Rhode Island General Laws Title 46. Waters and Navigation § 46-13-3. Determination of safety of water supply

(a) The director is hereby authorized to determine by means of laboratory tests, field tests, sanitary surveys, investigations of purification works, examinations of the distribution systems, or by other means, whether water supplied through a public water supply system is safe and potable for human consumption.

(b) The director is further authorized to enter, at all reasonable times, in or upon any private or public property for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter or making an inspection or investigation of a condition which the director believes may be hazardous to the health of the consumers served by any public water supply system or in violation of the regulations or orders promulgated under this statute.

(c) The director is further authorized to charge fees to support the collection and analysis of samples that are required to meet the minimum monitoring requirements for public drinking water supplies. The fees shall be established by regulation and shall be related to the costs incurred in operating the monitoring program, and may include administrative, personnel, equipment, and other related costs necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection.