RI Senate Unanimously Passes Bill To Replace All Lead Pipes In State's Water Lines

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island State Senate on Tuesday unanimously (34-0)voted in favor of a bill to replace lead pipes in the state's water supply system.

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D-North Providence, Providence), sponsored the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act (2023-S 002A), which would create a lead water supply replacement program for both public and private service lines. The bill has a requirement that all affected lines are replaced within 10 years.

"No family should have to worry that their home's water supply may be poisoning their children," Ruggerio said. "A home should be a safe and nurturing environment, and every family deserves access to safe, lead-free, potable drinking water. This legislation will provide new urgency, and much needed additional resources, to this effort, helping us protect our children’s well-being and the health of all Rhode Islanders."

If passed, financial assistance for lead pipe replacement would be provided through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, including no-cost options for property owners. To help develop the state’s workforce, the legislation would set requirements for water suppliers and contractors to participate in apprenticeship programs.

The bill would also require water suppliers to create a service line inventory no later than Oct. 16, 2024, to determine the existence or absence of lead within each water connection in its service area. It would also establish new notification and reporting requirements for suppliers to ensure transparency in the identification and replacement of service lines containing lead.

Additionally, the bill requires a lead risk assessment to be conducted for any home built prior to 2011, as part of any sale or rent of the property. Currently, those assessments are required only for homes built prior to 1978.

The bill now awaits passage in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, where state Rep. William O'Brien (D-North Providence) has sponsored similar legislation (2023-H 5007).