House passes Edwards bill to allow for extension of deadlines in replacing cesspools

STATE HOUSE — The House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by House Majority Floor Manager John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth) that would allow more latitude in the law mandating the replacing of cesspools.

The bill (2021-H 5276) would allow the Department of Environmental Management to extend certain deadlines for required sewer construction in the replacement of cesspools. Those deadlines would not extend beyond Jan. 1, 2026.

“When a new sewer systems comes into a city or town — as is happening now in parts of Tiverton — this bill would relieve home sellers and home buyers from having to upgrade their septic systems during property transfers,” said Representative Edwards. “It’s unnecessary to force these people to upgrade their septic systems, when they’ll be upgrading to sewers soon.”

The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration.

-30-

For an electronic version of this and all press releases published by the Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau, please visit our Web site at www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease.