Section 216-RICR-50-05-7.6 - CONTENTS OF PLANSA. Clean water infrastructure replacement plans shall be prepared in the format, and shall address each of the topics listed in this section, to the extent that each is relevant to the water supplier, the water source, the water system, and the transmission/distribution/storage system. Systems which currently have an infrastructure replacement plan may review the existing plan and utilize existing information to the extent that it is consistent with the intent of the infrastructure replacement plan outlined below. The initial plan may include a schedule for the completion of the evaluation of major components or items which require detailed investigation. The schedule must demonstrate an expeditious, responsible, and reasonable time period for compliance.B. All principal components of the water system such as sources, reservoirs, dams, spillways, intakes, treatment plants, pump stations, storage facilities, pumping and well equipment, shall be listed and evaluated. Relatively small and numerous components of the system such as water mains, distribution piping, valves, hydrants, and interconnections may be evaluated as a group. This evaluation shall consider the following: 1. A brief description of the system with a schematic of the process flow will be included in the plan. This description of the system may be taken directly from the Water Supply Management Plan where relevant and is not intended as a duplicate effort but to facilitate the evaluation of individual components. Age and condition of the existing component and the necessity for replacement of the component within a twenty (20) year time frame shall be evaluated. Specific components may be in need of immediate replacement while others may extend well beyond the twenty (20) year time frame. Replacement should be evaluated and prioritized over a minimum of five (5) year intervals. The level of detail in the analysis of the component should reflect the priority of the component to the proper operation of the system as well as the age and known condition of the component. A detailed schedule for the initial five (5) year interval must be included. No infrastructure replacement construction is required to take place within any time interval if demonstrated to not be necessary.2. Life expectancy of the component shall be determined. Life expectancy shall be determined by design criteria, specific site conditions, maintenance records, manufacturer's documentation, engineering evaluation, physical inspection, invasive and/or non-destructive integrity testing, or a combination of all of the above. Records of inspection and maintenance may be reviewed when determining the life expectancy of the component. The attached Component Life Expectancy and Actual Life Expectancy Guideline ("Guideline"), in § 7.9 of this Part, is intended to serve as a general rule of thumb for component life expectancy and actual life expectancy within an individual system may be demonstrated to be significantly more or less than the Guideline value.3. Consideration shall be given to the public water system's ability to meet current and future requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Treatment requirements should be analyzed to the extent possible to ensure that infrastructure replacement and/or rehabilitation will comply with mandated requirements consistent with the Safe Drinking Water Act.4. A financial forecast shall be based on the analysis of the condition and life expectancy of the existing facilities, prioritized needed repairs and replacements and amortize proportionally such improvement requirements on an annual basis over the next twenty years consistent with their respective life expectancy. The forecast shall include contingency costs, range of construction costs, and/or confidence limits of the financial forecast.5. Infrastructure replacement shall meet the needs of the water suppliers, however priority of anticipated replacement and grouping of replacement projects by time of replacement, similarity of projects, and importance of the component to the system shall be considered when establishing the schedule. Priority should be given to components which have a known need for replacement and less detailed analysis given to relatively new infrastructure items.C. When planning infrastructure replacement, the water supplier shall consider sizing facilities to meet the approved local comprehensive plans for existing or proposed service areas. The existing or proposed service area shall be defined consistent with that described in the supplier's most recent Water Supply Management Plan. Funding for proposed expansion shall come from the capital improvement program utilizing new capital rather than from replacement funding. It is intended that the infrastructure replacement plan evolve from the Water Supply Management Plan and expand the concepts of capital improvement planning initiated in the Water Supply Management Plan. The infrastructure replacement plan shall be consistent with sound waterworks practice.D. The infrastructure replacement plan must recognize and maintain existing fiscal controls and accounting standards in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Accounting Principles sufficient to ensure fiscal responsibility for the evaluation and implementation of the infrastructure replacement. These fiscal controls and accounting standards must be established where none currently exist. The financial requirements of the plan shall conform to those outlined in § 7.8 of this Part.E. Funds from the watershed protection fund may be used for the preparation of clean water infrastructure replacement plans up to fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the plan. Disbursements from the fund shall be in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 46-15.3-11 of the Public Drinking Water Resources Board Operating Fund. The remaining costs are eligible for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund. The plan shall incorporate the proposed rate structure impacts, schedule of proposed rate changes, and schedule for full funding consistent with the funding requirements for scheduled infrastructure replacement.216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-7.6