Section 216-RICR-50-05-7.2 - PURPOSEA. The waters of this state are a critical renewable resource which must be protected to insure the continued availability of safe and potable drinking water for present and future needs. It is a paramount policy of the state to protect the purity of present and future drinking water supplies by protecting the infrastructure of potable water, including sources, treatment plants and distribution systems. The decay of water supply infrastructure due to deterioration or functional obsolescence can threaten the quality of water supplies and therefore can endanger public health. Therefore, it is necessary to take timely and continuing steps to repair and replace the infrastructure used to treat and deliver drinking water from public water suppliers.B. By planning and funding for future infrastructure replacement, unexpected large capital expenditures causing sudden increases in water rates can hopefully be avoided. The intent of this Infrastructure Replacement Plan is to provide a planning and funding mechanism to ensure that infrastructure replacement programs are carried out by each municipality, district, agency, authority, or other entity engaged in the supply, treatment, transmission, and/or distribution of drinking water.C. Goals of the plan include the justification of a facility replacement program, the provision of a dedicated and sufficient funding mechanism, the prioritization of infrastructure replacement, and the prevention of the erosion of drinking water infrastructure.216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-7.2