Rhode Island General Laws Title 45. Towns and Cities § 45-61-2. Legislative findings

(1) The general assembly finds that stormwater, when not properly controlled and treated, causes pollution of the waters of the state, threatens public health, and damages property. Stormwater carries pollutants and other material from the land--such as human and animal waste, oil, gasoline, grease, fertilizers, nutrients, and sediments--into rivers, streams, ponds, coves, drinking water aquifers, and Narragansett Bay. Stormwater reaches the state's waters by streets, roads, lawns, and other means. As a result, public use of the natural resources of state for drinking water, swimming, fishing, shellfishing, and other forms of recreation is limited and in some cases prohibited.

(2) The general assembly further finds that inattention to stormwater management results in erosion of soils and destruction of both public and private property, thereby putting public safety at risk and harming property values and uses, including agriculture and industry. Therefore, to help alleviate existing and future degradation of the state's waters and the associated risks to public health and safety, and to comply with state and federal stormwater management requirements, stormwater conveyance systems must be maintained and improved. The state of Rhode Island is delegated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to implement “Phase II” stormwater management regulations, which require municipalities and other persons to increase their capacity to control stormwater. The Department of Environmental Management's Pollution Discharge Elimination System program has promulgated these regulations.