Permits the town of Tiverton to require additional testing, to be performed by and at the expense of the developer, to ensure that there is no dewatering or loss of effective recharge to surrounding wells within close proximity of the new construction.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would give the town of Tiverton, Rhode Island special authority to require extra water testing when new housing developments are being built nearby. Specifically, when construction is planned close to existing private wells, the town could demand that developers conduct additional tests to make sure the construction work won't harm the underground water supply that neighboring residents depend on for their drinking water. Importantly, the cost of this testing would be paid for by the developer, not by the town or taxpayers.

The bill addresses two specific concerns about how construction can affect wells: dewatering (when construction activities pump out or drain groundwater, lowering the water table) and loss of effective recharge (when development prevents rainwater from naturally filtering back into the ground to replenish the water supply). Both of these situations can leave nearby homeowners with wells that run dry or produce less water than before.

This legislation primarily affects real estate developers building in Tiverton and the residents who live near proposed construction sites and rely on private wells for their water. Homeowners with wells close to new developments would gain an added layer of protection, while developers would take on the financial responsibility of proving their projects won't negatively impact the local water supply. The bill has been referred to the House Municipal Government & Housing Committee for further review.