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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) Unless exempted under § 23-19.15-8(a), the owner of property served by a cesspool in the following areas shall cause an inspection to be performed on said cesspool by a system inspector in accordance with a schedule established by the department, but no later than January 1, 2012:
(1) Which cesspool is within two hundred feet (200′) of the inland edge of a shoreline feature bordering a tidal water area [corresponding to the jurisdiction of the RI coastal resources management council];
(2) Which cesspool is within two hundred feet (200′) of a public drinking water well; and
(3) Which cesspool is within two hundred feet (200′) of a surface drinking water supply, specifically the impoundment from which water is drawn via the intake.
The inspection shall be conducted by a system inspector as defined herein and reported in accordance with procedures required by the department, and the results shall be recorded on forms prescribed by the department.
(b) Pursuant to § 5-20.8-13, every contract for the purchase and sale of real estate that is, or may be, served by a private cesspool shall provide that potential purchasers be permitted a ten-day (10) period, unless the parties mutually agree upon a different period of time, to conduct an inspection of the property's on-site sewage system in accordance with procedures required by the department in subsection (a) of this section before becoming obligated under the contract to purchase.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-19.15-5. Inspection requirements for cesspools located in close proximity to tidal waters and public drinking supplies - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ri/title-23-health-and-safety/ri-gen-laws-sect-23-19-15-5/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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