Rep. Eileen S. Naughton (D-Dist 21, Warwick) has introduced legislation that would protect Rhode Island’s water supply.
Called the Lead and Copper Drinking Water Protection Act, the bill (2016-H …
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Rep. Eileen S. Naughton (D-Dist 21, Warwick) has introduced legislation that would protect Rhode Island’s water supply.
Called the Lead and Copper Drinking Water Protection Act, the bill (2016-H 8127) would improve and enhance water supply protections.
“It is of the utmost priority that the state protect and maintain the purity and quality of its drinking water,” Naughton said in a statement. “Of every natural resource we possess, there is none more vital to health and life itself than drinking water. We’ve seen what can happen without the best safeguards in place, and we need to guarantee that the integrity of our water is never eroded.”
The legislation comes in the wake of a crisis in Flint, Mich., where a change in the drinking water source led to major problems with the drinking water, such as mass lead contamination, creating a serious public health danger. In that instance, corrosive water from the Flint River caused lead from the aging pipes to leach into the water supply.
Naughton is particularly concerned with statements made by June Swallow, chief of the Center for Drinking Water Quality for the Department of Health, who showed concern for the infrastructure in older schools and indicated the importance of routine analysis and appraisal of lead and copper in drinking water.
The Naughton bill would spell out Rhode Island’s policy “to restore, enhance, and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of its waters, to protect public health, to safeguard fish and aquatic life and scenic and ecological values, and to enhance the domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial, and other uses of water.”
The bill would authorize the director of the Department of Health to determine whether the state’s water supplies are safe and potable. The director would also be responsible for testing of water at preschools, day care facilities, nursery schools, public and private elementary schools and schoolyards, public playgrounds, shelters and foster homes serving children under the age of 6 years, public hearing facilities, substance abuse clinics in Rhode Island and all facilities required pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The director would also be authorized to organize a water safety commission that would be responsible for imposing protections for water supply systems by continuously assessing and providing recommendations regarding science, testing monitoring protocols, water treatments, and corrosion control.
“What happened in Flint is a community nightmare,” said Representative Naughton. “It is imperative that we take whatever steps are necessary to protect our water infrastructure and assure that the purity and quality of our water are uncompromised.”
The legislation, which is cosponsored by Representatives K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) and Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly), has been referred to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
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bloodhound
Thank you Representative Naughton for introducing this Bill to safeguard Rhode Island's water supplies. Once again, "Eileen's" vision and foresight is leading our state to ensure our water supplies are safeguarded, Her knowledge, experience, dedication to constituents, and network of science and technical advisors within our state, at the University of Rhode Island and nationally, has allowed Rep Naughton to be the best legislator and and advocate for environmental and health issues within our state. Her knowledge of all issues impacting us is phenomenal.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
Legislation like this is codified lip service. Unless there are harsh penalties that are strictly enforced, these kind of laws go nowhere fast and compost until the next crises arises and the General Assembly swoops in with another meaningless law.
They might as well legislate that the tides stop, for all the good it does.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 Report this
bendover
JAI has this mostly correct. OH, and TY Mr. Naughton, err, "bloodhound" for this unbridled endorsement. Welcome to Fantasy Island. Perhaps you could share other pieces of legislation that Rep. Naughton can claim AUTHORSHIP of that have been passed by the GA and signed into law by the Governor over the last 24 years she has malingered on Smith Hill? As for the other co-sponsors, where has the oversight been going back over the last 30 years of the Providence Water Supply Board? What happened to all those rate increases that were supposedly being used for infrastructure improvement? (Went to payroll). Just how far is the Johnston landfill going to be allowed to encroach towards the reservoir that supplies 70% of the drinking water for the State, right up to the shoreline? You brain surgeons have cast your lot on a giant Glad bag being a proper defense under the refuse as a first line of protection for the aquifer. Why don't you explain how in recent years the increase in disinfectants, (chlorine) seems to have grown at an alarming rate? What about the Ph? It's mid May, where is the budget, or does Gallison have you all on tape? OK, you can return to the boob tube.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 Report this