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North Kingstown OKs emergency water agreement with Jamestown, with safeguards and limits
Summary
Council approved a written emergency water agreement allowing North Kingstown to supply Jamestown in declared emergencies if local resources allow; the agreement requires Jamestown to handle interconnection costs, pay town rates, and pursue a long-term solution within five years.
The North Kingstown Town Council voted July 15 to approve a written emergency water agreement that would allow the town to supply potable water to neighboring Jamestown in emergency circumstances, subject to several safeguards.
Town Manager Ralph and Water Director Tim Cranston said the agreement formalizes a long-standing, largely verbal understanding dating to 1997 and establishes conditions under which North Kingstown would provide water: Jamestown must handle any interconnection infrastructure, the town retains the right to refuse supply if North Kingstown's water levels are low, and Jamestown must pursue a permanent solution to its water supply within five years.
During discussion residents and council members raised concerns about shallow local wells and past incidents of overpumping. Water Director Tim Cranston acknowledged that Well Number 6 was shut per state regulations because of PFAS contamination and said wells 3, 7 and 8 are not used due to manganese and iron discoloration; he said the utility has compensated by increasing output at other wells and that the system can produce about 7.5 million gallons per day on a typical day. Cranston added that modern SCADA monitoring and preset well-level shutoffs reduce the risk of damaging shallow wells.
The agreement requires Jamestown to test and, where necessary, install an interconnection (historically a portable hose has been used for emergency transfers), to obtain Rhode Island Department of Health approvals for interconnections, and to pay the town's standard water rates. Town staff said the written agreement also allows the town manager, in consultation with the water director, to refuse or terminate supply if the town's own supply is at risk.
Council members supported codifying the arrangement with explicit rules to protect North Kingstown customers; following discussion the council approved the agreement by voice vote. The agreement is for emergency use only and does not obligate North Kingstown to provide year-round supply.
