to the success of this legislation and willprovide necessary balance in working toward the sustainability of RhodeIsland's water resources.
§ 46-15.8-2 Legislative findings. –(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Rhode Island is fortunate to have sufficientprecipitation to meet Rhode Island's water needs, if that water is not wastedand if it is well and fairly managed. With scarcity of water a growing concernfor many southern and western states, Rhode Island's adequate water supply canand should be an economic advantage for our state;
(2) Water is a renewable but a limited resource essential tothe survival of all living things. The mission of the water supply professionis to provide a reliable supply of high quality water for the protection ofpublic health, safety and welfare, and to ensure a sustainable balance betweenhuman and ecological water needs. Environmental stewardship and integratedwater resource management, including land conservation, wetlands protection,and protecting the ecological integrity of water resources, are core values ofthe water supply profession and are essential to sustaining this mission;
(3) Efficient and equitable management of our shared waterresources allows us to make water available to new economic development as wellas meet existing water needs, both of which support our state's economicvitality and the quality of life of our communities;
(4) Good management allows us to provide water for necessaryresidential use as well as economic growth, at the same time that we preserveand protect the natural resources that make Rhode Island such an attractiveplace to live, and that support important economic activity that depends upon ahealthy environment, such as fisheries, farming and tourism;
(5) Rhode Island is currently consuming large amounts ofwater for inefficient outdoor non-agricultural summer landscape irrigation.
(6) More efficient use of our shared water supply, especiallyby residential users, makes more water available for economic activity and forreplenishment of stream flow, and is usually the most cost-effective andquickest way to maximize available water supply. Conservation must be apriority for successful water management.
(7) Rhode Island's water supply infrastructure must bemaintained if it is to continue to supply the state with clean water sufficientto meet our needs; it is far cheaper to "pay as you go" than to deferinfrastructure maintenance, which will result in it being far more expensive inthe future.
(8) Municipalities should consider the water available forhuman use and likely water needs at build out in making planning decisions.
(9) The Rhode Island Water Resources Board, as an independentwater supply agency, is vital to the success of this legislation and willprovide necessary balance in working toward the sustainability of RhodeIsland's water resources.
