Management Information Systems

The ability of the state to provide dependable, high quality water for multiple purposes, including economic development, is highly contingent upon having the technological means to do so. A critical management issue faced by the Water Resources Board is how to improve the collection, availability, and usefulness of water-related information, whether it is generated by government, the water supply community or other contributing sectors.

A water resources inventory is basic to a water management system (RIGL §46-15). It must be ongoing and expanded as additional information becomes available. This year, work progressed on a joint effort with the US Geological Survey and a private consultant to design and manage two databases for water data collected for the inventory as well as from Water Supply Systems Management Plans. The hydrologic database is called the New England Water Use Data System (NEWUDS) and is being populated with information from statewide water use studies as they are completed. The water supply plan (WSSMP) database contains information from major public water suppliers that is required by regulation that is not captured in the water use database.

To supplement the baseline inventory and plan data, this year, the Board recommended that water quantity and use data be collected more frequently from major public water suppliers. The Board also recommended that minor public water suppliers and private, self-suppliers be asked to voluntarily contribute data. In the aggregate, analysis performed in these core databases will enable the Board to evaluate a broad range of water supply and demand scenarios. These information systems build the state’s capacity to appropriately evaluate local, regional and statewide water resource needs and strengthen the Board’s ability to inform local comprehensive planning and land use.

As a member of the RI Geographic Information System (RIGIS) consortium, the Board is responsible for updating statewide geographic data for water district boundaries, water system transmission lines in roads, emergency interconnections, major facilities and pumping points. This data had not been updated for over ten years, though it is heavily relied upon by government and the private sector. Once all coverages are thoroughly reviewed, certain data layers will be updated, as permitted by law.