Rhode Island General Laws Title 46. Waters and Navigation § 46-14-2. Order to remove polluting matter from premises

(a) The director of health, when satisfied that any sewage, drainage, refuse, or polluting matter exists in a locality such that there is danger that the sewage, drainage, refuse, or polluting matter may pollute, or corrupt, or impair the purity or quality of any of the waters described in § 46-14-1 or render them injurious to health, or pose a potential significant risk to public health may order the owner or occupant of the premises where the sewage, drainage, refuse, or polluting matter exists, to remove the same from the premises or to take such other steps as the director may deem necessary and within such time after the serving of the notice prescribed in § 46-14-3 as the director may designate; and if the owner or occupant neglects or refuses to do so he or she shall be penalized pursuant to § 46-14-8.

(b) The provision of this section shall not interfere with nor prevent the enriching of land for agricultural purposes by the owner or occupant thereof, if no human excrement is used thereon, and no pollution, corruption, or impairment of the purity or quality of any of the waters described in § 46-14-1 results, and if the waters are not rendered injurious to health.