Requires the division of statewide planning coordinate a wastewater capacity study to evaluate the capacity, flows, physical conditions, regulatory compliance and vulnerabilities to natural hazards of publicly/privately owned wastewater infrastructure.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require Rhode Island's Division of Statewide Planning to organize and carry out a comprehensive study of the state's wastewater infrastructure — meaning the pipes, treatment plants, and systems that carry and process sewage and other wastewater. The study would look at how much capacity these systems have, how much wastewater is actually flowing through them, what physical condition they're in, whether they meet current regulations, and how vulnerable they might be to natural disasters like floods or storms.

The study would cover both publicly owned systems (like municipal sewer systems) and privately owned wastewater infrastructure across Rhode Island. By pulling together this information in one place, the state would get a clearer picture of where the wastewater system is working well, where it may be aging or struggling, and where it might be at risk of failure — especially during extreme weather events.

This bill would most directly affect state planning officials, who would be responsible for coordinating the study, as well as local governments and private entities that own or operate wastewater systems. Ultimately, Rhode Island residents could be affected, since wastewater infrastructure impacts public health, environmental quality, and water safety. The study itself wouldn't make any immediate changes to how systems are run, but its findings could inform future decisions about repairs, upgrades, or new regulations.

The bill has been referred to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which recommended it be held for further study, meaning no final action has been taken yet.