The proposed bill, General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 6223, aims to enhance source water protection in the state by amending existing statutes. It mandates that the Siting Council notify water utilities regarding applications for solar photovoltaic installations and other renewable energy facilities. Additionally, the Council is required to consider the potential impacts of these installations on watershed lands, as well as the quality and quantity of public water supplies.

Furthermore, the bill directs the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to establish riparian buffers to better regulate development within river corridors and floodplains, thereby safeguarding water resources from contamination. This legislation seeks to ensure that water sources and water quality are adequately protected in the face of renewable energy development and other land use activities.