Senate passes Felag’s drinking water protection bill

State House – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Walter S. Felag, Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton) that protects against toxic chemicals in drinking and other water sources.

“The presence of toxic chemicals in our drinking water, as well in ground and surface water, is a serious problem that poses significant health and environmental concerns. This bill will protect our residents and the environment by ensuring that unsafe levels of these chemicals are no longer found in our water supply and it will allow Rhode Island to join the other New England states with PFAS water standards,” said Senator Felag.

The bill (2022-S 2298A) would provide for the Department of Health to take action to establish maximum contaminate levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and set interim standards. The act would also provide that the Department of Environmental Management set standards for PFAS in ground and surface waters and adopt standards for PFAS monitoring at landfills.

The legislation now heads to the House for consideration where Rep. June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol) has introduced the legislation (2022-H 7233).