PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Environmental Management has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the Rhode Island Information Technology Investment Fund to expand online access to onsite wastewater treatment system records, or OWTS, the DEM announced Monday.
The improvement project is deigned to make it easier for property owners to complete the permitting process and/or retrieve historical files online related to septic system records. The grant will allow the DEM to continue the expansion of access, which began in the 1990s. Customers need the records when they buy, sell, finance, build or add on to residential and commercial properties. The DEM said that the information is also critical when a septic system fails or needs repairs.
The Most Undervalued Asset in Business: The Right Connection
By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Private Office Advisor Engel & Volkers Oceanside www.DiSpiritoteam.com…
Learn More
DEM will use the funds to purchase equipment needed to continue to scan and upload files upon consumer requests, to improve the existing online tools by combining before- and after-1990 permit searches and to prepare the remaining archived paper files and imaging documents.
The DEM said there were roughly 2,000 onsite wastewater treatment systems permitted each year. Records are permanently retained. The certificate of conformance for an OWTS is a requirement for a municipality to issue a certificate of occupancy for a new construction or to complete an existing property transfer.
The department said it expected to complete the project in two years. The DEM will retain the services of a vendor through a competitive bid process to image the documents.
The Rhode Island Information Technology Investment Fund is state-funded and overseen by the R.I. Division of Information Technology, part of the R.I. Department of Administration.
