Bill > S482

This bill aims to promote drinking water quality for all by amending Chapter 21G of the General Laws. It does this by: 1) Defining "private wells" as those serving less than 25 individuals or an average of 25 or more individuals daily for less than 60 days per year. 2) Authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to issue regulations establishing minimum standards for private wells used for human consumption, which local boards of health will enforce. 3) Allowing DEP to not inspect private wells when residential property is transferred between certain close relatives. 4) Instructing DEP to evaluate practices that would minimize paperwork burden and maximize utility of information collected for the private well code. 5) Giving DEP and local boards of health concurrent authority to enforce the private well code. The bill also amends a 1996 act to allow the use of funds to assist homeowners with treatment systems to ensure their private well water meets drinking water standards set by DEP.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S482