Land Use 2025 - RhodeMap RI

in several others. These studies will provide important data to be compared to thefindings and recommendations of the Water Supply Plan for Rhode Island, State GuidePlan Element 722. Water Supply System Management Plans and municipalcomprehensive plan updates should reflect the water availability data from eachwatershed to ensure that water supply development plans and planned land use anddevelopment are coordinated so that they are sustainable within the limitations of thewatershed. Demonstrations of water availability will be required for new development inconcert with meeting existing needs in all areas of the State.Wastewater InfrastructureCurrently, approximately 69 percent of the State’spopulation is served by a wastewater collection service,and the remainder are served by an on-site septicsystem. A total of 12 towns still have no sewercollection service. The sewered area covers about 25percent of the land area of the State – an amountrelatively unchanged since 1989. However, the RhodeIsland Department of Environmental Management(DEM) has indicated that the use of on-site systems hasbecome an increasing trend since then. There are atpresent about 157,000 on-site septic systems in theState.Sewer service, like water service, extendsconcentrically from the urban core, and service districtsare contiguous to already built-up areas. In most ofthese areas, the systems are combined with stormwaterdrainage. These sewer service areas are wholly withinthe urban service boundary on the Future Land Use 2025 map.Otherwise, wastewater is handled by on-site septic systems. State Guide Plan Element731, the Rhode Island Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Plan, identified severalwater bodies in the State that are showing signs of pollution due to nonpoint sources oftotal and fecal coliform bacteria. The DEM is considering requiringinnovative/alternative technology designs for replacements of on-site systems withinthese critical areas to address septic pollution. Use of these technologies may beimportant for those areas outside of the urban service boundary.The provision or accommodation of infrastructure is one of the most important functionscarried on by any government with the participation of the private sector. The quality oflife that we enjoy in our State will be a result of how we manage this growth bymanaging our infrastructure now and in the years to come. It is becoming increasinglyimportant that we carefully evaluate the costs and benefits of new development that willplace a high demand on existing wastewater treatment and public water supply systems.3-26Land Use 2025: Rhode Island State Land Use Policies and Plan (April 2006)