DEM Issues Expedited Citations to 29 Property Owners in Violation of RI Cesspool Act Requirements First of Notices Issued Under DEM’s New Streamlined Process for Citing Clear-cut, Easily Verifiable and Correctable Violation

The Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Compliance and Inspection has issued an Expedited Citation Notice (Notice) to 29 property owners who are in violation of requirements under the Rhode Island Cesspool Act of 2007. The Act applies to cesspools located within 200 feet of the coastline of tidal waters, within 200 feet of public wells throughout the state, and within 200 feet of the shoreline of surface drinking water reservoirs with an intake to the water supply. As of January 1, 2014, the use of all cesspools located within these 200 foot zones is prohibited. Those cesspools must be abandoned and the building upgraded with a new onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) or connected to available municipal sewer lines.